spouse visa cover letter uk

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Uk spouse visa cover letter guide.

UK Spouse Visa Cover Letter .When applying for a spouse visa, a cover letter is an essential part of the application process. It is a document that outlines the purpose of the visa application, highlights the applicant’s relationship with their spouse, and provides any additional information that may be relevant to the application. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to write a spouse visa cover letter, including the required information and tips on how to make your cover letter stand out.

What is a Spouse Visa Cover Letter?

A spouse visa cover letter is a document that accompanies the application for a spouse visa. It is used to provide additional information to the immigration officer, who will be making a decision on the visa application. The cover letter should provide an overview of the applicant’s relationship with their spouse, the purpose of the visa application, and any additional information that may be relevant.

Purpose of the Spouse Visa Cover Letter

The purpose of the spouse visa cover letter is to convince the immigration officer that the applicant’s relationship with their spouse is genuine, and that they meet all the eligibility requirements for the visa. The cover letter should provide a clear and concise summary of the applicant’s situation, including the reason for the visa application, the applicant’s personal circumstances, and their relationship with their spouse.

Required Information for the Spouse Visa Cover Letter

The spouse visa cover letter should include the following information:

Introduction

The introduction should provide the immigration officer with an overview of the visa application, including the applicant’s name, their spouse’s name, and the purpose of the visa application.

Relationship with Spouse

The cover letter should outline the applicant’s relationship with their spouse, including how and when they met, when they got married, and any other relevant information about their relationship.

Financial Circumstances

The applicant should provide information about their financial circumstances, including their income, their spouse’s income, and any savings or assets they may have.

Accommodation

The cover letter should provide information about where the applicant and their spouse will be living, including the address and any rental or mortgage agreements.

Supporting Documents

The cover letter should list any supporting documents that are being provided as part of the visa application, including copies of passports, marriage certificates, and financial statements.

The conclusion should summarize the information provided in the cover letter, reiterating the purpose of the visa application and expressing gratitude for the immigration officer’s time and consideration.

Tips for Writing an Effective Spouse Visa Cover Letter

When writing a spouse visa cover letter, there are several tips that can help make your application stand out:

Be Concise and to the Point

The cover letter should be concise and to the point, providing only the necessary information to support your application.

Use a Formal Tone

The cover letter should be written in a formal tone, using professional language and avoiding slang or colloquialisms.

Highlight Your Relationship with Your Spouse

The cover letter should emphasize the genuine nature of the relationship between the applicant and their spouse, providing specific details about their history together.

Provide Relevant Supporting Documents

The cover letter should be accompanied by relevant supporting documents, including copies of passports, marriage certificates, and financial statements.

Proofread and Edit Carefully

The cover letter should be proofread and edited carefully to ensure that there are no errors or inconsistencies.

• What should I include in my spouse visa cover letter? A spouse visa cover letter should include an introduction, information about the relationship with the spouse, financial circumstances, accommodation, and supporting documents. Make sure to emphasize the genuine nature of your relationship with your spouse.
• Can I submit a handwritten cover letter? No, it is recommended to type your spouse visa cover letter and make sure it is clear, concise, and easy to read.
• Should I include a cover letter if I am applying for a fiance visa ? Yes, a cover letter is recommended for all types of visa applications. Make sure to highlight your relationship with your fiance and provide all necessary information.
• How long should my spouse visa cover letter be? Your spouse visa cover letter should be concise and to the point. It is recommended to keep it to one page if possible.
• Can I use a template for my spouse visa cover letter? Yes, there are many Spouse visa cover letter templates available online that can be used as a guide for writing a spouse visa cover letter. However, make sure to customize the letter to your specific situation and provide all necessary information.

In conclusion, a spouse visa cover letter is an essential part of the visa application process. It should provide a clear and concise summary of the applicant’s situation, including the purpose of the visa application, their personal circumstances, and their relationship with their spouse. By following the tips outlined in this guide, applicants can create an effective and convincing cover letter that will help support their visa application

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UK Returning Residence Visa Guide in 2023

A UK Returning Residence Visa is a type of visa that allows British citizens or permanent residents who have lived outside of the UK for an extended period of time to return to the country. This visa is especially useful for those who have lost their permanent resident status due to long-term absence from the UK. In this guide, we will go through the eligibility criteria, requirements, application process, and other important information about the UK Returning Residence Visa.

Who is eligible for a UK Returning Residence Visa?

To be eligible for a UK Returning Residence Visa, you must have been a British citizen or have had indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK before you left the country. You must have also been living outside the UK for at least two years before you apply for the visa.

What are the requirements for a UK Returning Residence Visa?

In order to obtain a UK Returning Residence Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have previously been a British citizen or have had indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
• You must have been living outside of the UK for at least two years.
• You must have strong ties to the UK, such as family or property.
• You must have no criminal convictions or pose a threat to national security.

How to apply for a UK Returning Residence Visa?

To apply for a UK Returning Residence Visa, you must complete an online application form and provide the required documents. You can apply from outside the UK or from within the country if you have a valid visa. It is recommended that you apply at least three months before you plan to travel to the UK.

What documents are required for a UK Returning Residence Visa application?

The following documents are required for a UK Returning Residence Visa application:

• A valid passport or travel document
• Proof of residence outside the UK for at least two years
• Evidence of ties to the UK, such as family or property
• A tuberculosis (TB) test certificate (if applicable)
• A criminal record certificate (if applicable)
• Bank statements or other financial documents to prove that you can support yourself during your stay in the UK

What is the financial requirement for the UK Returning Residence Visa in 2023?

To meet the financial requirement for the UK Returning Residence Visa, you must have a certain amount of money in savings or income. The amount you need to have depends on your circumstances, such as whether you are returning alone or with a partner and/or children. Here are the current financial requirements for the UK Returning Residence Visa:

• If you are returning alone, you must have at least £1,890 in savings.
• If you are returning with a partner, you must have at least £2,640 in savings.
• If you are returning with a partner and one child, you must have at least £3,290 in savings.
• If you are returning with a partner and two children, you must have at least £3,890 in savings.
• You can meet the financial requirement through income from employment or self-employment, pensions, or other sources of income.
• If you do not have enough money in savings, you can combine income and savings to meet the financial requirement.
• You must provide evidence of your income and savings as part of your visa application.

How long does it take to process a UK Returning Residence Visa application?

The processing time for a UK Returning Residence Visa application varies depending on the country you are applying from. In some cases, it can take up to 12 weeks to process the application. You can check the processing times for your country on the UK government website.

Can I work in the UK with a Returning Residence Visa?

Yes, you can work in the UK with a Returning Residence Visa. However, you must not start work until your visa application has been approved.

8. Can I bring my family with me on a Returning Residence Visa?

Yes, you can bring your family members with you on a Returning Residence Visa if they meet the eligibility criteria. Your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under the age of 18 can apply for a visa as your dependents.

• What happens if my visa application is refused?

If your visa application is refused, you can apply for an administrative review or make an appeal. It is important to carefully review the reasons for the refusal and address them in your appeal or review application.

How long can I stay in the UK with a Returning Residence Visa?

You can stay in the UK with a Returning Residence Visa for up to 5 years. After that, you can apply for settlement, which will allow you to stay in the UK indefinitely.

• Can I apply for a Returning Residence Visa if I was previously a permanent resident but lost my status due to long-term absence from the UK? Yes, you can apply for a Returning Residence Visa if you were previously a permanent resident but lost your status due to long-term absence.
• Can I apply for a Returning Residence Visa if I have a criminal record? It depends on the nature and severity of the offense. You may be ineligible if you have committed certain crimes or pose a threat to national security.
• How much does a UK Returning Residence Visa cost? The fee for a UK Returning Residence Visa is currently £516.
• How long does it take to get a decision on a Returning Residence Visa application? The processing time varies depending on the country you are applying from, but it can take up to 12 weeks in some cases.
• Can I travel to the UK while my Returning Residence Visa application is being processed? It is not recommended to travel to the UK while your application is being processed, as it may affect your application.

Obtaining a UK Returning Residence Visa can seem like a daunting process, but with the right information and preparation, it can be a smooth and successful experience. Remember to carefully review the eligibility criteria, requirements, and application process before submitting your application.

What is the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

UK Displaced Talent Visa .As the world continues to change, so does the job market. The UK Displaced Talent Visa is a new initiative aimed at attracting top talent from countries affected by conflict or natural disasters. This visa offers a unique opportunity for individuals to start a new life in the UK and pursue their careers. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the UK Displaced Talent Visa, including eligibility, application process, and benefits.

The UK Displaced Talent Visa is a new visa category that allows talented individuals from countries affected by conflict or natural disasters to come to the UK and work. This visa is aimed at individuals who have exceptional talent in fields such as science, engineering, and technology, and who have been displaced from their home countries due to conflict or natural disasters.

Who is eligible for the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

To be eligible for the UK Displaced Talent Visa, you must be able to demonstrate exceptional talent in a field such as science, engineering, or technology. You must also be able to demonstrate that you have been displaced from your home country due to conflict or natural disasters.

How do I apply for the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

To apply for the UK Displaced Talent Visa, you must first apply for an endorsement from a designated endorsing body. The endorsing body will assess your application and determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria. If your application is successful, you will be issued with an endorsement letter, which you can use to apply for the visa.

What are the benefits of the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

The UK Displaced Talent Visa offers a range of benefits to talented individuals who have been displaced from their home countries. These include the opportunity to work and live in the UK, access to world-class research facilities and universities, and the chance to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in your field.

How long is the UK Displaced Talent Visa valid for?

The UK Displaced Talent Visa is initially granted for a period of 3 years. After this period, you can apply to extend your visa for a further 2 years. After 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK.

What is the application process for the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

The application process for the UK Displaced Talent Visa involves several steps. Firstly, you must apply for an endorsement from a designated endorsing body. Once you have received your endorsement letter, you can then apply for the visa itself. As part of the application process, you will be required to provide evidence of your exceptional talent, as well as evidence that you have been displaced from your home country.

How long does it take to process a UK Displaced Talent Visa application?

The processing time for a UK Displaced Talent Visa application can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of your application and the number of applications being processed at the time. In general, you can expect the processing time to take between 3-8 weeks.

Can I bring my family with me to the UK on a Displaced Talent Visa?

Yes, you can bring your spouse, partner, and dependent children with you to the UK on a Displaced Talent Visa. Your family members will be able to live and work in the UK for the duration of your visa.

How can the UK Displaced Talent Visa benefit the UK economy?

The UK Displaced Talent Visa can benefit the UK economy in several ways. Firstly, it allows the UK to attract and retain some of the world’s top talent in science, engineering, and technology, which can help to drive innovation and economic growth. Additionally, the visa program can help to address skills shortages in certain sectors, particularly those that have been impacted by the pandemic.

What are the challenges associated with the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

While the UK Displaced Talent Visa offers many benefits, there are also some challenges associated with the program. One of the main challenges is ensuring that the visa program is accessible to those who need it most, particularly those who may not have access to the resources needed to apply. Additionally, there may be challenges in ensuring that individuals who come to the UK on the visa are able to integrate successfully into UK society.

What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the UK Displaced Talent Visa program. While the pandemic has highlighted the importance of attracting and retaining top talent in fields such as science and engineering, it has also made it more difficult for individuals to apply for the visa. Additionally, the pandemic has created uncertainty around the future of work and migration, which may impact the visa program in the long term.

What are the key takeaways from the UK Displaced Talent Visa?

The UK Displaced Talent Visa is a new visa category aimed at attracting top talent from countries affected by conflict or natural disasters. The visa offers a unique opportunity for individuals to start a new life in the UK and pursue their careers in fields such as science, engineering, and technology. To be eligible for the visa, individuals must be able to demonstrate exceptional talent in their field and must have been displaced from their home country due to conflict or natural disasters.

• Can I apply for the UK Displaced Talent Visa if I am already in the UK?

No, the UK Displaced Talent Visa is only available to individuals who are outside of the UK. If you are already in the UK, you may be able to apply for a different visa category.

• What documents do I need to provide as part of my visa application?

You will need to provide evidence of your exceptional talent in your field, as well as evidence that you have been displaced from your home country due to conflict or natural disasters. You will also need to provide evidence of your identity and a valid passport.

• How long does the endorsement process take?

