pleasehelpme2:
Hello everyone I thought I would just share this incase someone is in the same boat as me. I travelled to the Uk a few times and lost my passport and have been denied visas but I didn’t know the exact dates. Just found out you can ask the home office for your immigration record that way you can answer the questions accurately. If you also need to get your immigration record the link is.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/requests-for-personal-data-uk-visas-and-immigration/request-personal-information-held-by-uk-visas-and-immigration

Thanks for sharing, this is wonderful information. Big-ups.

pleasehelpme2:


Thank you for all the help I will continue to do more research to make sure my application is full proof. I do have one more question I was denied a few Uk visas as a child but got them either on second attempt or on appeal. However after I finished my degree in the Uk I applied to extend it to allow me to do a masters but the rules changed and there was a 5 year limit imposed on studying in the Uk. As a result my masters would have put me over the 5 years so I left the Uk before my visa expired and went to study my masters in Australia the refusal letter says I had got all the points I needed but was only refused because of the 5 year limit, would this affect this application in anyway

Personally, I doubt if that would be an issue since I believe you did not contravene any rules or laws (as per the information above). However, if you are asked to provide details of your past refusals or applications in any of the forms be as honest as possible if it falls within the timeframe referred to in any of the questions.

As we all know, honesty is the best policy.

pleasehelpme2:


Hello everyone hope your day is going well.

I have just seen this in the guidance notes please may the house tell me if I am right but does this mean that any time you take as sick leave does not count towards the six months worth of payslips or one year if you are following that route ?

Hi @pleasehelpme2,

I think you found the relevant information for your category, kindly follow the instruction to a 't' (i.e. 12 or 6 months pay-slip & bank statement prior to her sick leave depending on how long your wife has worked for the employer amongst other things) and you should be fine.

I am glad we could help.

pleasehelpme2:
Hello elders and everyone on the forum. My name is adi

Thank you for this very informative and supportive thread. I am new to the thread but I have read from page 1.
Please may you help me, my question is my wife wants to sponsor me for spouse visa but she has been on statutory sick pay as a result she Earned less then the threshold amount last month. Does that mean we do not qualify anymore or is they a way around this ?

Please if anyone knows the answer to my question or has experienced this please help me

What financial requirement category are you planning on using?
This would help to provide more detail on the best way forward.

Oy24us:



Thanks a lot @justwise, I’ve already contacted my school and they are preparing my main certificate. It’s not good to take chances considering the amount of money involved. Thanks again

Best option.

justwise:
@All

Will the propriety service payment done online or at the visa center?

All payments are done online, if I recall correctly.

Unless you are using VIP service at the center.

Aquaman84:
My people good day and hope all is well.
Please I need help, I want to apply for spouse visa to the UK, I've been with my wife nearly two years, she has visited me in Nigeria to see my family and I've visited her in the UK to visit her family.

I just have some questions,
*is she to apply for spouse visa for me or I am to do that myself?
*am I to take the English exam?
*am I to take some injections?
*she earns above the money limit but do I still need to provide my bank statement?
*please what documents do I need to provide apart from marriage certificate??
*the visa is cost at 1500€ right?
*what visa should I apply for exactly on the platform?

Sorry for all this, is just the visa money is very expensive and therefore can't afford to make any mistakes. God bless you all

Hi @Aquaman84
1. The application which including forms, letters and supporting documents require the attention of both the applicant and the sponsor. You both need to do it together.

2. If you have a degree (bachelor or master) from a UK university then you do not need to take the English exam, otherwise you might have to take a test and/or you have a NARIC assessment of your non-UK university degree. Read through the past pages, you should be able to know where you stand and the type of English exam to write if you need to.

3. I am not sure about injections but you must be tested for tuberculosis at one of the clinics approved by the Home Office. You would know if you need injections or not after your test. You need the test certificate as part of your submission.

4. If she earns above the required amount then you do not need any other financial evidence apart from hers.

5. It is a long list, you would have to read through this thread to get one of the correct list of documents and how to arrange them for submission.

