UK Spousal Settlement Visa Tips and Process From USA

[JourneyOfLaughter]

Im so glad for you!!!! Congratulations :) I hope your journey from here is amazing and full of what your dreams have in store for you!!! xxKeep us posted on your journey xx

Pepper Ann

[nwadTAN]

Good news... visa application processed within 8 days... thank you for all your help Pepper-Ann. This video is the most helpful of all information received. Best Wishes D :-)

[Tshura100]

Hi ,,, This was helpful ... Just curious ... The support letter 4rm friends and Family ... were they written or typed ?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@Tshura100 They were hand written :) but neatly so they were legible

[Tshura100]

@JourneyOfLaughter Thanks again but did u have to get them notarized? and how many did u send in ?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@Tshura100 I did get them notarized- I am told that this is necessary- I can only go off of my own experience :) Good luck

[miguelchavarria1]

had to watch this was missing your voice love and miss ya!!!!!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@miguelchavarria1 awww miguel!! I miss everyone so much!!! Love you too! <3

[nwadTAN]

Excellent video! Please can you answer question regarding visa application. On your video you mentioned that applicant and sponsor to provide three months bank statements and payslips. On visa application supporting information suggest six months. I'm a little confused. Thank you very much.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@nwadTAN Hi,

Yes you will now need to provide 6 months of bank statements!

[nwadTAN]

@JourneyOfLaughter

Hi. Thank you. We started collating our notebook in September and it's taking longer than we expected. Your video has been very helpful.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@nwadTAN You are more than welcome, and yes it is a very daunting task. But worth it once its all over( and before you have to start again lol in 2 years)

let me know if you need any further info- and Ill help where I can!

xxPepperxx

[nwadTAN]

@JourneyOfLaughter Thank you. I feel totally disorganised (being an organised person).... thought we had conquered and then faced with another query or change in the application process! Just one question please. We had completed the visa application on paper copy and then went online to complete application. Is the handwritten visa application required as well as printed online visa application? Your advise would be very much appreciated. Regards D x

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@nwadTAN Hi- Yes you will complete the online application and print it when you are done. You will also set up the Biometrics appointment once the application is completed, so at that time you will print the barcode for the appointment. After you have everything done- you will send the printed off application with all of your answers (that match what you submitted online) along with your evidence. Take the barcode to your appointment :)

[nwadTAN]

@JourneyOfLaughter Bless you... thank you thank you.... Kind regards d x

[nwadTAN]

HI Pepper, thank you very much for this helpful information. My husband and I married in Las Vegas in July and we are struggling with the application process. I met a Immigration Adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau and advise received wasn't current. It's a daunting task and looking forward to it being sent. Thank you again. Regards

[littlewingthing]

Bless your heart, Pepper! I am doing the same as you, moving from US to UK, marrying a British Bloke! It is a daunting task and the more I look for information the more confused I get. We've been considering having him come here to the US for the wedding, and then flying back to the UK together to live. That method eliminates the Fiancee Visa expense I would have to get if I went to the UK to marry him.

I am very grateful to you for making this video!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@littlewingthing Good luck! and let me know if I can help in any way!!!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

and voting in a foreign election do not automatically jeopardize American citizenship. However, please note that all U.S. citizens, even dual nationals, must enter and depart the United States on U.S. passports.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

In the 1980′s, the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. citizenship is a constitutional right that cannot be taken away from a citizen who does not intend to relinquish it. Therefore, such actions as naturalization in a foreign country, travel on a foreign passport, employment with a foreign government,

[limbdarkening]

Two questions.

After the 2 years is complete and you get permanent residency. Are you ever allowed to leave the country? Like if you wanted to go on holiday somewhere in Europe or go back back to the US to visit family?

Can you apply for British citizenship ever? I'm very curious about dual citizenships.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@limbdarkening

Yes you can leave the country!

after 7 years you can apply for citizenship

Thanks !!