The endorsement process can take up to 8 weeks. However, it is important to note that the process may take longer if additional information is required.

• Can I work for any employer on a Displaced Talent Visa?

No, you can only work for the employer who has endorsed your visa application. If you wish to change employers, you will need to apply for a new visa.

If your visa application is refused, you may be able to apply for an administrative review or an appeal. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that your application will be successful on appeal. It is therefore important to ensure that your application is as strong as possible before submitting it.

The UK Displaced Talent Visa is a promising initiative that has the potential to benefit both the UK and talented individuals who have been displaced from their home countries. By attracting top talent in fields such as science, engineering, and technology, the visa program can help to drive innovation and economic growth in the UK.

However, there are also challenges associated with the program, particularly around ensuring that it is accessible to those who need it most. Overall, the UK Displaced Talent Visa is an important step forward in promoting international cooperation and talent mobility.

UK Government Authorised Exchange Visa Guide

The UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is a visa category that allows foreign nationals to undertake work experience or training in the UK for a temporary period. This visa is designed to promote cultural exchange and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills. It is a popular choice among students, recent graduates, and young professionals who want to gain international work experience and improve their employability. If you are considering applying for this visa, this guide provides all the information you need to know.

What is the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?

The UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is a type of visa that allows foreign nationals to undertake work experience or training in the UK. This visa is specifically designed for those who want to gain work experience or training in their field of study or expertise. It is open to people aged 18 to 30 years old from selected countries, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Taiwan, and the British overseas territories. The visa is valid for up to 24 months, depending on the type of exchange program.

Who can apply for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?

To be eligible for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of one of the eligible countries.
• Be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application.
• Have a valid passport and enough funds to support yourself during your stay in the UK.
• Have a letter of endorsement from an approved sponsor organization in the UK.
• Meet the English language requirement, which is at least CEFR level B2.
• Meet the maintenance requirement, which is having at least £2,530 in savings in your bank account for at least 28 days before you apply.

How to apply for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?

To apply for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa, you need to follow these steps:

• Check your eligibility: Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements before you apply.
• Find a sponsor: You need to have a letter of endorsement from an approved sponsor organization in the UK. You can find a sponsor organization through the official government website or by contacting your embassy or consulate.
• Prepare your documents: You need to prepare all the required documents, including your passport, letter of endorsement, and evidence of funds and English language proficiency.
• Apply online: You can apply for the visa online through the official government website. You need to create an account and complete the online application form.
• Pay the application fee: The application fee for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is currently £244. You can pay the fee online using a debit or credit card.
• Attend a biometric appointment: You need to attend a biometric appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre in your country. During the appointment, your fingerprints and photograph will be taken.
• Wait for a decision: The processing time for the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is usually around 3 weeks. You will be notified by email when a decision has been made.

Q: Can I work in the UK on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa ? A: Yes, you can work in the UK while on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa. However, you cannot work as a professional sportsperson, a doctor or dentist in training, or as a paid entertainer.

Q: Can I bring my dependents with the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa ?

A: No, you cannot bring your dependents on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa. This visa is only for individuals who want to undertake work experience or training in the UK, and it does not allow for dependents to accompany them.

Q: How long can I stay in the UK on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa? A: The UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is valid for up to 24 months, depending on the type of exchange program. However, you cannot extend this visa or switch to another visa category while you are in the UK.

Q: Can I travel in and out of the UK while on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa? A: Yes, you can travel in and out of the UK while on the UK Government Authorised Exchange visa. However, you must make sure that your visa is still valid and that you have all the required documents, such as your passport and letter of endorsement, when you re-enter the UK.

The UK Government Authorised Exchange visa is a great option for individuals who want to gain work experience or training in the UK. This visa allows you to work and live in the UK for a temporary period, and it can be a valuable addition to your resume or CV. If you are interested in applying for this visa, make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements and follow the application process carefully. With the right preparation and planning, you can make the most of this opportunity and enjoy all that the UK has to offer.

What is UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa .Are you a highly skilled worker looking for new job opportunities in the UK? The UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa might be the right choice for you.

What is a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

The UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is a type of visa that allows highly skilled workers to come to the UK to work. This visa category is for workers who have been offered a skilled job in the UK and have the relevant skills, qualifications, and experience.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you must meet the following criteria:

You must have a job offer from a UK employer who is willing to sponsor you. The job offer must be for a skilled job that meets the minimum salary threshold.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

You must have the necessary skills, qualifications, and experience to do the job. The job must be at RQF level 6 or above, which means it requires a degree or equivalent.

English Language Requirement

You must meet the English language requirement by passing an approved English language test or holding a degree that was taught in English.

Financial Requirement

You must meet the financial requirement by having enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds.

Application Process

To apply for a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you must follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Check your eligibility by going through the eligibility criteria mentioned above.

Step 2: Get a Job Offer

Get a job offer from a UK employer who is willing to sponsor you.

Step 3: Gather Documents

Gather the necessary documents, including your passport, job offer letter, proof of qualifications, and proof of English language proficiency.

Step 4: Apply Online

Apply online through the UK government website by filling in the application form and paying the application fee.

Step 5: Biometric Appointment

Attend a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photograph.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Wait for a decision on your visa application. You should receive a decision within three weeks if you apply from outside the UK or within eight weeks if you apply from within the UK.

Benefits of a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

A UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa offers several benefits, including:

Work in the UK

You can work in the UK for the duration of your visa.

Bring Family Members

You can bring your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under 18 to the UK as your dependents.

Travel In and Out of the UK

You can travel in and out of the UK as many times as you like while your visa is valid.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

After five years of living and working in the UK on a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you may be eligible to apply for ILR.

1. How long does a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa last?

A UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa can last for up to five years.

2. Can I switch to a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa from inside the UK?

Yes, you can switch to a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa from inside the UK if you meet the eligibility criteria.

3. Can I apply for ILR if I hold a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

Yes, you may be eligible to apply for ILR after five years of living and working in the UK on a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.

4. What happens if my job ends while I’m on a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

If your job ends while you’re on a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you have 60 days to find a new job and apply for a new visa. If you can’t find a new job within 60 days, you must leave the UK.

The UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is a great option for highly skilled workers who want to work in the UK. With this visa, you can work in the UK, bring your family members, and travel in and out of the country as much as you like. If you’re eligible for this visa category, we encourage you to apply and take advantage of the many opportunities the UK has to offer.

How to Apply UK Scale Up Sponsor Licence?

Scale Up Sponsor Licence.If you are a UK-based business looking to grow and expand, one of the key steps is to obtain a sponsor licence. A sponsor licence allows you to hire skilled workers from overseas, thus expanding your workforce and growing your business. In this post, we will discuss how to scale up your business by obtaining a sponsor licence, the requirements and procedures involved, and the benefits of doing so.

What is a scale up sponsor licence?

A sponsor licence is a license issued by the UK government that allows UK-based businesses to sponsor skilled workers from overseas. A sponsor licence is issued by the Home Office and is valid for four years. To obtain a sponsor licence, you need to meet certain requirements and follow specific procedures.

Who can apply for a scale up sponsor licence?

Any UK-based business can apply for a sponsor licence. However, to be eligible for a sponsor licence, you need to meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• Being a legitimate business entity registered in the UK
• Having a genuine need for skilled workers from overseas
• Being able to provide evidence of your ability to offer employment to sponsored workers
• Being able to comply with UK immigration laws and regulations

What are the requirements for a sponsor licence?

To obtain a sponsor licence, you need to meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• Providing evidence of your business registration
• Providing evidence of your ability to offer employment to sponsored workers
• Providing evidence of your ability to comply with UK immigration laws and regulations
• Designating key personnel responsible for managing your sponsorship duties
• Paying the appropriate fee

How to apply for a sponsor licence

To apply for a sponsor licence, you need to follow specific procedures. These procedures include:

• Completing an online application form
• Providing the necessary documents and evidence to support your application
• Submitting your application to the Home Office

What happens after you apply for a sponsor licence?

After you submit your application for a sponsor licence, the Home Office will review your application and conduct an assessment. This assessment may involve a visit to your business premises to verify the information provided in your application. If your application is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence.

How long does it take to obtain a sponsor licence?

The time it takes to obtain a sponsor licence can vary depending on the complexity of your application and the workload of the Home Office. However, the standard processing time for a sponsor licence application is approximately eight weeks.

What are the benefits of having a sponsor licence?

Obtaining a sponsor licence can provide many benefits to your business, including:

• Access to a larger pool of skilled workers from overseas
• The ability to fill skills shortages in your workforce
• Increased productivity and competitiveness
• Improved business performance and growth
• The ability to sponsor workers for permanent residency or citizenship in the UK

How to maintain your sponsor licence

Once you have obtained a sponsor licence, it is important to maintain it. To do so, you need to comply with the requirements and responsibilities set out by the Home Office. These responsibilities include:

• Keeping accurate and up-to-date records of sponsored workers
• Reporting any changes to sponsored workers’ employment status or circumstances to the Home Office
• Complying with UK immigration laws and regulations
• Cooperating with Home Office audits and inspections

Common mistakes to avoid when applying for a sponsor licence

When applying for a sponsor licence, it is important to avoid common mistakes that can lead to your application being rejected. These mistakes include:

• Providing incomplete or incorrect information in your application
• Failing to provide sufficient evidence to support your application
• Failing to designate key personnel responsible for managing your sponsorship duties
• Failing to comply with UK immigration laws and regulations

How to maximize the benefits of your sponsor licence

To maximize the benefits of your sponsor licence, it is important to have a solid recruitment strategy in place. This strategy should include:

• Identifying the skills and qualifications needed for your business
• Advertising your job vacancies in the appropriate places
• Screening and interviewing candidates thoroughly
• Providing training and support for sponsored workers
• Creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture

FAQs scale up sponsor licence

• How much does it cost to apply for a sponsor licence? The cost of applying for a sponsor licence depends on the size of your business and the type of licence you are applying for. The current fees range from £536 to £1,476.
• Can I sponsor workers for any type of job with a sponsor licence? No, you can only sponsor workers for jobs that are on the UK government’s list of eligible occupations.
• How long does a sponsor licence last? A sponsor licence is valid for four years.
• Can I apply for a sponsor licence if I have previously been refused or had a licence revoked? Yes, but you will need to address the issues that led to the refusal or revocation in your new application.
• Can I apply for a sponsor licence if I am a sole trader or a partnership? Yes, but you will need to provide additional evidence to show that you are a genuine business entity and that you can comply with the requirements of a sponsor licence.

Conclusion scale up sponsor licence

Obtaining a sponsor licence can be a great way to scale up your business by accessing a larger pool of skilled workers from overseas. However, it is important to follow the correct procedures and comply with the requirements set out by the Home Office. By doing so, you can enjoy the benefits of a diverse and skilled workforce, increased productivity and competitiveness, and improved business growth.

UK Student Dependant Visa Guide in 2023

UK Student Dependant Visa .Studying in the UK is a dream come true for many international students. However, leaving your family behind can be difficult, especially if you’re planning to stay for an extended period. Fortunately, the UK offers a student dependant visa that allows your spouse/partner and children to join you during your studies. In this guide, we’ll dive into the details of the UK student dependant visa , eligibility criteria, application process, and FAQs.

UK Student Dependant Visa: Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a UK student dependant visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a valid Tier 4 (General) student visa or a Student visa .
• You must be sponsored by a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or a UK-based independent school that holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence.
• You must have enough money to support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds.
• Your dependants must be your spouse/partner and/or children under 18 years old.

UK Student Dependant Visa: Application Process

To apply for a UK student dependant visa, follow these steps:

• Complete the online application form on the UK government website.
• Pay the application fee, which is currently £610 per dependant.
• Provide supporting documents, including:
• Valid passports and visa/entry clearance for all applicants
• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
• Proof of finances, including bank statements, payslips, and/or sponsorship letter
• TB test results (if applicable)
• Submit your application and biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) at a visa application centre.
• Wait for a decision, which can take up to 12 weeks.

UK Student Dependant Visa: FAQs

Q: How long is the UK student dependant visa valid for?

A: The UK student dependant visa is valid for the same duration as the student visa.

Q: Can my dependants work in the UK with a student dependant visa?

A: Yes, they can work in the UK, but they must apply for a separate work visa.

