If you’ve decided to tie the knot with your significant other, you’re likely overwhelmed with excitement and joy, and may have already started with your wedding plans – finding your dream venue and planning for the wonderful future you will have together. However, if you are from different countries, and plan to move, you may need to organize a spouse visa. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about a spouse visa.
What is a spouse visa?
A spouse visa is designed to allow married couples of different nationalities to reside together. For example, in the UK, it is used by married couples who want to live in the UK, when one half of the couple is from a country outside of Europe. The visa lasts 33 months, but can then be extended. Therefore, once granted the visa, you should keep a note of the date to ensure you apply to extend the visa on time.
What are the requirements of the visa?
As with any visa, to qualify you need to meet certain requirements. This includes:
- You are married and have been in a genuine, longstanding relationship with your partner.
- Your partner is a UK national
- You can provide evidence that your relationship is genuine, through a wedding lisence and evidence of time spent together. This can include photographs and information regarding any financial exchanges you may have made. For example, do you have a shared bank account?
- Accommodation requirements – do you have a place to stay when you arrive in the UK?
- Financial requirements. To earn a spouse visa, you must have a combined income of at least £18,600. This fee increases depending on the number of children you have, in order to ensure you can suitably provide for them.
- You must also successfully pass an English language test.
Is it difficult to get a spouse visa?
If you meet the above requirements, it should not be too difficult to obtain a spouse visa. However, the process can be particularly lengthy and confusing, especially if you do not have much prior experience in the area. As a result, you may benefit from reaching out to lawyers or other professionals who can provide you with expert guidance – making the process more straightforward and less stressful.
You should also be aware that the process of getting a visa can be expensive, so you should put aside the money to make the necessary payments. The visa fee is £1,033 is made from inside the UK and £1,523 is made elsewhere, though you will have to pay additional fees for the English language test and housing report.
What happens if my visa gets rejected?
There are plenty of reasons as to why your visa may get rejected the first time around. For example, you may not have provided enough evidence of your relationship or didn’t provide proof of your English language test. When this happens, you have two choices – you can appeal the rejection, or send in a fresh application, ensuring you provide more detail to meet the requirements.
