deebaby05:

yes 4 weeks excluding the time to receive the biometric letter. really i can't remember the exact time frame btween when i posted the replacement form and when i got the enrolment letter but i remember that 2/3 days after i posted the form, they deducted the money.

Thanks a lot. The deducted the fee about the same time but I am still waiting for the enrolment letter and this is my third week.

Aphrodite007:


Oh please relax dear. I really don’t know. Some lady mentioned that your partner (whobis a brit) can access public funds (obviously!) but whether or not that would be frowned on by the Home Office or UKBA is beyond me. I just know that they insisted on ensuring that the sponsor can earn above 18k for a reason.

Wish you the best in your application.

My wife is also British and no longer collects any benefits. She had to inform HMRC about me as she was no longer single for tax credits. We have opted to not collect any benefits till I qualify for ILR just to avoid any problems with renewals.

AdaNewbie1290:


It depends on whether you are applying from within or outside the UK. Within the UK takes about 7 days I think.

Postal replacement application within the UK. Thanks.

deebaby05:

It took about 4 weeks before I got a replacement. After I reported it lost online and posted the replacement form, I got a letter telling me to go for biometrics on the 3rd February. did biometrics on the 6th February and got my brp on the 7th of March 2018

That is 4 weeks excluding the time to receive the biometric enrolment letter. How long after posting the replacement form did you get the biometrics enrolment letter? Thanks.

Hello my people, just curious if anyone has had to replace a lost or stolen BRP card? Any idea on the time frame for postal application? Thanks.

Hello my people, just curious if anyone has had to replace a lost or stolen BRP card? Any idea on the time frame? Thanks.

godman100:


To say no one has the time to alter hundreds of pages of chats, you might think that but who’s to say the ECO or UKVI believes the same. If they feel there’s potential fraud and means for deception, wouldn’t a diligent outfit consider all possibilities? I mean if people are prepared to swim across the channel to get to Europe or pay large sums of money for fraudulent documents, what’s to stop them from altering a few hundreds of pages of chats?

There’s no way an ECO could know whether or not your chat logs were unfiltered. You’ve mentioned photos of your marriage and your wife’s visit to Nigeria, maybe that was enough for them. The Madame Tussaud’s example I gave was simply to say an approach that he advised works best, not works alone.

When I sent supporting documents for my wife’s application, I included photos of us in front of the White House along with the flight e-ticket receipt to DC with both our names on it, mentioning it in my letter to them. We didn’t take the trip or take the photos because we were planning to apply for spouse visa. We weren’t even planning on getting married back then but thankfully I still had the email when we needed it.

Just as you believe that chat logs can be altered, same thing can happen with photos and electronic receipts. There are a host of other factors that the ECO looks at in deciding each application, not just photos or chat logs. If you believe it's appropriate not to include evidence of your daily conversations with your partner because it can be faked, that's your prerogative. If you have looked at printed WhatsApp conversations then you might understand what I was talking about.

bestbian:
My people, God has done it for me and my family. I am a tier 4 student, got my visa but my husband and daughter were refused visa.
We put in for administrative review and today my husband just got a message to bring his passport and our daughters passport that the decision has been overturned. They are ready to give them visa now. I am so excited. Thanks to God and all here for encouragement.

Please I want to confirm if he has to go along with our 2 years old daughter to Immigration office in Ikeja for the passport submission? he can go alone to submit the passports? Please anyone has an idea. We need help on that please.

Its urgent for us. Thanks and God bless you all.

Both of them. She must be present.
Congratulations.

godman100:


I was worried I didn’t send any WhatsApp chats between my wife and I so I spoke to a friend who’s an immigration lawyer and he told me that UKVI don’t consider WhatsApp chats as legitimate evidence of a relationship because names and messages can easily be altered. He also said no caseworker will spend time reviewing several hundred pages of chats when they’re working to tight deadlines and pretty much bin such documents when received. Not sure if this is 100% the case but just letting everyone know what I was told.

He advised photos are much better so long as you can also provide supporting documents evidencing the location and timing of the photos, e.g. taking a photo at Madame Tussaud’s with entry tickets showing the date taken and also passport stamps or flight tickets which prove both parties were in the country at the time. It’s the equivalent of marriage photos taken - the marriage certificate and passport stamps or flight tickets would be considered as supporting evidence of the date the photos were taken.

You have been ill advised. No one has the time to alter hundreds of pages of chats. The only chat logs that seem to get dismissed by UKVI are usually cut and paste Facebook chats. The ECO might decide to pick a few random pages to look at. My lawyer had to read all of our unfiltered chat logs before submitting.

