UK Spouse Visa

Society Travel & Tourism
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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Yep IELTS works fine, its valid for two years so if u manage good with dates, you can use it again for ILR in UK. Sample material is easily availabe in Pakistan, and if you have done a degree in English, I am sure you will easily pass it with Band SIX or even higher. Please keep in mind that you need to do IELTS (General Training) for UK immigration purpose. Please do not do IELTS (Academic).

For IELTS, please check.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

I am going to try and give you all a basic outline of the documents your spouse or you would be needing (whoever is applying for the visa)

*1. ****The Essentials:
*
**A valid Passport :
Ok so ladies, who are in Pakistan and would be joining their husbands soon and would be applying for their visa, it’s best recommended to get a new passport made with the husband’s name rather than your father’s. For that you’d need your NIC to be made again too with husband’s name. But this would show that your marriage is valid and is recorded with NADRA. And no you don’t need to change your maiden name. If you wish to adopt your husband’s name, then that’s fine but otherwise your own name suffices.

Nikkahnama:
The original Urdu document as well as English translation
Please get it registered with your local union council and get a proper Marriage certificate.

Birth Certificate: (your spouse as well as yours)
This is to show proof of age that you are above 21 years.

IELTS test report form:
IELTS is compulsory now for everyone who is applying for spouse visa regardless of studying English as a subject at Bachelors level. There are exemptions but it’s best to take IELTS to avoid refusals

TB certificate:
There are certified centres in various cities which offer TB testing esp for ppl applying for the UK visa.

The applicant’s cover letter highlighting and summarising the purpose for applying for the visa.

A notarized copy of the Sponsor’s passport and visa. (Notarized would mean that it should be duly attested and signed by a solicitor). If your spouse (sponsor) is a British National, then their British Citizenship certificate would do as well.

It’s advisable to attach a CV if the applicant has been working as well as qualifications to show that they are educated and can support themselves later and wouldn’t recourse to public funds.

Passport size photographs

CNIC original and a copy

and the completed visa application form

  1. Proof of Marriage:

***Nikahnama as already been mentioned along with the registered Marriage certificate
Include marriage invitation cards from both sides, photographs of the ceremony as well as photographs of both of you together at other times along with the families.
Please don’t include any DVDs of the movie coverage of the event. They have written there that it is not required.

[An optional would be to include any congratulatory wedding cards given to both of you by other family members]

***3. Evidence of contact:

*Now this is the trickiest one as mostly the entry clearance officers usually reject visa due to insufficient contact evidence. So if you are planning to apply for the visa any time soon, start collecting:
-skype call records
-Sms records
-itemised phone bills showing you both have talked to each other
-emails exchanged
-greeting cards if sent to each other :stuck_out_tongue:
-if you have sent or received any gift, money etc…print the invoice and attach it (crazy I know :hehe:)
**
4. Sponsor’s documents:

**
**In addition to passport and visa’s copy or the british passport copy:

A sponsor letter confirming that the sponsor has funds, job, house etc to support their spouse and apply for visa.

Pass notification of Life in the UK test (If the sponsor is settled or is on ILR)

For Evidence of accomodation, please provide tenancy agreement (if you have rented property) or mortgage claim etc.
Proof of address can be provided by adding utility bills (electricity, water etc) with address in the name of your sponsor
Council tax bill if available should also be attached

For **Evidence of employment and income **of the sponsor, attach recent payslips as well as bank statements of current or savings account showing there is enough income for expenditure.
p60 should be attached as well (end of year tax certificate). It’s an important document.

air travel itineraries or e-tickets showing travel details to Pakistan to confirm the sponsor has visited and met the applicant.

Oh and one more thing don’t attach calling cards to show your contact with your spouse as they are no proof that you had been using them to contact them back in Pakistan.

Phewww, done :stuck_out_tongue:

I think this is pretty much an essential and concise list of all the supporting documents you would be requiring. If you ppl need any more help, please PM me. :slight_smile:

PS Give original documents rather than copies.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Hey - but if I have degrees that have been taught in English and are UK equivalent, any idea how long the NARIC people would take certifying them?

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

@Enigmatic & co.

