spouse visa questions re sponsor info

I'm putting together the package to send off for my spouse visa and have a couple of questions re sponsor.

Some sites say to include a sponsor letter inviting you to join them in the UK. What if you & your sponsor are traveling together? The sponsor letter asks to state a UK address but if you're both arriving at the same time there will be no UK address. Is a letter necessary in this case?

Sample letters ask for sponsor's financial info. We're both retired, have a joint account & have pension & investment income. Do I need to somehow break down the finances individually?

I dont know which "sites" you are referring to, I would only use the UKBA link below for the details & guidance notes on applying, including what you must have & provide.

As an applicant from Canada according to UKBA, your spouse may apply on-line

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... tside-uk/#

If you are not already aware, do look through the forms & notes + the 'supporting documents guidance' tab on the right side of the link page above

My suggestion on the financials, is to have ready the bank statements however they are - even if they are in both names, as well, if you each have seperate bank or investment accounts also have these ready to go. A letter from your friendly bank manager stating that she/he confirms the accounts are yours.

If it were me, I'd also have ready both of the last two years tax returns (may not be required - but is further back-up proof) including all info related to where your income is coming from - pensions, investment income, bank accounts, RRSP's, RRIF's statements.

The more the better, I always say - but generally provide what they ask for in the application, just have the extra ready if they ask for it

On a UK address, if you are not moving to a friend or relatives place to begin, then you could either pre-arrange accommodation or simply book a hotel (have those details confirmed)

On the sponsorship letter (the fact that you'd be travelling together over to the UK), I suppose since you are pressumably married, then the marriage certificate - I dont think the invite letter is necessary since as spouses they will contact you as the British citizen of the visa applicant, as well I think an interview may be required.

Further reading & interpretation (policy law) from the UKBA website in regards to spouses. Section 2.6 I believe applies to your situation from what you were asking in another post about the 27 months or 4-years marriage ILE/ILR settlement rules

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Good luck to you

The sponsor letter is always required, whether you travel to the UK together or separately. You have to say that you are willing to support your spouse, that you have enough money to do so and a suitable accomodation for both of you.

For this reason, booking a hotel as accomodation for spouse visa applications is not recommended. You should try and book an apartment online and provide a letter form the landlord or manager stating the dimensions, number of rooms, etc., as well as photos.

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Thank you both for the info. I was hoping to avoid a rental as I see many landlords ask for 6 months in advance as you have no credit history. I also don't want to move twice.

We will be cash buyers for a house and have been researching property for some time now. I felt that not paying rent or mortgage in our budget would help as we plan to buy within a month of arriving.

I felt that a hotel would be adequate whilst we search as the "Staff Guidance, Section F" states "Accommodation for the couple will often be prospective rather than available on arrival."

As we've been married over 32 years I'll be applying for ILR subject to KOL. Trying to beat any deadline next spring...

Just an update that visa was issued today. As to accomodation I stated that we would be selling our house here and buying a house over there. I included an email from an estate agent that said we can contact them on arrival. I also printed out some listings from Rightmove.

This seems to fall in line with the UKBA statement that accomodation could be prospective. Nothing on our end was firm.

BTW visa only took 4 days.

BCCANUCK...congrats on the visa. How long did you make your hotel reservation for? I'm applying this week and will also be submitting a hotel reservation with a list of potential properties, so I wasn't sure if I should make a reservation for 10 days or for a month. I'm hoping where you were successful, you can assist with the answer. Thanks in advance!