When you are in a genuine relationship, spouse visa is not the first thing you think about when you are taking photos. We didn't even take a lot of photos together and if my wife didn't save them, I wouldn't have had the chat logs either. I only submitted wedding photos and photos of my wife's visit to Nigeria plus over 500 pages unfiltered WhatsApp chat logs and got my spouse visa. My lawyer didn't include our photos in the UK together.

Aphrodite007:


You and Lexus know a lot o! God bless you so much for your help. I’m really grateful. And no, he proposed, I didn’t!

Of course he did lol :-) Thanks. Just from personal experience and reading the experience of others. I didn't know anything when I submitted for spouse visa but luckily I had a good lawyer. I only discovered this forum and some others afterwards and really could have saved the lawyer fees. Best of luck with yours and I am 100% certain it will be okay as long you have followed all the instructions in this forum. God bless.

Aphrodite007:


Wow. Nice. Did you print out all 500 pages and submitted to them? Mine is almost 3500 pages, it would be insane to print all these out. Insane! So I screenshotted the word document showing the number of pages that our chat is, then attached the 15 page screenshots (6 shots per page). Do I still print out the chats though?

You need to print the actual chats. My wife printed everything but most people suggest printing a few pages for each month.

Lexusgs430:


Wise woman ...... She had all the evidences to nail you, incase you pulled the plug ......

Lol

Lexusgs430:


Was not so much luck...... Was simply the weight of evidence you provided........

NB: Would you have 500 pages of communication logs, if you did not love your wife ? What you lacked pictorially, you made up for in communication logs ............

The truth is that I didn't know how relevant those records were until the spouse visa process came. Luckily my wife saved every single record.

Lexusgs430:


A combination of pictures & call logs, creates an atmosphere of togetherness. Remember, the case worker is trying to build a picture, based on what they see......... The more the you can submit the better.......

All other variables also plays an important role. Simply because, if you claim you miss you wife of 4 years and both of you have not seen each other in 4 years. It clearly says one thing...........

The more relevant documentations applicants can submit, the better........ (the only negative is cost of sending heavier documents to sheffield)

It is true but I know of couples who didn't really have photos together and even one with no wedding photos cos they could not take photos during their wedding. That's why the cover letter / letter of introduction is very important to help build that picture.

Aphrodite007:


Thanks for the advice. Do we have to put the dates that the photos were taken?

Some people do that. They put the photos on a word document and include some description beside it. We simply put our in different envelopes labelled "Wedding Photos", "Time in Nigeria" and so on. From what I understand, ECOs have 15 to 20 minutes to spend on each application, so your application has to tell them everything in one go. Not sure if you included a letter of introduction/ cover letter previously. If you didn't, you need to. In the letter, you explain how you met your partner, when you proposed, when you got married, how often do you see each other, if not often why not and your intention to be together as a family. DON'T over elaborate

Lexusgs430:


So you would advise the OP to send 20 photos, after initial visa refusal ?

I believe communication logs are more important than photos to the ECOs. If they have more photos sure they can send otherwise there are lot of other ways to prove the relationship is genuine such as travel stamps, flight tickets, letters from family members and friends, wedding invitation cards and so on. I met my wife in the UK but during my application for spouse visa, my lawyer only submitted wedding photos and photos from her time in Nigeria ignoring all our photos in the UK. I was worried but we had communication logs of over 500 pages plus a few other evidence. Maybe I was just lucky.

Lexusgs430:


Aim to send about 80 pictures + baby inclusive (post & pre wedding pictures)

Communication log - Assuming you have been dating from 2013 - 2017 (print about 100 pages of communication logs, spanning the years)......

NB: Send your whatsapp chats to email and print.... I never under why people use the cumbersome screenshot sending method.......... Also some of the financial documentations you sent previously, would already be out of date. Remember the '28 day rule'......

I know people who sent just 20 photos without even wedding photos and still got approved. Sometimes it's all about the ECO. As long as the photos were taken over a time period and not same day. It is advised to send about 5 pages per month for communication logs. The WhatsApp email and print is far better than screenshots and print.

Phoenix77:



Teejay231 pls I'm confused.. my wife lives alone with our 3 year old daughter in a council owen property... she pays rent and all bills... not on any kind of benefit. So my question is will she need a property inspection letter for our application or the tenancy agreement, rent statement and council tax bill will do. Thanks for your time

Since it is not a shared property then the tenancy agreement, letter from housing authority stating that you are allowed to live there should suffice.

ewebiodun:

Thanks a great deal. The challenge is that the 18,600 threshold is beyond us. My wife is just recovering from her maternity and is enjoying some state benefit because she's just about to get into business.and mine also isn't up to that except if we can combine income

If you have a child and don't meet the income requirements, you can apply for the 10 year route.

ewebiodun:
Pls I have been banned since 2011 on ground of submitting false docs. This was done by the agent I contracted after paying huge amount.