6. Safely budget between £2,500 to £3,000. Don't worry, you should ordinarily not spend up to the later.

7. Please take note, IF YOU ARE MARRIED (with a genuine marriage certificate from a recognised registry) then you should apply for the *Spousal Visa*

8. You are right, it is expensive so make sure you get all your facts right and submit a full proof application.

All the best.

Oy24us:
Hi everyone, I’ve been following the thread for quite sometime. Pls I will appreciate if anyone can assist me. I applied for NARIC assessment, I submitted my transcript, and letter from school but I couldn’t find my main certificate. NARIC sent me an email that they are ready to issue me with the assessment but it will have a disclaimer.
Find below the response from NARIC.
Pls I really need your advise as I was refused earlier because I submitted IELTS General training and the next IELTS test is far away, so I decided to use NARIC 24hrs
Thanks

Dear Sir / Madam,

We can provide an assessment of your qualification(s) however please note we have not been provided with a copy of your final certificate and as a result, the following sentence will be included in your letter: Although no final certificate has been presented, evidence of successful course completion has been provided. If you wish to proceed on this basis please click on the following icon in the action column.

Please note that this disclaimer does not affect the outcome of the assessment.

If you do not wish for this sentence to be included in your assessment please upload or post a copy of your final certificate before your assessment is completed and posted. If you are unable to send in your final certificate and you wish to send it in at a later date, then we will charge a fee of £12 (+VAT) plus your chosen delivery charge to reissue your Statement.

Once you have accepted the final certificate disclaimer you will be able to make payment for your Fast Track evaluation.

Kind regards

UK NARIC

Can someone with relevant knowledge please respond to @Oy24us urgently, thank you all.

Unfortunately, I am not so adept at NARIC issues.

Campdavid101:
Yes it did

Great! Any red flags from the questions?

If none, then get ready to welcome your partner. fingers crossed!

Lexusgs430:



He needs to also highlight some of complications so others too might learn ........

3 emails stating complications. I hope he submitted all documents, incase either has been previously divorced.....

True, he should have gotten a clue of what the issue is from the questions asked at the interview?

Hopefully, he can give insights here??

NuNu08:
it was issued in ikoyi registry... though i was given appeal, please how do i go about it and what documents to include now to show strong family relationship

Since the reason for refusal is clearly stated in the refusal note, I would advise that you find out how to get proof of family relationship and you should also find out what they mean by "Marriage certificate wasn't certified and ascertained by relevant authorities".

If I find out any relevant information, I'll let you know buy like @lexusgs430 said you should do more research on the requirement for Irish spousal visa asap because your appeal window will have a deadline.

Campdavid101:
Hi Guys I applied for UK settlement visa since the 5th of June today makes it 82 Woking days I have been so worried my wife is distressed we have received not straightforward emails 3times we were also invited for interview on the 11th of this month which I attended and uptill now we still haven't heard anything please anyone with any advice please !

That is a very complicated application if you had to attend an interview (very rare nowadays I think) but do not fret, you should give yourself at minimum 30 working days after the interview...fingers crossed.

Btw hope the interview went well!!

Dydaa:
Wats your advice on laminated original degree certificate guyz? Tho d transcript isnt. Exhausted!

Unfortunately, you have to get an original non-laminated copy from the Univ unless there is a way to remove the lamination without damaging the document which is unlikely.

NuNu08:
Gdmornin, please i need help about an ireland spouse appeal. Couldnt find the thread for ireland. I submitted an application but it was refused that i didnt prove my family relationship with my EU spouse. Though i included my marriage certificate but they said it wasnt certified and ascertained by relevant authorities.

Sorry about the refusal, painful for sure. But do not be dismayed, because all you need do is to show that your certificate is genuine and certified.

If I may ask, where was the marriage certificate issued??

Pacmandude:


Hello Justwise, Oxygyne, Lexusgs430 and all others in the house. I want to say a big thank you to y'all for all the advises and knocks given (lol). We succeeded in getting the UK Visa finally.