Q: Can I switch to a student dependant visa from another visa category?

A: Yes, you can switch to a student dependant visa if you’re already in the UK on a valid visa.

Q: Can I extend my dependants’ visa?

A: Yes, you can extend your dependants’ visa if you’re still in the UK on a student visa.

Q: Can my dependants study in the UK with a student dependant visa?

A: Yes, they can study in the UK, but they must apply for a separate student visa.

Studying in the UK can be an enriching experience for international students. With the UK student dependant visa, you can now bring your family along for the ride. However, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and follow the application process carefully to ensure a successful application. We hope this guide has answered all your questions about the UK student dependant visa. Best of luck on your journey!

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In this article

UK Cover Letter for Visa Application

Composing an effective cover letter for your UK visa application with expert guidance and free samples.

When applying for a UK visa, sometimes the Embassy may request to submit a cover letter. The cover letter needs to be short and to the point; it must give the Embassy an apparent reason why you are applying for a UK visa. Read the article below for further information regarding the UK cover letter, what to include, and other questions you might have.

Who Needs a Cover Letter When Applying for a UK Visa?

Everyone who applies for a UK visa can submit a printed and signed cover letter attached to their visa application form. However, It is only necessary to submit a cover letter if it is noted in your visa application form.

Important: The cover letter explains in more detail the reason and the purpose of your visit to the UK. By submitting a cover letter, the Embassy or Consulate of the UK will have a clearer vision of why you are applying for a UK visa.

Types of UK Cover Letters

The Republic of the United Kingdom has different visa types that apply to everyone who wishes to apply for a UK visa for any different purpose. With that being said, there are also other types of UK cover letters, such as:

• Work cover letter
• Student cover letter
• Family reunion cover letter
• Tourist cover letter
• Business cover letter

You can write any of the mentioned cover letters depending on the visa type you are applying for.

How to Write a Cover Letter for UK Visa Applications?

Here are a few tips to help you write the perfect cover letter when applying for a UK visa:

• The first step is to include the Embassy’s information and the name of the country you are applying from.
• Full name (first and last)
• Passport number
• Citizenship
• The city and country you live in
• Your professional career
• The third step is to introduce the purpose of your visit to the UK and how long you are planning to stay.
• The fourth step is to explain in detail your trip itinerary; you must also include the accommodation and financial information (where you will stay and how you will financially support yourself during your stay in the UK).
• The fifth step is to mention the documents you will submit together with your cover letter when applying for your UK visa.
• The sixth step is to include your personal contact information, such as your email address and phone number. This information will help the embassy to contact you regarding your UK visa application results.

What Not to Do in a Cover Letter for UK Visa Application

Make sure you avoid these mistakes when writing your UK visa application cover letter:

• Do not write long sentences or paragraphs
• Be straightforward
• Keep it simple
• Do not copy your cover letter
• Do not include unnecessary personal details
• Do not be rude
• Do not make grammatical mistakes
• Do not give false information
• Be formal and respectful
• Do not forget any important information

Cover Letter for UK Visa Application Sample

Here is a simple sample you can refer to when writing your cover letter:

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• Visas and immigration
• Family in the UK

Family visas: apply, extend or switch

Apply as a partner or spouse.

To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over.

Your partner must also either:

• be a British or Irish citizen
• have settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• have protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection)
• have permission to stay as a stateless person

You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.

If your partner has settled or pre-settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme .

What you’ll need to prove

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving
• you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

You also need to prove you:

• have a good knowledge of English
• meet the financial requirements

If you cannot provide this proof you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay if:

• you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK
• it would breach your human rights to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave

If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

You must prove that:

• any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
• you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK

You will not be able to work or study during your engagement.

You’ll need to apply for permission to extend your stay in the UK when you marry or enter into a civil partnership. If your application is approved, you’ll have the right to work or study in the UK.

How to prove your relationship

Send evidence that:

• comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional
• confirms your relationship with your partner - for example, that you live together, share expenses or are married or in a civil partnership
• is less than 4 years old

You can use things like:

• a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
• a tenancy agreement, utility bills or council tax bills confirming that you live at the same address or pay bills together
• a bank statement from a joint bank account, or confirming that you live at the same address
• a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming that you live at the same address

If you do not have any evidence that meets these criteria, there is other evidence you can provide instead, including:

• a one-off bill like vet’s fees or home repair costs
• letters confirming you and your partner are on the voting register for the same address
• student finance paperwork confirming that you live at the same address

If you do not live together

If you cannot live together because of work or study, or for cultural reasons, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other. You can do this by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other  
• support each other financially  
• care for any children you have together  
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, you can stay for 6 months.

After this you’ll need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend or switch to this visa

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you’re in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must apply online from outside the UK .

You must apply online in the UK .

If you cannot pay the fee

You can apply for a fee waiver if you cannot pay the fee because you:

• do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Apply for a fee waiver online from outside the UK .

Apply for a fee waiver online from inside the UK .

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online visa application form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK you’ll usually get a decision within 24 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK and you meet the financial requirements and English language requirements , you’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK and you do not meet the financial requirements and English language requirements, it currently takes about 12 months to get a decision.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision .

Applying with your children

You can add children to your application as dependants if both of the following apply:

• they are under 18 when you apply, or were under 18 when they were first granted leave
• they do not live an independent life

Your child is living an independent life if, for example, they’ve left home, got married and had children.

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a partner.

You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK:

• on any other visa
• as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

If you applied before 9 July 2012

You can only extend your family visa if all the following are true:

• you were given permission to stay in the UK as a partner before 9 July 2012
• you are not eligible to settle in the UK
• you have not been granted or refused another visa

You must also prove that:

• you have knowledge of English  
• you and your partner have enough money to financially support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds

Check the information and evidence you’ll need to prove your income.

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Do I need to include a Cover Letter with my UK Spouse or Partner Visa Application?

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UK Spouse/Partner Visa Letter Templates!

Although it is not an official requirement to provide one, It is still frequently debated on internet forums and social media channels whether a Cover letter should be included in a UK Visa application. Cover letters are usually written by Immigration professionals as part of their client’s visa application. However, applicants and/or sponsors can also write their own cover letters if they are doing the application without a legal representative managing the application on their behalf. As mentioned above, if you choose to hire a legal representative to manage your case, it is usually included as part of their service. But if you are completing your/your partner’s application all by yourself, it is for you to decide as to whether providing a cover letter will be beneficial to your case or not.

What is the purpose of a Cover letter?

Cover letters are generally known as a document that is usually attached to a CV (curriculum vitae) or a job application. It provides a brief overview of your experience, skills, and qualifications, and to demonstrate your suitability for the position or opportunity you are applying for.

In the context of a UK Spouse visa, a cover letter plays a similar role. It is a letter written for the UK Home Office case worker, explaining the purpose of your visa application and to provide additional information about your relationship with your spouse (and dependants if applicable).

What information should I put in my Spouse/Partner Visa Cover Letter?

The primary purpose of the cover letter is to outline all the immigration rules pertaining to the visa and confirm that the applicant meets all of them. Effectively, it can act as a quick reference and/or provide further clarification for the Home Office case worker assessing the application. Therefore, to make your cover letter effective, try to focus on the essential points that are relevant to your case. There is no benefit in sharing the entire history about you, your partner and your relationship. - These facts may be important to you, but much of it won't be of importance to the case worker with regards to assessing if you satisfy the relationship test requirement. Briefly lay out how you meet each of the requirements for your application, including summaries of the relevant evidence you are submitting to prove it (you do not have list of every single document you will be providing). You can also mention and address other factors about your case which you feel may be significant, and you were not able to fully explain/include on the application form. Also, if you choose to include any important dates and figures that you have also entered on the application form, be sure that they all match to avoid any unnecessary suspicion from the case worker.  

Should the Applicant or Sponsor write the Cover Letter?

To answer this question, it is important to highlight what the difference is between a cover letter and a letter of support from the sponsor, when it comes to a UK spouse/partner application.

Cover Letters As already stated, a Cover letter provides a brief overview of your case and can also be used to raise and explain aspects of your specific circumstances, which you feel are important for the Home Office case worker to consider when reviewing your application.

Sponsor Letters of Support Sponsor letters are written by the British or settled spouse/partner and should confirm that the relationship is genuine and subsisting. It must also convey that they are willingly sponsoring their partner’s application. Invitation Letters These are usually only applicable for visitor visa applications when there is a UK sponsor/host and they need to explain the purpose of the applicant’s trip and relevant arrangements being made, such as who is covering the travel costs and providing accommodation for the applicant etc, during their stay.

Are there any other letters i need to include with my application.

Other letters that you must provide for your application will be subject to your specific circumstances. This particularly relates to your current financial situation and accommodation. For example, if you are relying on your sponsor’s employment income to meet the financial requirement, it is mandatory to provide a letter from their employer. Or another example is if you and your spouse/partner will be living at a property which is owned by family or friends, they would need to provide a letter to confirm that they consent to this.

Want ready made and easy to use letters to support your UK Spouse/Partner Visa Application or Extension?

Whether you want to provide a cover letter, need a declaration for your cash savings or a letter of consent from a family member to reside at their property, our UK Spouse & Partner Visa Letter Templates have got you completely covered!

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Melanie Wong is a Senior Immigration Solicitor based in London, UK.

With over 20 years of legal experience , she has extensive knowledge and exposure of all areas of UK immigration law, with particular expertise in handling difficult and technically complex cases , including UK Settlement, Human Rights and British nationality law.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information and law contained in this article is accurate and current as of the date of publication, we accept no responsibility for its accuracy or for any loss or damages arising from accessing, or the reliance, of this guidance.

Please also note that the information does not represent a complete statement of the Law and does not constitute legal advice .

If you would like specific professional advice about your UK immigration matter, please consider booking a consultation or one of my other legal services.

Making a UK Visa or Settlement application can be a stressful experience, and whilst there is a lot of ‘free’ information online, finding clear expert guidance that is up to date, and in line with your specific requirements can be a daunting task.

If you have any concerns about your case, it is recommended to reach out for advice from a trusted legal professional.

Submit your Enquiry for a Free Assessment of your Case here

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How to write a compelling cover letter for UK visa (that will impress the ECO)

Updated: September 6, 2023

A cover letter for UK visa is instrumental in persuading the ECO that you meet the visa requirements and have no intention of overstaying your visa. It gives you the opportunity to convince the ECO that you are a genuine visitor and you will promptly return back to your country.

A cover letter is a document to convey additional information that wasn’t asked in the UK visa application. It’s not a mandatory document but by far the most helpful document in increasing your chances of UK visa approval.

Table of Contents

Why do you need a cover letter for uk visa.

The information asked in the UK visa application isn’t enough to convince the ECO that you will return back to your home country after your trip. 

Most questions on the UK visa application are close-ended. They don’t give you an opportunity to explain. 

A cover letter allows you to explain in your own words and be as descriptive as you can. You can use your own format and even use illustrations if needed.

Is a cover letter mandatory for UK visa?

No. A cover letter is not mandatory for UK visa. It’s not even a document in the documents checklist for UK visa.

When I applied for my UK visa, I did not submit a cover letter. At that time, I didn’t know the importance of a cover letter for UK visa. I didn’t feel the need to explain anything additional, so I didn’t submit one. My visa was still approved. 

That’s not the case for everyone. A cover letter will not hurt your chances of approval, it can only help. It gives you an additional opportunity to convince the ECO. 

If I apply again for my UK visa, I would definitely submit a cover letter. 

What should you write in the cover letter?

A cover letter is not a mandatory document for UK visa. So obviously, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) does not provide any guidelines on what to include in the cover letter.

As you all know, I started this website in 2016. Since then, I have been helping my readers with their visas. I figured that a cover letter was the most helpful for UK visa. 

I have been writing cover letters for my readers. Over time, I learned that a cover letter with a certain format worked the best for UK visa. 

I would like to impart all my knowledge in this article, so you can write the most compelling cover letter for your UK visa. It will not only impress the ECO but will greatly improve your chances of visa approval.

So without any further delay, let’s get started. 

Format of the cover letter

The goal of the cover letter is to convince the ECO that you are a genuine visitor. You must do this in a simple, short and clear manner. ECOs rarely will have time for anything other than what’s asked.