Pepper

[TexDad1971]

@JourneyOfLaughter I'm gonna piggyback on this Q&A.....so during the 2 years you can't leave at all???

and btw I'll have more Q's for you. I'm just starting this.....haven't even started actually. I'm considering using a company who does it all for you. Would you recommend that? They claim 100% money back if it fails.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@TexDad1971 No no, you can leave for a short period ( wouldnt recommend for over a month though at a time)

And no I would NOT recommend a company to do it for you, it is super easy to do. Now if you have had a failed visa or have loads of extras (say kids with a baby momma problem etc) then you might do it. But otherwise if its just you then its uber easy!!!.

Ask away, that is why I posted the videos!!! :)

xxPepperxx



[limbdarkening]

@JourneyOfLaughter No I don't want to leave the country, I was just wondering hypothetically, could you become a duel citizen of the US and UK?

[1jaq]

Hello Journey of laughter...I just want to forward and thank you very much for your video...I followed your instructions to a tee, and I can happily say that my husband from Jamaica got the visa....I handed in two full folders, listed it like you said and wrote all the letters necessary, and I waited 8 weeks and it all came through...So once again, thank you, blessings Jah guide, bless and keep you and your husband on the journey of life...guidance...xx

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@1jaq

Im so glad you got it done!! Congratulations !!!!!

[mskla1]

sorry ran out of room haha. 1st q is- after you get your passport back (assuming you have been issued a settlement visa in it) how long do you have to wait to enter the UK with it?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@mskla1 Hi :) Yes, it is very overwhelming!! You have 30 days to leave before it expires. You usually get your passport back next day or day after. Normally people leave with in a 2 week period. So dont apply untill you are absolutely ready to go. Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions! xxPepperxx

[mskla1]

hi! I am married to a UK citizen and trying to get all the facts right and things together that i need when I apply for my settlement visa. unfortunately, im not 21 quite yet and the UK has a law that u need to be 21 before you can get a settlement visa :( but im taking this time to just get organized and be ready to apply as soon as i am 21 but Im sooo lost!!! there is soooooooo much to do and think about in this process, its so overwhelming! my first question is this-

[IEatCows]

I am so lost in my wanting to move to the UK...i dont have a british fiance...but i appreciate you doing this..i am SOO visual and hate papers

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@IEatCows

Im glad I could help! If you have any questions inbox me and Ill be glad to assist if I can.

Good Luck!

[DaveyRayra]

Who should I address all my cover letters to?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@DaveyRayra You should just address them as: To Whom it may concern. And to pm, you can go to my page and inbox me. Good Luck!

[DaveyRayra]

Hi Pepper , how do I pm u ? I'm in the midst of preparing for my visa application n I really need ur advice.

[PandaNDuskie]

I just got done applying for my UK Marriage Visa to marry my Scottish Fiance, just got it approved today and I am going to post a video as well about UK Marriage Visa like you did your Settlement Visa.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@PandaNDuskie

That is great! I appreciate your willing-ness to get the information out! Its an easy process that is so daunted by fear and misconception! Let me know your status and I have my fingers crossed!!

Pepperxxoo

[PandaNDuskie]

@PandaNDuskie Yeah, there is so little information about Fiance(and marriage) visas, i just figure i'd be able to help people by doing a video about it. I am getting my visa saturday or Monday, they e-mailed me today telling me that it has been issued. So I am really glad it went through and It was submitted on Tuesday.

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[yamtot123]

hi its me again, i really need some more help please.. how can i send u pm? thanks a lot.. would really appreciate ur help

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@yamtot123

Ive sent you a private message :)

[yamtot123]

@JourneyOfLaughter

thank u for the quick respond :) ur an angel :)

[yamtot123]

thank u very much! :) hope to see u in london soon :) god bless

[yamtot123]

and btw he is just payig 450 for the house witl all bills and council tax and 100 for his food for a month..:P hope this will please the uk border entry officer

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@yamtot123

As long as his total incoming is greater than his outgoing (they will be able to tell by his bankstatement, which he must provide 3 months of) then you both should be fine.It took almost 2 weeks to get my visa- but others have waited a few months, and some just a few days.