Applied again second time on 30th July 2018 using priority (after waiting for three months for first visa application which was refused and six months for tribunal to give me reply for appeal for the first refusal, which was still on).
Biometrics done 6th August 2018.
Called Home office UK 10th September 2018 was told decision was taken.
Emailed to collect passport 13th September 2018.
Passport collected from TLS 14th September 2018.
Emailed and sent by post to tribunal to cancel the appeal for the first refused visa 18th September 2018.
Got a reply accepting my email 19th September 2018.
Ported into the UK on 24th September 2018.

All is well now my family and I are happily now in the UK.
Once again I sincerely appreciate. Take care.

Nice!! best of luck in the UK.
Happy it all went well the second time around.

So let me get this right, the tribunal was still on when the most recent application was under assessment?? This is a good example for others who might go through the same hiccup.

Thanks for sharing..

Sholeola23:


I found the judge on Facebook. Am soo tempted to msg her. Just frustrated day in day out. I should have just stay in the UK and fight it out there.

wao wao!!
Don't do that mehn, thats some stalkerish sh**.

Be patient, almost there!

Sholeola23:
I am tired of all this waiting. How do we chase FTT judge to hurry up. This stress is getting to me. Am just tired of it all.

Be patient my friend...very soon!!!

Launna29:



Hi All, I called UKVI today cos yesterday made it 60WD for my son and I. And they said a decision has been even if they didn’t send an email who knows how long they would get back to us to come and pick our passports?

Should get the emails in the coming week, fingers crossed its good news!!

Dydaa:
Hi Guys jst started filling out d forms. i came across this somewhere but cant rem wat page and wat advice was given. "Do you and your sponsor have any shared financial responsibilities". Plz wat exactly do they mean?

Straightforward question for shared financial responsibilities such as
1. bills (household, groceries)
2. Rent
3. Splurge money
4. Travel expenses
5. Mutual savings
6. Financial support
7. Wedding expenses, etc.

This is my own interpretation but please note that you do not compulsorily need to have shared financial responsibilities.

TrumpsWall:
LOL

UKVI specifically say original degree certificate only. Bros dey add transcript as well lol.

It is well

lol.... this is over £3000 on the line but please note that I am only talking from my experience and this is a personal opinion. I maintain a disclaimer that I am not a UKBA or UKVI officer nor do I claim to know more than anyone else in this group.

However;
1. I have read stories of people including just the certificate and getting denied for English language requirement.
2. The transcript provides actual evidence that you were taught courses in English language that led to the degree certificate.

So why give yourself the heartache of possible denial when you can add a few more papers and have peace of mind. Hence I maintain my position: PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO SUBMIT BOTH THE CERTIFICATE AND TRANSCRIPT

Dydaa:
Na wa for d confusion ds ppl put applicants thru sha.
Ok. So I tried applying and filling out the naric form and where it stated country of study i filled UK and this popped up.
Someone help explain plz.

Hello guys,
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU DO NOT NEED NARIC ASSESSMENT IF YOU HAVE A DEGREE (BSC/MSC/PHD) FROM A RECOGNIZED UK INSTITUTION.

To prove your English language exemption based on the information in bold above, you are expected to submit originals and copies of your UK degree certificate and transcript. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT BOTH THE CERTIFICATE AND TRANSCRIPT.

All the best @Dydaa

nkembaby008:


Thank you so much for your kind words. Exactly, I kept kicking myself for not doing priority and we could afford it too but I thought it would be enough time. Awww, Congratulations on your wedding.
I’m not looking forward to the next application but at least I’ll be doing that within the UK. I’m just focusing on my recovery for now.

You are welcome. So now you can plan your wedding, that's if you still want to, considering everything that's happened. But don't let these stuff takeaway you zeal to celebrate your big day in style.

Cheers!!!

Btw the next stage would be fine, God willing.

nkembaby008:
Hello everyone,
I found out this thread a few days after my application but still read every single page.