Write your cover letter in simple words as if it’s meant for a 5th grader. If the language is too complicated to read, ECO will not bother to read it. 

Do not use words that people from your country can only understand. ECOs are from the UK and they can only understand the terms that they use in the UK. 

Example: It’s common for people in India to say something like “ please do the needful and revert back to me “. Even though it’s still understandable, saying something like “ please let me know if you need anything else from me ” will help the ECO understand better. 

Remember, a cover letter is not a mandatory document. ECO is doing you a favor by reading it. So, make it easy for the ECO.

Your cover letter should never be longer than two pages. ECOs rarely have time for things other than what’s asked in the application. If you present them with a booklet, they will toss it in the trash without even looking at it. 

Again remember, a cover letter is not mandatory. It should not consume too much of ECO’s time.

To further simplify your cover letter, format it with subheadings, bullets and highlights. This helps the ECO to quickly glance over the letter and read any section that interests them. 

Example:   Instead of writing like this – 

“ I intend to travel to the UK for tourism from 20 June 2021 to 24 June 2021 and I plan to visit various attractions in London such as Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, National Gallery, etc. “

Write like this – 

• I intend to travel to the UK for tourism. My travel dates are from 20 June 2021 to 27 June 2021. 
• 20 June 2021: Arrive at Heathrow International Airport at 3 PM. Check-In and dinner.
• 21 June 2021: Visit Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London
• 22 June 2021: Visit Tower Bridge and London Eye
• 23 June 2021: Visit Madame Tussauds and National Gallery
• 24 June 2021: Depart from Heathrow International Airport at 10 AM

Sections in the cover letter

It’s important to break the cover letter into different sections. This helps the ECO quickly glance through the letter and understand the gist of it. If needed, the ECO can read specific sections. Your cover letter for UK visa must contain the following sections.

Section 1: Your previous UK visa refusals

In the UK visa application, there is a question on previous UK visa refusals. It asks about your previous UK visa refusal and its details. This question asks you to explain why your UK visa was refused but doesn’t ask why it shouldn’t have been refused

There is no other place in the application to address your previous visa refusals either. There is the “additional/extra information” area, but it’s only for text and not suitable for formatting or pictures. Therefore, the cover letter is the most appropriate place for addressing your previous UK visa refusal. 

If you are re-applying to challenge your UK visa refusal , include a section in your cover letter specifically for your previous visa refusal. Address your previous visa refusal with evidence, additional information and documentation. 

Keep this section as the first section in your cover letter. Having this section at the beginning of the cover letter will help the new ECO get straight to the point. Otherwise, they may overlook and your efforts of re-application may go to waste.

Here is an example.

Previous UK Visa Refusal

My previous application for the UK visitor visa with GWF number GWF12345678 was refused on 16 March 2021. 

I would like to address the reason for the refusal with additional information and documentation.

Reason for refusal: The sources of the deposit (£850) were not demonstrated by the documents provided.

Explanation: The deposit in question was made on 05-Dec-2020 for the amount of £850. This amount was the yearly bonus from my employer. Yearly bonuses are deposited in the first week of December every year. Please find the attached documentation to prove that these funds are available to me.

Additional Documentation: (1) Bonus slip, (2) bonus announcement email and (3) letter from my employer with details of bonus, amount and dates.

Section 2: Your travel purpose and itinerary

In this section, mention your purpose of visit and proposed itinerary in the UK. The itinerary must be detailed enough but not too descriptive to confuse the ECO. Format it with bullets and/or a table.

Proposed Travel Itinerary

• I intend to travel to the UK for tourism for a total of 7 days. My travel dates are from 14 Oct 2021 to 20 Oct 2021.
• My planned day-by-day itinerary is as follows

Section 3: People traveling with you to the UK

In this section, mention the people that will travel with you to the UK. If you are applying for the visa with your family members, mention their details such as name, passport number and GWF number. 

Each individual must submit one UK visa application. Say if a husband, wife and child are traveling to the UK together, each of them must submit a separate UK visa application. There is no easy way to tie these applications together. 

There is a question in the application asking for travel companions, but mentioning them again in your cover letter will help tie them all together. 

Travel Companions

I will be traveling to the UK with my wife and son. The GWF numbers of my wife’s and son’s UK visa applications are as follows.

Section 4: Your current employment/business or university details

In this section, mention your current employment details. Include details such as the employer’s name, how long you have been working and your current salary.

Employment Details

• I currently work for Samcore Logistics, LTD, Dubai as a product manager.
• I have been working as a product manager at Samcore Logistics, LTD since Nov 2014.
• My monthly salary is 7,000 AED after taxes.
• An original letter from my employer, a leave approval letter and bank statements indicating the salary deposits are attached.

If you are a business owner, mention the details of your business such as your business name, your role in the company, yearly revenue, etc.

Business Details

• I own a construction business in Dubai since 2016. I’m the founder and president of the business.
• The business has been in positive cash flow since its inception with yearly revenue of 300,000 AED.
• A copy of my business registration, business license, bank statements and tax returns are attached.

If you are currently a student at the university, mention your university details along with the program, major and semester details.

University Details

• I’m a full-time student enrolled in the undergraduate program at the University of the Philippines.
• I’m currently in the second semester of my second year with another four semesters remaining to graduate.
• A letter from my university and the fee payment receipts are attached.

Section 5: Your current financial situation

In this section, mention your source of income, savings and the bank statements for your UK visa . 

If you have multiple bank accounts, this section is a good place to talk about it. Explain why you have multiple bank accounts and how they are connected.

Financial Solvency

• I currently have 300,000 INR (approx. 2,900 GBP) in my bank account.
• The source of my savings is my salary from my employer, WinTech Corporation.
• The last 6 months bank statements and payslips are attached.

It’s quite common for many to work in a foreign country and send all their earnings back home for family maintenance or savings. In such cases, you will have to submit bank statements from both countries, but most importantly, mention that clearly in this section.

If you use a broker or third party to send cash back home, errors can occur and transactions may not match. I highly recommend using a money transfer service such as Wise to transfer cash back to your home country.

Section 6: Your sponsorship information

If you are paying for your trip yourself, this section does not apply to you. Have this section in your cover letter only if someone else is paying for your trip. 

In this section, mention your sponsor details, your relationship with the sponsor, what expenses they will bear, etc. 

Sponsorship Details

• My brother is sponsoring my trip to the UK.
• He will bear all my travel expenses while I’m in the UK including accommodation, food and transportation.
• A letter from my brother, his UK residence permit, employment proofs, bank statements, his apartment lease contract and the document to prove our relationship are attached.

Section 7: Your travel history

In this section, mention your travel history. Travel history is very important and highlighting it will only help with your UK visa. Your travel history can include all your previous travels to the UK and other countries. If you have traveled to a country multiple times, mention that country only once.

Travel History

• In the last 5 years, I have traveled to 8 countries for both tourism and business. 
• The countries I have traveled to are Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE, Turkey and Denmark.
• A copy of my visas and entry and exit stamps from all the above countries are attached.

Section 8: Any family members staying back at home

In this section, mention any family members remaining at home during your UK trip. This helps prove your family ties with your country. Family ties indicate that you will return back to your country after your trip. 

Do not include this section if it does not apply to you.

Family Remaining at Home

• I currently live with my wife and two children.
• My wife and children will remain at home during my trip to the UK.
• A copy of my wife’s employment proof and children’s school receipts are attached.

Section 9: Your intention to return back

In this section, mention that you will promptly return back after your trip and the reasons for that. Reasons can be employment, business or attending to family needs. 

Intention to Return Back

• I intend to return to Pakistan after the end of my UK trip on 27 Oct 2021 as I have to report back to my employer and continue at my job on 28 Oct 2021.
• An original leave approval letter from my employer is attached.

Section 10: Any miscellaneous information

If you want to add something that didn’t fall under any specific section above, you can include it here. This could be something about properties you own (economic tie), your rental situation, covid safety precautions, etc.

Miscellaneous

• I currently live in a rental apartment. A copy of my rental contract is attached.
• I own farmland with my wife. A copy of my property ownership document is attached. 
• I assure you that I will follow COVID safety precautions throughout my trip.

A cover letter is not a mandatory document for UK visa. But in my experience, it’s the most helpful document. The goal of the cover letter is to convince the ECO that you are a genuine visitor. Your cover letter must be simple, short and clear. Break the cover letter into sections, paragraphs and bullet lists. Use pictures and screenshots if necessary.

That’s it, folks! Now you know how to write a compelling cover letter for UK visa. This will greatly improve the chances of your UK visa approval. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Spouse visa applications made easy! (Part 1)

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UK Spouse Visa Application – guidance – 2021

Uk spouse visa application made easy part 1.

Do you need to make a UK spouse visa application?  Do you and your spouse currently live hundreds of miles apart? Are you missing them and want to join them in the UK so you can live together permanently? Are you fed up of having to suffer the hassle and heartache of a long-distance relationship? If so, then you have come to the right place! Here at Andrew Williams Solicitors we have everything you need to help you make a successful spouse visa application to join your spouse in the UK.

Coming to the UK after making a successful spouse visa application will allow you to enter initially for two and a half years, during which time you must reside with your spouse. If you wish, you can also undertake employment or study. After the initial two and a half years, you can apply for a further two and a half years, providing your circumstances remain the same. After completing five years in the UK as a spouse, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your relationship with your spouse.

Are You Eligible?

To be eligible for a UK spouse visa, there are certain criteria that you and your spouse need to meet. Firstly, you must be married to your spouse and you must have met in person. Your spouse must either be a British national or someone with indefinite leave to enter/remain or with some other form of settlement. They must be residing in the UK or intending to reside in the UK permanently. You and your spouse must be able to demonstrate that you are in a genuine and subsisting relationship and that your spouse meets the financial requirements and has adequate means to accommodate you and any dependants in the UK. You will also need to demonstrate that you meet the English language requirements.

What you need to know and include within your application 

Making a UK spouse visa application without a Solicitor can be a daunting process, due to the volume of evidence required and complicated immigration rules you need to meet. This is where we can help. Andrew Williams Solicitors are available to help you perfect your spouse visa application without the headache of trying to do everything yourself.

Required Documents

Andrew Williams Solicitors, can provide you with a comprehensive document checklist, which provides you with a list of all the documents you will need to submit with the application. This document checklist is prepared by one of our experienced immigration Solicitors, who has over 20 years’ experience of preparing spouse visa applications.  One of the main reasons individuals are refused their spouse visas is because they fail to provide all the necessary documents, so we believe having a comprehensive document checklist at the beginning of the process will help you to focus on the important documents.

Cover Letter

If you plan to make your own application then we would always advise you to include a detailed covering letter with your application. Your cover letter should outline the immigration rules and how you meet them. It should also include details of what documents you are providing with the application and an explanation of why you are relying on them.  A detailed cover letter can help you fully explain how you meet the specific immigration rules and why you are eligible for a spouse visa. You should start your covering letter by providing your personal details and those of your spouse. You should then explain what type of application your making before going into the background of your relationship. In the background section, you should write about when you and your spouse met and where, when your relationship began, when you married and how you continue your relationship from separate countries. You should then list the identity documents you are relying on, such as your passport and a copy of your spouse’s British passport or Biometric Residence Permit. Next, write about how you meet the suitability requirements for entry into the UK.

That’s the easy bits out of the way; it’s now time to look at the specific rules. One of the most difficult parts about making an immigration application is making sure you cover all aspects of the immigration rules, so you can be confident there should be no nasty refusal decisions. The immigration rules for a spouse visa are split into three sections: relationship requirements, financial requirements and English language requirements.

Relationship requirements .

• In this section, you will need to write about your relationship with your spouse, giving details of when you and your spouse met, when your relationship began, when you married and so on. You should include evidence of your relationship – you should refer to our document checklist for examples of things to include.

Financial requirements .

• In this section, you will need to write about how your spouse meets the financial requirements. This aspect is one of the main reasons we see spouse visas being refused. Your spouse needs to receive an income at least £18,600 per annum in order to meet the financial requirements. This can come from just one source of income, such as employment, self-employment, pension or rental income. Alternatively, this can come from a combination of sources. If your spouse does not earn enough, they can also rely on cash savings. Any cash savings relied on will need to have been held by your spouse for at least 6 months. If relying on cash savings alone, they will need to have at least £62,500. However, they can combine cash savings with income from employment, pension or rental income. It must be noted that cash savings cannot be combined with income from self-employment. Remember you will need to provide specific documents in order to demonstrate your spouse’s ability to meet the financial requirements. If you are unsure as to whether your spouse meets the financial requirements we can help. You can book a telephone consultation with one of our experienced immigration Solicitors to discuss the issue in more detail.