[yamtot123]

my husband has a net pay of 270 a week aside from overtime pay and bonus pay and holiday pay.. do u think would that be enough? and with a savings for just 3kGBP? thank u so much ur so kind to help us :)

btw, how long till u got your visa arrive?

[yamtot123]

hello i am now in philippines and my husband is in london, we have a child and we are planning to live with him,luckily our daughter got her uk passport so its just me to apply a visa, we are kinda skeptical with the papers that we have, well yeah he got a work at an insurance company for the past 6months and has his savings accnt too but its just around 3k GBP (but he's a full time employee) but with me, i got no job no savings accnt etc. would that be a problem(me being just supported by him)

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@yamtot123

Hi- Its a common thing for the person who is applying to not have a job- the government will want to see that he has enough income to support you and your daughter. So he will need to have 90GBP per fortnight after bills for supporting you. Its nice to have about 3 months of income in savings at the time of application. :) Good luckxx

[yamtot123]

hello i am now in philippines and my husband is in london, we have a child and we are planning to live with him,luckily our daughter got her uk passport so its just me to apply a visa, we are kinda skeptical with the papers that we have, well yeah he got a work at an insurance company for the past 6months and has his savings accnt too but its just around 3k GBP (but he's a full time employee) but with me, i got no job no savings accnt etc. would that be a problem(me being just supported by him)?

[DebraJayne212]

Hi, thank you so much for this video. I live in the UK and my American fiance is residing in California right now. We would like for him to apply for a Fiance's VISA to marry and live over here permanently. You mentioned the consulate in California, but there appear to be a few listed online. Do you have details of the one there that deals with this sort of thing, and a contact telephone number? Thanking you in anticipation of your response. Sending all best wishes to you!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@DebraJayne212

Hello- :) There are 3 consulates in the United States- and you have to use the Consulate for your region. So if he resides in Cali- then he will use the Cali Consulate.They will not help you on the phone, unfortunately. There is a worldbridge phone number- but it costs about $3.99 a minute. The first step you need to do is go -and start at uk visas . gov

Let me know if you need any other help!! Good Luck

[dolly42dd]

Hi Thanks for the video, Which application form do you need for a spouse visa and

which website can you download it from?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@dolly42dd Hi, it depends on what country you are going to and what country you are from. Just google what country your going to- their government website. and click on visa- then spousal visa etc. let me know if you need any help! good luck!

[dolly42dd]

Hi Thanks for the video, Which application form do you need for a spouse visa and

which website can you download it from?

[bedo5811]

Plz check ur inbox on here and if u could send me ur email so my wife can talk to u and show u our situation so u can give us any helpful tips about our case, thank you

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@bedo5811

I sent you a private message :) Hope I can help

[TimeSplittersChimp]

Me and my wife are in Thailand just now, she is from Thailand and i'm UK. We just found out she is pregnant so we are trying to get this visa but i am so worried we can't get accepted it's so frustraiting i don't have a clue what i am meant to do and i have no job here, i have a family and place where we could live as soon as we went back to the UK though.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@TimeSplittersChimp

You need to be back in the UK getting things sorted, You must be working and have steady income for 3months prior to her even applying.

There have been a few cases where I have seen the Sponsor staying with the Applicant while applying, however, I think the theme with the approvals on them were through having large savings accounts. I know how frustrating it is, if there is anything I can do let me know :)

[JennicaDotCom]

how long did you have to wait to get your biometric data scan? Who did you use to send your application in and it only took 5-ish days?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@JennicaDotCom Hi, the biometric scan took about 10 mins. Its done in an office. and I used A Briggs, however you have to stay on top of them via email and phone :) good luck and let me know if you have any other questions :)

[feesa143]

Nice!!!!

[feesa143]

Hello,

how long did it take you to receive the visa???

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@feesa143

It took less than 2 weeks ;)

[TheMusicEspionage]

Hello. Thanks for your great video. Just wanted to know if you got your visa! Glad to know that my wife and I are not the only people worrying about stupid visas.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@TheMusicEspionage

Hello,

Yes I did get my visa. You need to have 90 GBP extra per fortnight so that they can feel your wife will have enough money to not have to be a burden to society.