Nikkahnama:
The original Urdu document as well as English translation
Please get it registered with your local union council and get a proper Marriage certificate.

If he is getting it translated from UK, I don't need to do anything about the nikah nama, hanna?

Birth Certificate: (your spouse as well as yours)
This is to show proof of age that you are above 21 years.

I don't have my birth ceritificate so a form-B translated in English would work?

IELTS test report form:
IELTS is compulsory now for everyone who is applying for spouse visa regardless of studying English as a subject at Bachelors level. There are exemptions but it's best to take IELTS to avoid refusals

How long does it take to prepare for this and after what duration is the test normally? I have 2 degrees taught in English, can i not get them certified from NARIC instead?

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Hey Enigmatic
Thanks so much

In answer to your question it is now 18 rather than 21 age limite as per the High court ruling on the 12th Oct 11

www.supremecourt.gov.uk/decided-cases/index.html and look for the acila case around the 12th Oct ..

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

has it chaged back to 18 ? thats brill :slight_smile:

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

thanks enigmatic, your a star :)

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

@DaffyDuck

Nikahnama:
If he is getting it translated from UK, I don't need to do anything about the nikah nama, hanna?
Whoever is getting the Nikahnama translated doesn't matter but you need to show that your marriage is registered with your local union council. They give this Marriage Certificate with a Registered Marriage Number for each couple.

Birth Certificate: (your spouse as well as yours)
This is to show proof of age that you are above 21 years.

I don't have my birth ceritificate so a form-B translated in English would work?
Yes I am sure it would work. But just in case you can get your own birth certificate made from NADRA after showing the B form within 2 3 days

IELTS test report form:
IELTS is compulsory now for everyone who is applying for spouse visa regardless of studying English as a subject at Bachelors level. There are exemptions but it's best to take IELTS to avoid refusals

How long does it take to prepare for this and after what duration is the test normally? I have 2 degrees taught in English, can i not get them certified from NARIC instead?
IELTS is very easy. Esp for the spouse visa you only need a band of 5, which am sure you can easily get. You can appear for both General OR Academic type of IELTS. But if you plan to work in the UK then passing the Academic IELTS would be compulsory. I took my IELTS right next to my last mock paper of my final year. I just knew about the pattern. Didn't study at all and ended up getting 8 AH. And knowing your English is MA brilliant and much better than mine, am sure you'd ace it too IA

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

You are welcome. I know how hard it was to get all the documents and apply for visa without knowing anyone who had recently applied for it. Best of luck to all of you. I have heard that the processing is taken at a much lesser time than previously.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Eni is so clever :naak:

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Enigma - please answer my questions too .. pretttyyyy plzzz

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

DD I just did. Check my post above.
And inspii I wish I was clever. You are sweet. :hugz:

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Thanks @Enigmatic

Do you have links to IELTS --> General Training in Pakistan? Where can i register for it? and after how long does the result come in?

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Just checked, there are no test dates available till January 2012. OMG I have to apply for the visa by November end .. ! :( :( :( :(

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Thanks Najim -

Perhaps, you’d be able to help me with one more thing as well. I am unable to get an IELTS test date before the next year. I’ve got a letter from my university which states that my BS & MS degrees were both taught in English. I will send the degrees & the letter to **NARIC **for the certificate. Will the certificate be enough to prove i know the basics of English?

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Yes, You can send your original degrees to your husband in UK with the University letter. He can then send them (degrees & University letter) to NARIC to have them authenticated. Once you get the report for NARIC please keep it safe, because you can use the same report when you will apply for ILR later ON. Also you can use NARIC report, if you plan to apply for jobs and if future employer requires degree details.

Plus NARIC is cheaper too ;)

Good luck.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

you can apply to NARIC directly from here as well.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

I am getting no dates for IELTS General Training, why would it be a problem if I give the Academic one instead?

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Hi Daffy, you can do either. The speaking and listening parts are the same I believe (saying this from memory). The Academic one is harder (and worth more) but I'm sure you will be fine. My husband and I think Eni both did it without studying and got high marks.

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Re: UK Spouse Visa

Here is the link with the info about English requirements: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/partners-other-family/guidance-for-applicants.pdf

Here is the document listing all allowed exams Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) - GOV.UK