English language requirement.

• In this section, you will need to write about how you meet the English language requirement. You can meet the English language requirement for a spouse visa in a number of ways: firstly, you do not need to show your English language ability if you are from one the exempt countries, that can be found here . If you are not from one of the exempt countries, you will need to either provide a certificate confirming you have passed a relevant English language test at level A1 or have a degree from a University in the UK or a degree from a University outside of the UK, with confirmation from the University that the degree was taught in English. If you are over the age of 65, you do not need to meet the English language requirements.

So, that’s the immigration rules over with and the covering letter is almost complete. You now need to write about your relationship with your spouse under Article 8 ECHR.  You then just need to conclude the application by summarising how you meet the rules.

Please Note

Please note that this blog should be used as a guide only. This guide was accurate at the time of creation. Please also note that the immigration rules change regularly. So we recommend seeking independent immigration advice before you submit your application. We hope this blog has been useful to you and will aided you in your proposed spouse visa application. Remember if you need specific advice regarding your spouse visa contact us here to book a consultation. Head over to part 2 of our ‘Spouse visa made easy (part 2)’ blog for how to complete the rest of the application. Alternatively, give us a call to see how we can help you to get your spouse visa. We would also recommend completing our spouse visa eligibility assessment. If you want to know more about our services you can read some of our independent google reviews here .

looking for an easier and cheaper way to get help making your UK immigration application?

• Let our experienced and dedicated immigration lawyers do the hard work for you. Buy a legal pack!
• Prepare your own application and save money, time and effort.  If you need re-assurance before you submit your application, we can check it for you and provide advice.
• Our policy is simply. Why should you pay excessive legal fees when you can do it yourself and get the same result.

Call us on: 0113 5396767 or Email us: [email protected] to discuss your case.

Buy our application legal pack and prepare your own application.

We can provide everything you need to make your own application. We will even provide an application step by step guide to help you manage the whole application process. Once your application is complete you can purchase our checking service for just £99 and our lawyers will check your application for you. Email us to request your legal pack: [email protected]   

We can provide everything you need to make your own application. We will even provide an application step by step guide to help you manage the whole application process. Once your application is complete you can purchase our checking service for just £99 and our lawyers will check your application for you. Email us to request your legal pack: [email protected] 

We will take care of your full application from start to finish. We will advise you on the required documents and assess your entire case including everything you provide to ensure your meet the strict requirements. We only take 50% of the legal fees upfront. You pay the balance once you have approved your application for submission.  Email us: [email protected]   

We will take care of your full application from start to finish. We will advise you on the required documents and assess your entire case including everything you provide to ensure your meet the strict requirements. We only take 50% of the legal fees upfront. You pay the balance once you have approved your application for submission.  Email us: [email protected] 

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A Very Useful Spouse Visa Application Guide

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Immigration Law

If you are considering whether to make a spouse visa application, this guide is for you. It covers everything you need to know including the requirements and steps to take.

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Spouse, unmarried partner, civil partner or Fiancé? This guide is for you!

Joining a loved one in the UK or being able to continue living with a loved one in the UK, might well be the most important thing in your life. Unfortunately, you will need a spouse or Partner visa, which will mean navigating a host of complex legal and procedural requirements.

Whether you are applying for the initial spouse or Partner visa, known as ‘entry clearance’, or whether you have already been granted the initial visa and are now looking to extend your ‘leave to remain’, this detailed legal guide is for you.

Our Immigration team at Truth Legal is highly experienced in assisting individuals with their spouse or Partner visa applications. We pride ourselves on providing an ethical and honest service to all our clients. We are based in Harrogate, Leeds and Hull, but help clients throughout the UK and the wider world.

Do not hesitate to  contact us today  for a no-obligation, free consultation.

How to use this guide

You might be unsurprised to read about a law firm covering its own back by issuing a disclaimer in a legal guide. But you really do need to be careful in how you use the information contained here.

We have tried to condense many years of practical experience into this guide. However, immigration law changes at a remarkably fast pace. Although we will try to keep this guide up to date, it is unlikely that we will be able to keep it perfectly up to date.

Use this guide to get an insight into the requirements of the spouse or partner visa and the challenges you will face. However, always check what the latest law and procedure is. As we explain below, spouse or partner visa applications have become so tricky that we would generally advise that you get legal assistance from an immigration specialist. Enjoy!

The spousal relationship is the most common type of partnership we see in these applications, so we will simply refer to a ‘spouse visa’ from now on, for ease of reference. However, our advice in this guide is aimed at anyone who meets the Home Office definition of a ‘Partner’.

Who meets the Home Office definition of a Partner?

• An unmarried partner. This being a ‘person who has been living together with the applicant in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the date of application’
• A civil partner, or
• A fiancé or a proposed civil partner

Parts A to E

• In  Part A  we go through some preliminary matters for you to consider, such as why spouse visas are so stressful and whether you need to apply from inside or outside of the UK.
• Part B  covers the legal requirements you will need to satisfy.
• Part C  deals with the practicalities of making the visa application, where you can follow our 9- Step Guide.
• Go to  Part D  if your spouse visa has been refused and you need to decide what to do next, including whether to appeal or make a new application.
• In  Part E  we finish by looking at the Top 5 mistakes in a spouse visa application.

Part A: Initial considerations

Understand the law  and  the procedure

It is essential that you properly understand both the law and procedure.

Why you should understand the law and procedure.

Our Immigration Solicitor Louis’ view:

Some clients approach me after their spouse visa application has been refused. This normally means they have not understood a requirement of the law, including the evidential requirements.

I also have clients approach me in a state of blind panic because they are stuck half-way through preparing their application. In this situation, my client might understand the law but does not understand the many confusing procedural steps involved.

Get the procedure wrong and you are going to have a highly stressful and unpleasant experience.

Get the law bit wrong then this is likely to be fatal and your application will be refused.

It’s therefore important to get a handle on both the legal requirements and the procedural side of things.

Why is it so stressful to get a spouse visa?

As we  speculate in this blog  there are at least four reasons why we think the whole process is so stressful:

• The stakes are extremely high.  If you get refused then you are looking at a prolonged period of separation from your loved one, whilst you either appeal the decision (which can take up to 10 months to have your appeal heard) or submit a new visa application.
• One missed document can be fatal!  As we explain below, a lot of the supporting documents you need to submit are mandatory. Failure to submit a so-called specified document will often lead to a refusal. At the same time, the Home Office does not always make it clear which documents must be provided. This creates a climate of fear for applicants, knowing that one omission could be fatal to the application.
• Lack of clear information around process.  When it comes to submitting your application, you soon realise that aspects of the visa processing have been outsourced to private companies. For applications made from abroad, VFS Global is the main player, for applications made in the UK it is UKVCAS. VFS will push all manner of optional ‘packages’ on you at every opportunity, many of the services are, in our opinion both expensive and of little real use. On the other hand, VFS provide precious little information about the basics – about what you need to do to make your application, for example, how you should provide your supporting documents.
• Poor Home Office decision-making.  The quality of decision-making by Home Office officials can be poor and harsh. It is not uncommon for the Home Office to overlook key information or evidence; or to use what are blatant ‘cut and paste’ refusal paragraphs from another person’s refusal letter!

We hope this guide will alleviate some of your fears.

Do I need to apply from inside the UK or from outside the UK?

If you already outside of the UK then the answer is simple, you will need to apply for your spouse visa from outside of the UK.

USA , Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and other ‘non-visa nationals’ beware! Yes, you can enter the UK visa-free. However, if you do so you are still technically in the UK as a ‘visitor’ and so cannot switch into the spouse category. You must instead apply from outside of the UK.

If you are already in the UK, then this issue is not always so straightforward. If you are in the UK, with valid leave to remain in some other immigration category, then you can ‘switch’ into the spouse category from within the UK. The only exception to this is if you are here as a visitor, in which case you are explicitly prevented from switching in- country and will need to apply from abroad.

If you want to apply from within the UK and do not have lawful status, for example, if you are overstaying, then you will need to show there are ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to you and your partner living together abroad – a strict test. If you do not have status and cannot meet this threshold then you should return home to apply for your visa.

However, if you are considering going home to apply then you need to be sure there is no basis on which you could be ‘locked out’ from the UK such as a Suitability or General Ground of Refusal. Previous immigration or criminal offending, or deception or dishonesty could well ‘lock you out’ for a period of varying length.

Part B: The Law

The legal requirements for a spouse visa

The legal requirements for a spouse visa are set out in a section of the Immigration Rules known as Appendix FM. We deal with the financial requirement separately below (its complexity merits its own section!).

The Suitability Requirements and General Grounds of Refusal

There are requirements which relate to an applicant’s prior conduct. If you fail on of these so-called Suitability requirements or General Grounds of Refusal, then this will lead to your application either being automatically refused or ‘normally’ being refused. Going through all these different rules is outside of the scope of this guide (and would be tedious as there are a lot of obscure grounds!). However, the most common grounds for refusal are to do with prior criminal offending, immigration offending, the use of deceptions or making false representations, or debt owed to the Home Office or NHS.

The Relationship Requirements

We shall look at the trickier elements below, but some of the more routine relationship requirements are:

• You must be over 18 years old
• The relationship must not be in the ‘prohibited degree of relationship’
• You must have met in person
• Any previous relationship must have broken down
• If you are married or in a civil partnership, then it must be a valid marriage or civil partnership.

Did you know?

For your marriage or civil partnership to be ‘valid’, it needs to be legally recognised in the country it took place. For example, a ‘Nikah marriage’ which took place in the UK is not a valid marriage, for immigration purposes, as Nikah marriages are not recognised as being a legal marriage. However, if your Nikah took place in a country which recognises the Nikah as a legal marriage, such as Pakistan, then your marriage is recognised as valid, for UK immigration purposes.

Less black-and-white is the requirement to show that your relationship is ‘genuine and subsisting’. You will also have to show that you ‘intend to live together permanently in the UK’. Both requirements often form the basis of refusal, and relate to the ‘genuineness’ of the relationship.

There are no mandatory documents to provide in this regard. However, you should give evidence of how you keep in contact with each other, for any period you have been living apart. Evidence of visits is also strong evidence. If you are married then, in addition to providing the marriage certificate, you might provide further evidence of the wedding reception. The following types of evidence will help establish the relationship as genuine:

• Printouts of emails/Facebook messages/WhatsApp etc
• Evidence of flights/boarding passes/hotel receipts to visit the spouse/partner
• Consider writing a statement giving background information about the relationship. This statement should focus on the relationship: how it has developed, how you keep in contact, your plans etc.
• If you are light on evidence, then you could consider evidence in the form of a witness statement from a third-party close friend or family member attesting to the relationship. This must be accompanied by a copy of their ID. It will not carry great weight but is better than nothing.

Beware that, whilst some photos should be included, they will carry little weight on their own and going overboard with the photos will probably just annoy the decision-maker!

If you have been living together then you must provide documentary evidence of cohabitation. This should ideally be utility bills, bank statements or tenancy bills and be in single names for both the Applicant and Sponsor, and/or be in joint names. These should be spread out evenly over your period of cohabitation.

If you are applying to extend your leave, having previously been granted a spouse visa, then you  must  provide evidence of your cohabitation since your previous grant of leave. If there are periods when you did not cohabit then you must show  ‘good reason for this, consistent with a continuing intention to live permanently together permanently in the UK’ .

KEY CHANGE: Revised definition of a ‘partner’

It’s important to note the definition of a ‘partner’ has been revised and it is seemingly more generous. It defines a partner as ‘an unmarried partner, where the couple have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years’. There is no longer a requirement to evidence cohabitation in this 2-year period.

Although there is no need to evidence cohabitation, it is still essential to show the relationship was genuine and subsisting for the duration of the 2-year period and that it is still presently. To prove the relationship was and is genuine and subsisting may be evidentially tricky to demonstrate without cohabitation.