Type : settlement fiancé visa
Priority : No
Date of application : 17/03/2018
Biometrics : 21/03/2018
Documents sent : 31/03/2018
Documents received email: 13/04/2018
Application not straightforward : 14/06/2018
Email requesting payment of IHS Fee : 25/06/2018 (payment done immediately)
Escalation by MP : 18/07/2018
Escalation by email 1 : 19/07/2018
Escalation by phone call : 25/07/2018
Escalation by email 2 : 09/08/2018
Escalation by email 3 : 17/08/2018
MP reply confirming visa approved : 21/08/2018
Decision made : 23/08/2018
Ready for collection : 24/08/2018
Passport picked : 03/09/2018
Visa dated from : 21/08/2018 - 21/02/2019

A few things to note,
1. I applied for a fiancé visa for my wedding on 01/09/2018. I didn’t have to pay for the IHS as this visa is only for 6 months and I would have switched to a spouse visa after marriage. We had put down wedding deposits for a venue, caterer, etc. Due to the delay, we lost almost £6k in deposits because our wedding insurance couldn’t cover everything.
2. We did our traditional wedding in June in Lagos and My greatest regret was not just going to the registry and going for full spouse visa but I thought it was the most straightforward application.
3. 4 different guests who used our wedding IV cards for their visa application as proof of purpose of visits all had their visas way before mine.
4. A few hours after the email to collect my passport, I fainted and needed emergency surgery as I had a ruptured appendix that previously gave no symptoms. My husband had to come 2 days after and he’s still with me.
5. I’ll end up going back to the UK at the end of the month or whenever I’m stronger.

Wao, feel for you.

This application has caused you a lot of pain and money loss including wedding deposit?? Damn!!. You have tried but thank goodness it came out at the end. To think all these just for the fiance visa, imagine!!.

Stay strong, get well soon and I pray it only gets better from here on out.

With the benefit of hindsight, you should have done priority considering you had made wedding plans already but I guess no one would have thought the process would take that long.

In our case, we had our registry wedding in January but scheduled and planned our white wedding for July (deposits made, date set and invites sent out). Submitted priority application in March and got the visa in April *phewwww* but I must confess, the anticipation was stressful so I would advise anyone to make application and get the visa before making concrete plans about wedding in UK.

Once again, so sorry for what you've been through..relax and follow you hubby back to the UK.

Kakushia2:


You have a point there but I did mine that way and my certificate was recognised. I heard you can go to DSS yourself and do the clearance, the only problem is you’d waste your time and probably still be asked for money to fasten the process...this can be stressful and you just feel it’s better to give that man in the registry to do for you.. it’s Nigeria, you know how things work.

Like I said, there's nothing wrong with a fast-tracked process (just like any other country), as long as the integrity is confirmed. And yes, we found a link that confirmed that special License Mariage is offered in Abuja.

However, can you confirm if this is the only route for couples with foreign partners?

This is a good evidence by someone who's gone through the process.
Thanks.

Veacon:


Thank you for bringing clarity to the whole process..better pikin

You are to help confirm if that is the information you got from your visit to the Registry.

I just read somewhere online that the Special License Marriage is valid for Marriages that involve non-citizens no information about cost and DSS waiver though.
https://www.wikiprocedure.com/index.php/Abuja_-_Register_a_Marriage

derbylicious:


I understand that such checks attracts a fee, just like DBS does in UK but not such an exorbitant one!

My partner is an EU citizen.

Exactly my point, it shouldn't cost as high as they are asking at the Registry. They are simply banking on the impatience of applicants and the unreliable Nigerian system which would make the actually genuine process of getting the DSS report very tedious as @lexusgs430 mentioned.

Lexusgs430:


And why would someone not want to simplify this whole process, by complicating it and introducing a foreign address or foreign passport?

I would wager that all couples having their other half abroad, have dual nationality. Or he/she would rather pay the extortionate visa monthly fees, when obtaining a passport is much easier and cheaper.....

For the sake of proving they are not local league vs international league aka I have arrived from the abroad......