Depending on where you live and cost of living (say , London is much more expensive to live than Newcastle.)

So just use your judgement. As they will be looking at the whole picture. But @ 90 to 100 every two weeks left from your pay should cover it.

Good luck with your visa!!

Keep us updated :)

[thinkhired]

Hi i would like to marry with a lady in UK can you please provide me the link or address of matchmaking agency that can help me to find a lady for me.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@thinkhired Hi,

no but you should probably look on the internet. This is not a matchmaking video.

[terrimunro]

Hi there - thanks for the video - we are thinking of moving back to UK with my husband's family (and our kids). Do you know if I can go ahead and apply for ILR if we have been married 7 years? Instead of doing the provisional first? 

Also, I think that my hubby would go over w/ the kids in the summer and sign up for school to get his UK teaching cert. Ideally I'd like to have a job offer before I move, but I don't know if we'll have $ in UK before the process starts...your thoughts?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@terrimunro

Hi, Yes you can since you have been married and living together longer than 4 years.Yes he needs to be here in the UK getting set up for yall to come over.Its going to be hard to find a job prior to coming, but it wont hurt to send out feelers. If you have a good skill set, you have more of a chance. Just make sure they know you will be there able to work with out them assisting. If you need any help or if i can answer anything else you can send me a message. Good luck!

[84alexandar]

thank you this video was great and very helpful, do you have a personal email so i can contact you as i have a lot of questions to ask you. Or maybe Skype? I would really appreciate it. Jemma UK

[84alexandar]

thank you this video was great and very helpful, do you have a personal email so i can contact you as i have a lot of questions to ask you. Or maybe Skype? I would really appreciate it. Jemma UK

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@84alexandar

sure send me a private message and we can go from there :)

[84alexandar]

Ok, I need help!My husband is from Serbia and I am from the UK, we met on cruise ships working abroad, we now want to move to UK and settle but as we have been away I have no proof of income from a job but I do have a job to go back to,I also have an apartment.I need to know if I should go back now and be without him for 2 months and start with my job or apply now with what we have?? I would really like to chat better through email, my email is jianson123@hotmail.co.uk. Jemma UK

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@84alexanda I emailed ya! :)

[BABA1Gopp]

u r saing very right but its better if u talk slowly thanks

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@BABA1Gopp Im sorry if I went too fast. If you have any questions just shout and Ill get back to you.,

[videovillahell]

hola. im from mexico and im just about 2 do the same here and i feel too nervous because i dont want to be refused. that would be devastating for us. I see you are a very cautious woman and thats good, i think i will follow your example. I wont hire any kind of adviser for this (they are so expensive and they cant guarantee that you will get the visa), so i hope i wont have any problem through this. Good luck and thanks for the videos. =)

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@videovillahell

Well good luck! and i sure hope everything goes well for you..If you need anything, just message me!

[videovillahell]

@JourneyOfLaughter thanks... just let me know how is everything with you.. for me, to know that other girls have been succesful getting this spouse visa makes me feel calm hahaha so , good luck 4 u too and let me know how long it took ok. cheers!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@videovillahell

Everything is great! I got a job after only a month (its still really bad here , and the "2nd" recession is about to hit so they say. But honestly, the people for the most part have been really accepting and friendly. Its not like the movies, ppl dont live in ivy covered cottages, and all is well. The economy is crap, ppl on the dole take too much.. But again, America is no better. As long as you are with your loved one, every thing is golden!!!!!

[videovillahell]

@JourneyOfLaughter thanks... just let me know how is everything with you.. for me, to know that other girls have been succesful getting this spouse visa makes me feel calm hahaha so , good luck 4 u too and let me know how long it took ok. cheers!

[rowdy74]

Great video. Very helpfull.

I'm currently in the process of my wife applying to come to the UK with her child.