Additionally, there must be a good explanation as to why the partners are living separately. The Home Office uses an example where ‘the couple are currently living apart for work reasons in order to meet the financial requirements of the rules’, in this instance there is no requirement to evidence cohabitation as there is a good reason they live separately.

The Financial Requirement

In our experience the most common reason for refusal is failing to meet the Financial requirement. This is not surprising given how complex this area is and the strict evident which is required.

What is the threshold?

The Financial requirement threshold is based on a gross annual income and, at the time of writing, is £18,600. However, if you have additional dependent children then you must add £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each child thereafter. For example, the threshold for a spouse and two dependent children is £24,800 (£18,600 + £3,800 + £2,400). British or EU children do not increase the threshold as they are not classed as ‘dependent children’.

There is an exemption from the £18,600 requirement if you are in receipt of certain benefits, including DLA, carers allowance or PIP. In this situation you just need to show you have ‘adequate maintenance’.

KEY CHANGE: The minimum salary threshold is increasing from 4 th  April 2024?

Importantly, the minimum threshold is set to increase dramatically, up to £38,700. The increase will happen in stages, the minimum income will first increase to £29,000 on 11 April 2024, then to £34,500 later in 2024 and then eventually to £38,700.

 It is essential that anyone entering the Partner route from this date is aware of the new threshold.

It is important to note that as the minimum income is increasing the amount of savings needed to meet the requirement will also increase. For example, while the threshold is set at £29,000, if you are entirely relying on savings, you will need £88,500.

How do I meet the threshold?

The two most common sources of income are employment income and savings, which I will look at in detail below. However, you can also rely on self-employment, property income, maintenance payments, dividends or other income from investments, stocks and shares, bonds or trust funds.

i) Relying on employment income

If you want to rely on employment income, then there are different rules depending on whether the sponsor (or applicant if eligible) has been employed by their current employer for at least 6 months. If so then the Home Office will consider your annual gross rate of salary. If you have been employed for less than 6 months, then the Home Office will look at your actual gross salary over the previous 12 months.

There are also different requirements if the sponsor is returning to the UK, having worked abroad, in which case the sponsor will need to evidence a job offer starting in the UK within 3 months of their return to the UK.

Key difference between applying from abroad or applying from within the UK.

If you are applying from abroad and want to rely on earnings, then you can only rely on the earnings of your UK sponsor. However, if you are applying from within the UK, whether that be a ‘switching’ or extension application, then you can rely on the earning of both sponsor and/or applicant.

To rely solely on savings, at the current threshold of £18,600, you would need at least £62,000 in cash funds which has been held by either, or both, the applicant or sponsor for at least six months. However, at the time of writing we do not know how much savings you will need to meet the new £38,700 threshold.

If a document is a ‘specified document’, then it  must  be provided otherwise your application can be refused. And there are loads of specified documents!

Most documents which relate to the Financial requirement are specified documents. For example, in respect of employment income this includes bank statements, payslips and a letter from your employer. Specified documents are in  Appendix FM SE , (good luck making sense – if you follow the link!).

Certain forms of income can and cannot be combined. If you want to combine savings with another type of permitted income, then you can only count savings over and above £16,000. Any savings above £16,000 must be divided by 2.5 and added towards the limit. If you are confused, you are not alone.

For example: if you have been earning £15,000 per annum from employment then you would fall short of the standard £18,600 threshold by £3,600. To ‘top this up’ with savings you would need to multiply the difference of £3,600 by 2.5 and then add £16,000. In this example, you would need savings of £25,000 to make up the shortfall in employment income given in this example.

The English Language Requirement

You are exempt from the English Language requirement if you are aged 65 or over or are unable to meet the requirement due to a long-standing physical or mental condition. You are considered to automatically meet the English language requirement if you are from a country which the Home Office consider to be a ‘majority English speaking country’. A list of these countries is  here . For everyone else, you will either need to have a degree taught or researched in English or pass an English language test in speaking and listening at Level A1 of the CEFR (or equivalent). Importantly, this must be a Secure English Language Test you must sit this test at a  Home Office approved test centre .

Use Truth Legal and avoid stress and uncertainty!

We hope you found our guidance on the legal requirements of a spouse visa useful. You can take much of the stress out of the process by instructing us to help you. You can ask us for initial advice. This will involve us reviewing your case and us providing you with detailed oral and written advice. This is the cheaper option and allows you to complete the rest of the application yourself. Alternatively, you can ask us to handle the whole application. This will involve us:

• Taking detailed instructions from you in person/by phone/Skype/WhatsApp etc
• Providing you with detailed advice, both orally and in writing
• Advising you on the precise documents required
• Setting up a shared drive to allow you to upload supporting document for us to review
• Setting up an online visa application for you and reviewing the application prior to submission
• Drafting detailed representations (a cover letter), explaining your background and precisely how you meet the requirements of the rules
• Helping you with the submission of the document
• Helping you to submit supporting documents
• Advising you on next steps once your visa is granted.

Our rates are cheaper than most of our competitors. We are also more experienced than most of our competitors.

Part C: Preparing your spouse visa application: 9-Step Guide

As technology marches on, the application process should become simpler. However, somehow this does not apply to making a spouse visa application. When you start out on your journey to getting your spouse visa, there are so many different steps involved which bring their own issues regarding timing. It is often difficult to know where to start. Our 9-step guide takes you through the various steps we would take when preparing a spouse visa application.

Do you need an immigration solicitor?

Louis’ view: People will ask me whether they really need an immigration solicitor to help them with their spouse visa application. It used to be the case that, if you had the money, you would pay for a solicitor. Whereas if you did not then you could probably do the application yourself, provided you had a good attention to detail and were willing to read through the dense Home Office guidance. It is, however, getting increasingly difficult to do this alone. The Home Office are forever tweaking the Rules. Much of the required evidence is ‘specified evidence’ and so mandatory, yet this is not always made clear. Home Office applications now have ‘checklists’, but these are unreliable and do not necessarily cater for your particular circumstances.”

Our 9-Step Guide

• Check you meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules
• Gather your supporting documents (but remember the 28-day rule)
• Consider whether to use a Priority Service
• Complete a draft of the application form
• Submit the application form and pay the fee. Only at this point you are given the opportunity to choose a time to attend your appointment at the visa application centre
• Provide your supporting documents (this might be before, during or after your appointment at the visa application centre – see below)
• Attend your appointment
• Nervously wait for a decision!
• Attend visa application centre to collect your visa and passport
• Make sure you enter the UK within 90 days! (The initial visa is only valid for 90 days).

Step 1: Check you meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules

When you complete your application form, you will be given a Checklist of documents to provide. This Checklist can be misleading, as it will not necessarily be tailored towards your specific requirements. Always make sure that adequate evidence is provided to satisfy all the requirements of the Rules.

This is really covered in Part B of this guide, where we cover the legal requirements you will need to meet to be eligible for a spouse visa.

You should consider taking legal advice at this juncture to check your eligibility for the visa, before investing more time and money. If you were to instruct us then we would give you detailed written advice, explaining the legal requirements tailored to your specific needs. We would also explain the precise documents you need by providing you with a document checklist.

If you instruct ask us to assist you with the preparation of the application, then we will take you through all the necessary steps.

If you are going it alone then we advise you make your own document checklist and then consider the following steps.

Step 2: Gather your supporting documents (but remember the 28-day rule)

You can now start to gather your supporting documents. Bear in mind that copies of documents are now acceptable and so the only original document you will need to present will be your passport. As we explain above, some of the required documents, primarily the financial evidence, is time- sensitive and must be dated within 28 days of the date you submit your application. Therefore, if you obtain certain documents too soon you will need to request them again nearer the time of applying.

Step 3: Consider how long the visa processing will take, and whether to use a Priority service

If applying from abroad…..

If you are applying from abroad then the Home Office’s service level agreement is 24 weeks. However, it’s normally decided within three months..

You can pay for the Priority Settlement service which (in the words of the Home Office) ‘puts your application to the front of the queue’. This is an additional £500. The Home Office state this will buy you a decision within 30 days, although we have seen delays beyond this service level agreement.

As the Home Office acknowledge, it is probably not worth paying for the Priority Settlement service if your case is ‘not straightforward’. Whether your case is ‘not straightforward’ basically turns on whether you have had previous immigration ‘incidents’ or criminal offending.

Examples of immigration incidents include overstaying your visa, having your visa curtailed or having a visa refused to any of the following countries: the UK; USA; Australia; Canada; New Zealand or a Schengen country (i.e. most EU countries).

If applying from within the UK……

If you are applying from within the UK, then a non-complex case can take around two months. You can pay an additional £500 for the Priority Service which will buy you a decision within 5 working days. Alternatively, there is the Super Priority Service, at a cost of £800, which will buy you a decision within 24 hours of your biometric appointment.

Step 4: Complete a draft of the application form

There are different online application forms to complete, depending on whether you are applying from inside or outside of the UK.

If you are applying from outside of the UK, then to apply for a spouse visa you will need to apply through the following website:  https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/appendixfm If you are applying from within the UK, then use the following website:  https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/family-routes

Review your supporting documents, submit the application and choose your appointment

You should check you have all the necessary supporting documents and then submit your application. After submitting your application, you will have to attend a visa processing centre, which differs depending on whether you are applying from inside or outside of the UK.

Annoyingly, you will not know the availability of appointments until after you have paid the fees and submitted your online application.

The ‘date of application’ is an important date, as some of your evidence is time sensitive. For example, most financial evidence must be dated within 28 days of the ‘date of application’.

There can often be a significant time lag between the date you submit your application and the date you then attend the visa centre to enrol your biometrics. So, which date is ‘the date of application’?

Answer: It is the date you submit your application online and pay the application and Immigration Health Charge fees.

Step 5: Provide your supporting documents (this might be before, during or after your appointment at the visa application centre – see below)

If applying from outside of the UK……

For applications made from outside of the UK, most will choose the option to upload their supporting documents to either the VFS Global or TLSContact website. Alternatively, it is normally possible to provide your documents on the day of your biometrics and have visa staff scan them for you. Beware, however, we have witnesses local visa centre staff give immigration advice when they are in no way qualified to do so. They will often advise, erroneously, on what should and should not be submitted. We have also had instances of staff failing to scan all the documents. We now avoid this option.

If applying from within the UK…

Providing supporting documents for an application submitted within the UK is, thankfully, much easier than if you are applying from abroad. Your documents can be uploaded to the UKVCAS website. We find this process to be relatively straightforward.

You can alternatively, get a UKVCAS staff member to scan your documents at the time of your biometrics appointment. This will incur an additional fee. However, we see no real point in doing this, unless you struggle with the technology side of uploading a document.

Step 6: Attend your appointment

Whether you apply from outside or inside the UK, you will need to attend a visa centre to enrol your biometrics and potentially to provide supporting documents to be scanned.

If applying from outside the UK….

If you apply for your spouse or Partner visa from outside of the UK, then you will have been offered available appointment slots when you submitted your online application. When you attend your appointment make sure you take with you your original, current passport, as well as your Document Checklist.

At this appointment you will need to enrol your biometrics. You might be able to provide your supporting documents to be scanned.

If you applied for your spouse or Partner visa from within the UK, then you will have been offered an appointment slot through the UKVCAS website. You will need to take with you your passport and appointment confirmation.

Step 7: Nervously wait for a decision! Enough said.

Step 8: receive your decision.

If you applied from outside of the UK….

If you have applied from outside the UK then you should, eventually, receive notification that a decision has been made. You will need to attend the visa application centre to collect your decision and your passport, unless you purchased a return-courier service.

If you opted for the ‘Keep My Passport’ service, then you will first be required to submit your passport to the Visa Application Centre.

If you applied from within the UK….

If you applied from within the UK, then you will normally first be sent a letter confirming your application has been approved. You should then be sent your biometric residence permit, by post to your nominated address.

Step 9: Make sure you enter the UK within 90 days! (for applications from outside of the UK)

If your application is approved, then you will be given a ‘vignette’ (a sticker) in your passport initially giving you 90 days’ ‘entry clearance’ to come to the UK. Once inside the UK then you will need to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of arriving in the UK or within 10 days of your 90-day vignette expiring, whichever is the later.

