UK Spouse Visa: All that you should know

To crackdown fake marriages, the UK Govt. has tightened the visa rules of the UK Spouse Visa. Getting a UK Spouse Visa thus involves a nerve-wracking, complex and tedious process. Here’s all that you should know about the UK Spouse Visa: What is the Spouse Visa? The UK Spouse Visa allows visa holders to joins their partners living in the UK. The validity of this visa is generally 2.5 years. Spouse Visa holders are allowed to work in the UK. However, they are not entitled to benefits like housing assistance and tax credits like UK citizens. To be eligible for a Spouse Visa, the applicant’s partner should have an ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or should be a British citizen. What are the relationship requirements? While applying for a Spouse Visa, both parties should be 18 or above. Both of them should have met in person and intend to live permanently in the UK once the visa is granted. Applicants should be married or in a civil relationship recognized by the UK. You must include your marriage or civil partnership certificate with your visa application. Applicants will need to provide evidence that their relationship is authentic and subsisting. The evidence could include:

• Text messages and chat logs as evidence of communication between both parties
• Travel documents as proof of having visited one another
• Photos of both of them together throughout the relationship
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Divorce certificate (wherever applicable)

The more evidence you provide, the better it is for your case. What are the financial requirements? Applicants should have sufficient funds to take care of themselves while in the UK without claiming public funds. Applicants will need to have a joint income of minimum £18,600 per year in case they have no dependent children. In the case of dependent children, an additional £3,800 will be needed for the eldest child and  £2,400 for every subsequent child. Applicants will need to provide evidence of their funds. What is the English language requirement? Spouse Visa applicants need to prove their English proficiency by taking an approved English test. The following applicants may be exempted:

• Applicants who are citizens of English-speaking countries and are exempted by the Home Office
• Applicants who are over 65 years of age
• Applicants who have a physical or mental disability which prevents them from taking a test
• Applicants who have an exceptionally compassionate circumstance

Applicants need to have at least A1 level of English under the CEFR. What are the other requirements? Applicants from certain countries have to submit a medical certificate showing that they have been screened for TB. The place that the partners plan to live in should be owned by their family. Also, the place should not be overcrowded, as quoted by The Guardian. What the documents required? You will need the following documents while submitting a visa application:

• Passport
• Proof of minimum income requirement
• Proof of authentic and subsisting relationship
• Proof of English language skills
• Right to live in the country where the applicant is applying from
• TB certificate, if needed

  Y-Axis offers a wide range of Visa and Immigration services as well as products to overseas immigrants including UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, Business Visa for the UK, Study Visa for the UK, Visit Visa for the UK, and Work Visa for the UK.   If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or  Migrate to the UK, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company. If you found this blog engaging, you may also like… INDIA TOPS IN TECH VISA APPLICATIONS FOR THE UK