Before she submits the application...... In the application it asks about her sponsors (me) home. Given that she is coming to stay with her child do you know if the fact that my home currently has only one bedroom would have an impact on wether or not the visa would be granted?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@rowdy74

Hi,

is there any way you can try to show like a 2nd bed? as in a pull out sofa or something? The bedrooms I am told are the main thing. Especially for a child.If anything, show that the child will have a bedroom and yall will be on the pull out bed.Its not a black and white issue. Can you show that you will be able to provide more accommodation once they get there? They look at the whole picture. let me know if I can help. :) good luck doll!

[kchaolan]

Nice video. I think you forgot to mention there is a pdf checklist on the UKvisa website. So, before you send in your application I recommend you double check you have all the listed items in the checklist.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@kchaolan

yes there is loads of info out there, I was simply stating how I went about it! But thanks for the tip!! Any information to help ppl out there through this lovely process is welcome! Keep them coming!

[kchaolan]

@JourneyOfLaughter

Sorry, if I sounded a bit like a arse. I failed to mention but i have only recently helped my wife put in her application. I'm alittle anxious waiting for the result.

I only mention the checklist as I failed to get one of the items on the list. And it was basically to late to get it. But by having more supporting paperwork than you need, like yourself, does help lighten the burden.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@kchaolan

No No you alre fine, I want ppl to put on here their experience! If it helps other more the merrier! Thanks for the help! And good luck with you n yours!!!

xoxox

[kchaolan]

@JourneyOfLaughter

Thanks. We did our in a visa application centre whole thing took about 3hours. most of that was waiting. like you i had prepared alot of the supporting documents. which made the process quicker and alittle less painful.

At the applications centre in there were 3 steps. 1, they check your paperwork against the a checklist. 2, you pay the fees. 3, Biometrics. We were told we'd be informed in about 12weeks. Where you given a rough time frame when you were making yours?

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@kchaolan

Well I was told at first about 3 weeks. Then was told longer because the week I submitted mine to the courier...The consulate wasnt taking any new applications because their printers were down..So I sent the courier an email saying that it was unacceptable. With in 2 hours I had my visa. I waited less than a week I do believe.

[kchaolan]

@JourneyOfLaughter

Wow, Impressive. But the visa application centre in china we used has a typical turnaround time of about 4 to 12 weeks. they sort of insisted we waited the full 12 weeks before chasing things up.

I'll post back here when all is done and dusted.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@kchaolan

Well I felt that they were being quite ridiculous. So I let them know! I had waited for 4 months to get the process started, and was damned if "printers" were going to stand in my way! And yes defo let us know your status! Im sure everyone on here will benefit from any story and experience!

[Shanuukhan]

its such a good deed i tell u, i m going through the same docs prep and doing the same as u did ... anyway great job

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@Shanuukhan thank you. I cant tell you how much i wish there was something out there for when i was getting it together! good luck!!

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@goonercem

yes I got my visa and have been in uk for 3 days now! are you doing yours? I know I was supposed to post a new video, will be doing it shortly!

[goonercem]

@JourneyOfLaughter I'm a British citizen but applying on behalf of my husband...we're coming from Cyprus. I moved here 7 years ago, met him in January 2008 and we got married in August 2008, and we have a child together. We applied last year but was rejected as we didn't give enough evidence to back everything up...this time we have plenty but can you just tell me how you presented everything? Did you have tabs etc on your evidence?

And did you have a job offer for yourself? Thanks so much!

[FabricationFilms]

Holy crap, Now I'm nervous as hell =[

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@FabricationFilms

Well I dont blame you to be nervous. but if you have questions just let me know. I am currently waiting for my approval now.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@daemonkith

Aye TY D <3

[JourneyOfLaughter]

Thanks for the support yall :)

[cbuford09]

Very informative. Would have been alot cheaper than the 5 grand I dropped on a domestic wedding lol! Maybe I should have taken one of those Asian guys in San Antonio up on their offer of a platonic marriage for the time it takes for them to be a legal citizen and taken the 30 grand they offered. Ah, hindsight. Lolz! Luv ya pepp.

[JourneyOfLaughter]

@cbuford09

ty for the comment Crystal!!! <3