Part D: Help! My spouse or Partner visa has been refused

If your spouse visa application has been refused then, if you still want to come to the UK, you have two options. You can either appeal against the refusal in the First Tier Immigration Tribunal in the UK, or, you can submit a new, improved spouse visa application.

Appealing a refusal of your spouse visa application

If you have been refused, then you will have the right to appeal this decision. This allows you to put your case before an immigration judge, who tend to be more generous than immigration officials. However, expect delays and to incur costs.

If you have applied for your spouse visa from outside of the UK, then the deadline to lodge your notice of appeal is 28 days from the date you receive your decision.

If you applied for your spouse visa from within the UK, then you will have 14 days from the date of decision to lodge your appeal. Be careful, as you will often receive a decision which is dated several days in the past, meaning you have less time to appeal then you might think – as the 14-day clock starts from whatever date is on the refusal letter.

Judicial review

Occasionally it might be necessary to lodge a judicial review in respect of a refusal. This might be if, for example, your application is certified as ‘clearly unfounded’, or if you have made further submissions which are not accepted as being a fresh claim. You have 3 months from the date of decision to lodge your judicial review.

You can read more about the various ways to  challenge a Home Office decision, here .

Should I submit a new application or appeal the refusal?

Louis says:

All things being equal, it is normally best to make a new application rather than to appeal a decision. This is because there can be huge waiting times to have your appeal hearing heard (often up to 9 months). You must then wait for the Home Office to ‘implement’ the judge’s decision, if you win your appeal, meaning many more weeks before you finally get your visa. Also, if you want to go down the appeal route then there could be significant legal costs, should you want legal representation. Preparing an appeal is time-consuming for a legal advisor which is reflected in costs. Furthermore, I would always use a barrister to present the case in the Tribunal, which will require an additional fee. That said, sometimes your only realistic option is to appeal. If you have been refused for not meeting a requirement of the Rules, and you cannot provide any ‘killer’ evidence to satisfy the Rule then any subsequent application will likely be refused. A judge will tend to be less rigid in terms of evidence, and you will have a better chance of succeeding on human rights grounds. So, in these circumstances, lodging an appeal could be quicker and cheaper in the long run. Also, if you have been refused on grounds such as ‘genuineness of relationship’ or if the Home Office accuse you of deception or dishonesty, then you are most likely doomed if you make a further application and an appeal might be the only way forwards. Around half of all appellants refused by the Home Office succeed with their appeal.

Part E: Top 5 mistakes in a Spouse visa application

Here are, in our experience, the most common reasons for a spouse visa being refused:

• Failing to meet the Financial requirement.  Refusals due to failing to meet the Financial requirement are common. They can also be the most infuriating as it is often patently obvious that the applicant has income in excess of the required amount – he or she has just failed to provide certain specified documents. See above for more information on how to meet the Financial requirement.
• Failing to meet the Relationship requirement.  In particular, the Home Office will often dispute whether a relationship is ‘genuine and subsisting’. Again, this will often be due to a failure to provide suitable evidence of the relationship. This could be a failure to provide evidence of prior cohabitation or a failure to show how you keep in contact long-distance. See The Relationship Requirement, above, for details of what you should be providing.
• Failing the English language requirement.  Most applicants are aware of there being an English language requirement, yet many do not provide acceptable evidence, for example, by providing an English language certificate which is not a Secure English Language Test or which is deemed too old.
• Unmarried partner does not meet the definition of a ‘Partner’.  Remember, it is still essential to show the relationship was genuine and subsisting for the duration of the 2-year period and that it is presently. You can prove this with evidence of two years’ cohabitation, or you will need to show there is a good explanation why you and your partner live separately.
• Failure to show why EX.1 or ‘exceptional circumstances’ apply.  Applying relying on a provision of Appendix FM called EX.1 means relying on ‘exceptional circumstances’ and human rights grounds.

These applications are tricky and subject to exceptionally high rates of refusal. A well-prepared application will provide extensive evidence to show why the applicant/ sponsor/ child cannot live abroad and must live in the UK.

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Proof of Relationship Documents for UK Spouse Visa

When applying for a  UK Spouse visa , you will have to provide a range of proof and documentation to prove that your relationship is genuine.

For more information about the Spouse visa, including professional advice on how to successfully navigate the genuine relationship, reach out to us today on  0333 4149244 , or contact us  online .

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Overview of the Genuine Relationship Requirement

One of the most important parts of the UK Spouse visa application is convincing the Home Office that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship with your spouse.

This means that your relationship is legitimate, honest and lasting, and that you haven’t entered into the visa application process solely for dishonest or deceitful reasons, such as evading the UK immigration rules.

To prove this, you will be expected to provide a range of documents, proof and evidence regarding your relationship with your spouse.

There are no official guidelines on what you must provide in order to meet this requirement for your visa. It’s important to keep in mind that every relationship is different, and every applicant will have their own specific types of proof and documents that will be relevant to them.

However, there are a few key areas you may wish to consider including with your visa application that may help get it approved.

Note that due to their similarity, the information on this page may also be applied to the  UK Civil Partnership  or  UK Partner visa  application.

Example Proof of Relationship Documents

You may use the following to help prove that your relationship is genuine:

• A marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate, or proof that you’ve been cohabiting at the same address for at least two years if applying for an Unmarried Partner visa
• Evidence that you are living together, such as mortgage agreements, tenancy agreements, utility bills or other official documents or forms of ID with addresses, such as driving licences
• Evidence that you share financial responsibilities, such as a joint bank account, joint savings account, life insurance policies with listed beneficiaries, a joint mortgage or tenancy agreement, or bills in both names
• Evidence that you have children together, such as birth certificates, adoption certificates, and any proof that you and your spouse share responsibilities for them
• Evidence that any previous relationships have broken down permanently, such as divorce certificates from any previous marriages
• Evidence that you and your spouse intend to settle in the UK long-term
• Evidence of communication, travel and experiences shared together, such as through texts, letters, emails, social media messages, photographs, receipts, travel tickets and accommodation or holiday bookings
• A supporting letter

Further Regarding the Genuine Relationship Requirement

Remember that it may help to be selective about what to put forward when satisfying the genuine relationship requirement for the Spouse visa.

For example, the Home Office will be looking to see evidence that you and your spouse have involved, committed and supportive roles in each other’s lives.

It may not simply be enough to show that the two of you are married and live together; you should also aim to demonstrate that your relationship is one that is built on mutual affection, shared values and genuine emotional investment.

Part of this may involve focusing on proof of large, significant life events spent together such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and religious and cultural events, particularly if these also involve you and your spouse’s families.

Documentary or photographic proof that charts the development or chronology of your relationship, such as dates, holidays or anniversaries may also be helpful. The Home Office will also want to see proof that your relationship has longevity, and that you have made plans (or at least started thinking about) your shared future together in the UK.

Furthermore, you should aim to provide proof that you and your spouse share a strong sense of companionship, and rapport in the relationship. For example, proof that you and your spouse have provided close emotional support to each other through periods of difficulty may help to illustrate the integrity and subsisting nature of your relationship together.

Contact us today if you require assistance with your Spouse visa application.

Letter to Support Genuine Relationship Requirement

It’s recommended that alongside your other documents and proof regarding your relationship, you also submit a supporting letter for your Spouse visa, written by your spouse.

A supporting letter should outline basic information about you and your spouse, including your history together, details about your relationship, and your plans for the future.

Ultimately, it should help to clarify and confirm details that might not be able to be covered by your other pieces of documentation or evidence.

As a general guide, your supporting letter may include the following:

• When, where and how you met your spouse
• How your relationship developed
• Context and details about your life together, and why you wish to live together in the UK
• What your future plans are with your spouse, including details about your future accommodation plans

You may also add in additional information that is relevant to your own personal situation or circumstances as you see fit.

Note that supporting letters for Spouse visas should generally:

• Not be longer than two sides of A4
• Be kept brief, succinct and to the point
• Be persuasive and honest about your relationship together
• Reinforce your intention to live permanently in the UK with your spouse

Sample Supporting Letter for Spouse Visa

Below is a sample template for a Spouse visa supporting letter. Note that this is only a rough template, and sections should be added, taken away, or edited as needed according to the specificities of your own relationship.

<Sponsor’s Name>

<Sponsor’s Address>

<Sponsor’s phone number>

<Sponsor’s email address>

<Date>

Application for Spouse visa for <visa applicant’s (VA’s) name>

To whom it may concern,

I am writing on behalf of my husband, <VA’s name> and his application for a Spouse visa.

<VA’s name> and I have known each other for just over three years, having first met each other in <VA’s> home country of <country>. I was on holiday there at the time, and we quickly developed a rapport when we discovered we both had a love of fine art, mid-20th century cinema and architecture.

We then started meeting every month, both in the UK and in <country>, taking turns to visit each other. We also started to introduce each other to our friends and families, who were enthusiastic about our relationship. We also went on regular virtual “dates” that were held over Skype, given our distance from each other.

Our relationship quickly developed into a loving, committed partnership and we kept in contact on a daily basis over Skype and Whatsapp. After a year of being together, it was clear that we only had eyes for each other and we decided to take the leap and get married. This took place in <venue> on <date> in the presence of our family and friends. I attach a few copies of photographs and documents from the event for your perusal.

<VA’s name> and I have now decided to permanently settle in the UK, as I wish to stay close to my elderly parents and focus on my career as a <occupation>. <VA’s name> is enthusiastic about moving to the UK, as he already speaks English fluently and has expressed fondness for the UK’s culture and historical architecture, particularly in <city>, where I live. He has also identified viable and lucrative employment opportunities in <city>, so he can continue his work as a <occupation>.

I am currently renting a one-bedroom flat in <city> where I live alone, so I have plenty of room to accommodate <VA’s name>. I attach a copy of the tenancy agreement for your perusal.

I work full-time as a <occupation> at <employer’s name> and earn well over the minimum income threshold to support <VA’s name>’s Spouse visa application. Please see the relevant documents attached.

It is our eventual goal to save up for a deposit on a small house in <city>, which we can renovate and furnish together to make it suitable for a family. Our long-term goal is for <VA’s name> to settle permanently and apply for indefinite leave to remain so that we can put down roots here for good. We are hopeful that a Spouse visa will allow us to fulfil our commitment to spending the rest of our lives together in the UK.

Thank you very much for your consideration, and please feel free to reach out to me or my husband if you have any further questions or concerns.

Yours faithfully,

<Sponsor’s name>

How Can IAS Help?

Attempting to prove to the Home Office that your relationship is genuine and subsisting can be a daunting task. For many, it may be a strange and difficult thing to collect relationship evidence for you and your spouse, further adding to the stress and anxiety of applying for a visa.

If you need additional assistance or help in satisfying the genuine relationship requirement for a Spouse visa, IAS can help.

We are expert, professional and friendly immigration advisers who have been working in the field of UK immigration for decades. We are well-versed in the rigorous demands and restrictions for the UK Spouse visa and can provide close, one-to-one assistance if you need guidance with your application.

Whether you’re confused about what documents or evidence to include in your application, how much to put in, or how to write a supporting letter, we can help.

We can also help if you require assistance with your Fiance, Unmarried Partner visa or Civil Partner visa application.

For more information about the services we provide and what we could do for you, reach out to one of our advisers on  0333 4149244 , or contact us  online .

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How to apply for a UK Spouse Visa: step by step

If you or your partner want to apply for a UK Spouse Visa then follow our step by step guide to processing your own UK Spouse Visa written by our team of qualified immigration experts and ex Home Office caseworkers.

So, what is a Spouse Visa?

A Spouse Visa, also known as a UK Marriage Visa or a UK Partner Visa, is a type of UK Settlement Visa.

This can be extended for another 30 months after this. After this, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and eventually British Citizenship.

The Home Office deals with visa applications and is responsible for applying the Immigration Rules.

Definitely Refused

The presence of the applicant in the UK is not conducive to the public good because their offending has caused serious harm or they are a persistent offender who shows a particular disregard for the law.

Maybe refused

The applicant has failed to pay litigation costs awarded to the Home Office.

In order to qualify for a UK Spouse Visa, the person applying (applicant) must meet the relationship requirements outlined in  Appendix FM.

Normally, a tuberculosis (TB) test will be required if you are applying for a UK Spouse Visa. If you are resident in certain countries then you will need to add a TB certificate to your application before you submit it. The list of countries can be found by clicking on this  link .