My wife has been leaving in UK permanently for 10years with our daughter born last December. Pls can anything be done as regards seeking a reversal of the van. Pls I am open to advice. Thanks and God bless

From my understanding spouse visa applications are not affected by bans. Just be honest and explain in the additional section/ cover letter. Also make sure you meet all the other requirements.

Aphrodite007:


Utility bills are irrelevant? What of monthly council tax letters that state what is owed, is this also relevant? I am so happy about this! I will really expect your answer.

The only documents you need for accommodation proof during a spouse visa application are letter from landlord/tenancy agreement and property inspection letter if shared housing or land registry documents if it's a personal property. Utility bills and council tax letters are only required in the next stage FLR and final ILR as proof of cohabitation. If you want to include you can go ahead but not relevant.

Phoenix77:
House pls I need your advice: wife lives in a council owned rented apt. She pays rent and has d tenancy agreement.
Question now is does she need a property inspection letter or d tenancy agreement would do and other utility bills? Thanks

Just property inspection and tenancy agreement will suffice. Utility bills are only required for the FLR and ILR stages.

Deola101:

[quote author=Lexusgs430 post=62635870]

Hi @lexusgs430, @justwise @teejay231 and other amazing people here!

Please ooo I have been an ardent follower of this thread and been able to gather a whole lot of information. I read right from page 0 till the very end! So I and my husband are planning to make an application. I am the applicant and my husband the sponsor residing in the UK. I am here. Just to make sure we dot the i's and cross our t's, I would be super grateful to have answers to the below;

1) I work as a customer relations officer for a private transportation company however on my marriage certificate, my occupation was erroneously put as 'public servant'. I didn't think much of it but on going through the visa application form, there is a part that asks about employment history and if I've ever worked for the government. I intend to tick "NO" as I never have, but the discrepancy between my actual occupation and what is on the marriage certificate worries me. Do you think I should explain this in the 'additional notes' section and also back it up with a letter from my employer stating job role, date of joining, etc as part of our supporting documents...or I should simply ignore this?


2) We meet the stipulated requirements and my husband earns more than the 18600 stated, however he has an overdraft in his bank statement (2 months out of the 6 we intend to present have overdrafts). Do you think this would be an issue? Do people get refused on account of overdraft in the sponsor's bank statement?


3) Hubs presently lives in a 3 bedroom flat with 2 other tenants, is property inspection report a must?

3) We met in 2014. Got married this year. But we have no history of our communication between 2014-2015 as we have both had course to change phones and all. But from 2016 till date, we have a truckload of chat history, emails, pictures and all.. would that do despite having met since 2014?


4) Does it matter who does the screenshooting of call history, emails and all? Does my sponsor have to be the one who does it from his end or either party can?

5) Is it okay to print out my bank statement here and highlight times he's sent me money as proof of relationship?

Thanks.

1. Just explain in the additional section as your employment isn't relevant only the sponsor.

2. Bank balance or overdraft don't matter as long as you meet the income requirements with proof (letter from employer, bank statements and matching pay slips showing income payments).

3. Just explain in your introduction / cover letter.

4. Doesn't matter.

5. Yes you can.

I hope this helps.

Aphrodite007:
Someone please help me out with this. My spouse says he doesn’t pay bills. He just sends the money to his housemate’s account and the bills leave his housemate’s account. But we can’t ask the housemate for his statement of account, that’s very intrusive. Is it mandatory for him to show the bills payments? I don’t know what to do.

Utility bills are not required for a spouse visa application. You only need utility bills for the second (FLR) and third (ILR) stage as proof of cohabitation

Aphrodite007:


Sharp woman!! I didn’t know you can use the former NI number given to you. I won’t be going back as a student, do I apply for a new NI or use my old NI no? Don’t worry everything will work out. With that salary, the family will move with you in no time. Congrats on your scholarship. Make us proud o.

NI is only issued once.

bestbian:


Okay dear, yes I am responsible for my maintenance, it's just a 4 year PhD tuition fee covered. My brother the truth is that I don't have that maintenance again as we borrowed the money to use for visa processing and we have returned the money.