@lexusgs430
Lol... I get your point but like @Veacon said, some people just don't know about the DSS clause for foreign credentials and for others their partners aren't Nigerian. At the end of the day, we hope this forum would shed more light on issues like these. Thank you for always hitting the nail on the head in a funny way.

@everyone
Please note that just as we have fast-track for visa application, there is nothing wrong with fast-tracking applications in Nigeria. Just make sure it is a legit/authorized process and a genuine receipt is given for any payment made. But I still believe that for registry marriage a notice period is an imperative part of the process.

@veacon
Thanks for shedding more light on this issue, now others will know what to do when they face this challenge in the future. From your messages I can deduce the following:

1. Special License Marriage - This is valid for Marriages that involve non-citizens . Apparently obtainable within 24hrs and requires a 100k DSS waiver (integrity not guaranteed and unverifiable). Seems to be the only option for couples with foreign credentials.
2. 7-days notice period Registry Marriage - which does not require DSS waiver and can only be used if both parties have Nigerian credentials. (yet to be verified)
3. 21-days notice period Registry Marriage - which does not require DSS waiver and can only be used if both parties have Nigerian credentials.
4. Caveat - I believe this information is for Abuja Registry right, so might not be the same for Lagos.
5. @veacon - Please correct me on the information above if I am wrong, thank you.

Lexusgs430:


If it is not documented, you would have to find a few people above the collector.....

They simply want you to do Xmas for them...... Real love is not cheap......

Oh really, that is very shady. But what is the alternative? What is the actual way to get the DSS? Is it a long thing?
If not why not just go through the proper channel.

derbylicious:



Thanks for your message (lol! I almost wrote email). However, my partner hasn’t dual citizenship. Why can’t they run the security background check without having to force intending couples to pay 100k

As you stated in your response to veacon, these extortions that override the right path only makes the certificate highly questionable!

I just don’t get it....schemes to extort every time!

On the DSS fee, I have no idea why it is N100k but if a check needs to be done then payment might need to be made. I believe this is more like a security check and they will need to be paid for the service. The only issue is the high amount, I guess you should just make sure you get a receipt for the payment.

I don't understand your point about the citizenship, your partner is not Nigerian? Like British-Nigerian?

derbylicious:



Thank you so much!

But wth@DSS waiver 100k��

This is ridiculous!

From previous posts on this topic, my understanding is that the DSS waiver fee is only applicable where one party of the couple wants to get married using his/her foreign credentials. So it is advised that if the foreign party has dual-citizenship and holds a Nigerian Passport, it might be best to get married using the Nigerian Credentials. This does not in anyway affect your spousal visa application as long as the marriage and the certificate issued are genuine (of cause we all know it also depends on other aspects of the application).

I will let people like @justwise and @lexusgs430 explain better.

Veacon:



I'm currently about to have mine in Abuja, so had to go make enquiries. The process is quite different from what I read about the ikoyi registry.

For the special marriage license, you need the Intl data page of your intended spouse who stays abroad, visa page ( if applicable), his / her passport photograph, his /her birth certificate or declaration of age cert, your passport photograph, your birth cert, your local govt ID, affidavit of being single from high court for you both ( they talk you into getting that done for you @N2000 each), marriage cost is N62050 (because you can have everything done same day without the 21 or 7 days notice), a sum if N100000 for security clearance (DSS) waiver.

Wedding days are Tue, Thur, and Sat.

Hope this helps!

Nice but here is my worry. All over the world, it is customary, mandatory and even maybe legal to have the 21 - 28 days notice of the intended marriage after which the ceremony can be carried out. This notice period is to allow for any objections from the public or couple's family and also for investigation of the intended couple to be carried out to prevent fraud or forced marriage etc.

So when you say you have been told to pay a certain amount to by-pass this stage, are you not worried or concerned. Do you then not think countries like the UK are then right not to recognize marriage certificates from these registries in Nigeria??

Why not just follow the full and proper process to ensure that you and your spouse a married the right/correct way to prevent unforeseen issues in the future. This is just my 2 cents.

Still, I wish you all the best.

Lexusgs430:


Count 120 days from successful appeal.....

lol..no chill!