My husband and baby actually applied after I got my visa but they were denied visa. The reason given was that no enough evidence of relationship, even though we put our marriage certificate and baby birth certificate.

We have put in for administrative review for them but I am also preparing my self incase it doesn't come out positive.

So now we will have to borrow a huge sum to show for the 3 of us again if they have to reapply. Nah wah oh!!!

Thanks all the same, at least now I am aware of what's before me. Thanks dear and God bless.

You only need to show for husband and child as your visa has already been issued. Evidence of relationship include communication logs such as text messages and WhatsApp or Facebook chats and photos.

mzapplication:
Hello All, wonderful job we are doing here. I wish us all the best in our endeavours

I am about to put in my application for settlement visa, to join my husband in the UK, with our kids

Here is a checklist of all I will be submitting.

For more context, I have a valid visiting visa, and the kids are US citizens (just stating in case this has any bearing on the application..)

About Us
Form and Appendix 2
Must also print the application off when submitting
Kids Birth cert
Sworn Affidavit of age
My Payslips
My Bank statement
All Old passports
Photocopy of all past Uk, US and Schengen visas + stamps
TB Test
Letter from my office
Passport photo for all the kids
IELTS

Relationship Documents
Marriage certificate
Tenancy agreement for current home in NGN with our names on it
Name change / newspaper publication
Sworn Affidavit of name change
Photographs together, wedding photo, photos with the kids etc

Maintenance Documents
Sponsor (husband) Bank statement for 6 months showing the maintenance balance
Letter from Employer stating they will support our maintenance
Sponsor Payslips
Contract of employment

Accommodation documents
Letter from a very close relative stating that we can live in the home
Utility Bills

Other/ Random
Husband biodata page
BRP
Applicants bio data pages

Am I missing anything? I am also pasting to serve as a checklist that others can use as well

I hope to submit the form asap and go for biometrics next week.

God bless. Sorry for the long post

Some of documents you have included are not relevant.

About us - you only need copies of your old passport, English test, application form, children's birth certificates,

Relationship documents- you need to include evidence of communication such as text messages or WhatsApp or Facebook

Maintenance documents- home office doesn't care about bank balance as long as you earn the required minimum and your bank statement and pay slips match the stated income. Documents must also not be older than 28 days.

Accommodation documents- if your husband lives in a rented apartment he needs to get a property inspection report which will state that there is enough space for you and your kids. A letter from the landlord is also okay. Utility bills are irrelevant
, only required for FLR and ILR stages.

[quote author=phatbaby1 post=62259222][/quote]
I will advise that even if TLS offers a scanning service, which is usually optional, it is better to mail your documents directly to Sheffield. I have seen somewhere where the TLS people failed to scan a few of the original documents they were given and the applicant was refused. Best to avoid.

Lexusgs430:


But what use is the visiting visa, Attached to the spousal visa?

No idea but it was still there.

Aphrodite007:
I have come again with my wahala o. you people should please bear with me.

I have saved my application (can’t edit it now), and I have paid my IHS, but something came up and I need my passport to travel. Now my problem is the fact that I cannot change the information on my application (Travel History). And if I start a new application I might be asked to pay my IHS again.

So can I submit my passport with a visa stamp that isn’t declared in my application. Would this be bad? Or can I redo an application without needing to re-pay my IHS?

I don’t know what to do. It looks like my alternative is to not travel, but it’s for work.

As long as the information on your application is valid as at the time of completion, you don't have to worry. From my experience, travel history has no influence on spouse visas as applications are decided based on proof of finance, accommodation, relationship and English language as stipulated by law. My form was completed by my lawyer and he made mistakes with some of my travel dates. Just explain in your cover letter and you will be fine.

Lexusgs430:


You cannot have two visas run concurrently..... Best he enjoys the use of the visiting visa, before putting in for a spousal application.

His passport would be submitted during the spousal visa application, and if a successful application is made. Visiting visa would be cancelled......

This is not correct. When I received my spouse visa I still had a valid visit visa and it wasn't cancelled.

knwuna:
Hello house..please i still need your advice on this matter:

My wife is kind of suggesting that she will acquire a loan from her bank to sponsor my masters program in Uk to enable stay closer to her during this period..Do you think its a good idea to do such please i need your opinion .
Note: She works full time,..she lives in a rented apartment..she is pregnant and she earns £17,800 per year which is less than £18,600 per year that is required. and she meets all other requirement..
We are just looking for a way out because she's alone

Since she is British, you can wait till she gives birth and you apply via the 10 year route instead of the 5 year route. The 10-year route is for couples with children who don't meet the financial requirements.