• passing an approved test, with an  approved provider , at or above A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

• if your degree was not awarded in the UK, your qualification is recognised by  UK NARIC  as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher

You will be exempt from the English Language requirement if:

• you are unable to meet the requirement due to exceptional circumstances

If you have children who are not British Citizens, EEA nationals or permanently settled then the minimum income threshold will be higher. An additional gross annual income of £3,800 is required for the first child sponsored in addition to the partner and £2,400 for each further child.

Sources of Income

Read our guide on  Adequate Maintenance  to see what you will have to do instead.

Evidence Required

The guide also provides you with information on what evidence to provide for each source of income you will be using to meet the financial requirement.  

You will need to provide evidence that the accommodation you and your partner will live in is ‘adequate’. If the accommodation will be overcrowded or it contravenes public health regulations then it will not be regarded as ‘adequate’.

When applying for a UK Spouse Visa, your application will generally include the following sections:

Applicant’s documents

Uk sponsors documents, uk sponsors financial documents.

Here, you will include all the required evidence demonstrating how you meet the financial requirement of the UK Spouse Visa application.

Evidence of adequate accommodation

The UK Spouse Visa rules state that you must intend to live permanently with your UK partner and that the property where you (and any children coming with you) has enough space.

Relationship Documents

Supporting letters.

A cover letter should be included in your UK Spouse Visa application. Supporting letters from the applicant and the UK partner should also be included.

Our “ Do Your Own Partner Visa Pack ” comes with template letters professionally written by our immigration experts to help you save time.

You do not have to complete every part of the form. How you meet the financial requirement for your UK Spouse Visa will determine which parts of the form you must complete.

Applications for a UK Spouse Visa will be made from outside the UK. This means you will need to complete an online application. Before completing the online form, check the   VFS Global website  to see the visa application process in your country. Some countries will process visas differently to others.

At the appointment, biometric information is taken from the applicant like fingerprints and photographs.

Click here to read about visa processing times .

With Home Office statistics showing an increasing number of visa refusals due to “technicalities” or “administrative errors” and the rising costs of UK Visa applications, it is crucial you get the visa application right the first time.

At VisaHelpUK, we think immigration advice should be uncomplicated and easy to access – so that’s exactly what we provide.

For a fraction of the cost of instructing an Immigration Adviser you can get all the help you need to complete the application yourself.

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this guide is for general information purposes only and is not legal advice. The information is provided by VisaHelpUK and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct,  we can accept no responsibility for its accuracy or for any loss or damages arising from the use of this guide.

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• Rights of Unmarried Parents

Are you ready to start your new journey in the UK for study, business, and employment? If yes, confirm your visa with an authentic cover letter before packing your bags. A cover letter is proof of all the information you submit with an application. 

However, if you are a student, dependent, worker, or joining your family, you need a visa, and to make your application, you need a strong cover letter. A well-written cover letter must claim that your information is accurate and you have a genuine purpose for going to the UK. 

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a letter in which you must add all these things you do not write in the application form. You need to write the aim of the visit, your travel plan, educational purpose, or for better job opportunities. Apart from that, submitting a cover letter is not required for all visas so before applying confirm whether you need a cover letter or not.  

Writing a cover letter is a hectic work. Some people write their letters from experienced people. But those who want to write their letter by themselves have a lot of questions regarding requirements, template, and structure. For their ease below a detailed guide is available. 

Who Needs A Cover Letter For Visa Application?

Everyone applying for a visa needs a cover letter for ease. A cover letter makes the application process smooth. Print your cover letter and submit it with your application. Be mindful to submit a cover letter when required; otherwise, do not submit it. Some visas asked for a cover letter, while some did not. 

Visa Types For Cover Letter

There are different visa types for which a cover letter is being used. 

Tourism Visa

Business visa, a student visa or study visa, family visa.

For a travel or tourism visa, mention that you are coming briefly and intend to explore new places in the UK. You must also show your bookings, reservations, and return tickets in advance, proving you will leave soon when your visa expires. Also, mention if you plan to stay longer. 

For a business visa, you must prepare a cover letter stating that you are coming for essential meetings, seminars, and conferences. Further, you need a copy of company documents stating that you are coming for business purposes. 

It would help if you mentioned your educational goals for a study visa in your cover letter. Mention the program you choose and its duration. Also, you must show your previous degrees, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree. 

A family visa cover Letter visa application UK requires proof of your relationship with your sponsor. Also, you will claim that you will not depend on public funds, you will stay with the sponsor, and you have to show the bank papers to show you can support yourself. 

What To Write And What Not To Write In Cover Letter?

Things to write in a cover letter:

• Add the embassy information and your home country’s name in your application.
• In the second step, give your introduction and add important information:
• Country name and country name
• Your valid citizenship 
• Next, add the purpose of your visit and your plans for your visit. 
• Add the information about your accommodation and financial details, such as how you would survive there and where you would live.
• Add the details of all the documents that you submit with the application.
• In the last step, add contact information, including your phone number or email address. These contact details will help you get the results of your decision. 

Things to avoid in cover letter: 

• Avoid long sentences and large paragraphs.
• Be straightforward.
• Make your application as simple as you can.
• Avoid repetition.
• Try not to add unnecessary details.
• Avoid grammatical mistakes.
• Do not be rude in the letter.
• Be respectful and formal.
• Try to add all the necessary information. 

Different Words Used For Cover Letter

• Covering letter
• Letter of introduction
• Visa letter
• Visa letter to the embassy
• Letter of visa approval
• Letter to immigration visa application
• Purpose of travel letter
• Cover letter for visa application
• Letter to embassy for approval of visa
• Introductory letter for application for visa

Structure Of A Cover Letter?

The Letter visa application UK should be written in a good template, and the structure should be attractive. Follow this pattern to make your cover letter impressive:

• Start your letter with personal information and contact details.
• After that, in the second step, state your purpose for a visit.
• Background information about your home country.
• Tell us a sufficient amount, which would be impressive. 
• Tell me about your maintenance and how you manage your residence and other bookings.
• Enter in the cover letter that you will return.
• Give the original details of all the supporting documents and additional documents. 

In conclusion, a cover Letter visa application UK is crucial to the visa application. It turns your dreams into reality. If you follow the right anatomy of a cover letter, with good writing style, with zero grammar mistakes, no fake information, and a lot of supporting documents you will get successful results. Things that are banned do not use them and things that make cover letters amazing use them. A well-written cover letter can convince the authorities and make your journey easy. In the cover letter, write every accurate detail about yourself, the purpose of your visit, your income, and your accommodation.  

Do I need a cover letter for a UK visa application?

Yes, although it is not compulsory, it makes your application strong if you write accurately. Add correct information and the evidence in detail. Also, write down your purpose for getting this visa, state that your intentions are pure and that you want to come here to achieve your dreams. 

What details are required in a cover letter visa application?

In cover letter, you need to add the following details:

• Name and contact information
• Write why you want to come for tourism, study, work, or other reasons.
• If you are coming for tourism, write about your plans for where you visit, which places you like most, and places you want to explore. 
• Write you have funds to support yourself during your stay.
• Prove that you will return to your country after the expiry of your visa.
• Provide an invitation letter.
• Request for approval.

Can my application be approved with a cover letter?

The cover letter helps in the application process; it alone can not work to approve your application. You also need to make your application strong with all the required details mentioned on it. Provide all the necessary documents that are required in the application, but make sure these are original. The cover letter is like an introductory paper that helps the visa officer understand your application. 

Can I write my cover letter? 

Yes, you can write your letter on your own. Before writing it, consider these essential things:

• Go through some learning tutorials that make this process easy to understand. 
• Download intelligent apps from the Play Store, which is quite helpful. 
• Answer the questions that these apps posed.
• After learning about it, write your letter on these apps and print a PDF. 

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Khurram Amir Qureshi has been an advocate of Pakistan since 2004, a Solicitor of England and Wales since 2009, Solicitor of Ireland since 2015. He has extensive experience in family law, Immigration law, Personal injury cases, and Civil and Commercial litigation gaining over 13 years of continuous practice in England and Wales.

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Covering Letter for Spouse Visa

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Post by JayHussain » Thu Jan 02, 2020 3:11 pm

Re: Covering Letter for Spouse Visa

Post by JayHussain » Thu Jan 02, 2020 3:38 pm

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Freddy's Musings

Personal musings of a Filipina in the UK

UK Spouse Visa Covering Letter

Applying for a spouse visa is quite, if not very daunting for most of us for the mere reason that it’s full of technicalities. The amount of evidence to prove the application is tricky and sometimes just overwhelming but hey ho! We do what needs to be done.

There’s no exact checklist for a spouse visa application. It all depends on your circumstances to include the category of financial requirement as well as the type of accommodation you’re using and not to mention the relationship status you have. Of all these supporting documents you’re preparing for submission, a covering letter sometimes gets lost amidst the chaos. And almost always, it’s a disaster! Hah!

So, what is a covering letter? Why is it important for the spouse visa application? The answer is simple but packs a punch. The covering letter shows a snippet of the whole nine yards of your application. It explains in summary the what, why, where, when and how of your application. This is usually filed on top of the application supporting documents with the intent to give the Entry Clearance Officer or the Case Officer the overview of your case/application.

A detailed covering letter should contain the following information:

• Personal details for both the applicant and sponsor, e.g. nationalities, type of visa application, where you’re applying at and other personal information you think might be of help to your application;
• Relationship details, e.g. the when, where, how, and what of the relationship as well as the information on how you continue your relationship while living in separately as well as the full detail of the marriage (if married);
• Financial requirement details, e.g. how your sponsor meets the financial requirement;
• Accommodation details;
• English requirement;
• Additional information you would like to add;
• Write down the comprehensive list of supporting evidences you are submitting for your application.

I made a sample covering letter to help those who need a guide to make one for their own application. And I say, SAMPLE ONLY. All the best!

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Create Cover Letter For UK Visa Application in 5 minutes

by Femina | Feb 5, 2024 | cover letter

Do you have any travel plans to UK? If yes, then you most likely need to create cover letter for United Kingdom visa . With your visa application, you must also submit a cover letter, often known as a visa letter or a personal cover letter. Most likely, the reason you came to this page was to get a cover letter for United Kingdom visa.

You may use the FlightGen App to let the AI create your cover letter for UK visa if you need a quick fix.

How to get a cover letter?

If you want to get a cover letter for Schengen visa which is properly structured and used by over 50,000 customers, then you can make one using FlightGen App. All you need to do is answer questions related to your Schengen visa & your cover letter will be created for you in perfect format.

IMPORTANT: You can get any single document at very affordable price, which starts from $3 and another offer is, get all types of visa documents unlimited for unlimited users from 1 account, for which price or subscription starts from $10/month.  FlightGen  offers multiple visa documents, including cover letters, travel itineraries, flight itineraries / dummy ticket, invitation letters, leave letters, and hotel itinerary / dummy hotel booking. Avail this offer as soon as possible!

FlightGen creates a hybrid cover letter which includes both the personal cover letter as well as the travel itinerary which otherwise, would have been another separate document. In fact, this the exact format that we use for all our visa customers.

What Is the Purpose of a Covering Letter When Applying For UK Visa ?

A letter outlining your purpose for visiting UK is known as a cover letter or visa letter and is addressed to the UK consulate. It ought to contain information like your intended stay in the country, your financial records, and any other pertinent papers. The cover letter should provide the Visa Officer with justification for granting your request for UK visa.

The content of a cover letter must be customized for each applicant because it differs depending on the visa application. You cannot use someone else’s cover letter for your visa application without making significant changes to match your unique needs.

Because of this, we advise that you go through each sample (which is provided in the portions that follow) and write your cover letter on a blank page (or have the FlightGen App create one for you!!).

Your covering letter will be your initial point of contact with the Embassy.

Your cover letter will be put on top of all of UK your visa documentation . This is due to the fact that it is the first piece of evidence the visa consulate examines in order to fully understand your application and decide whether or not to grant your visa. You can also speak with the visa officer in person at this location.

By being accurate and clear in your UK visa application while staying impersonal, you can profit from this. A skilled visa consulate will be able to quickly determine whether to reject or approve your visa based on the information in your cover letter.

What Should Be Included In A Cover Letter ?

The information listed below ought to be included in a visa cover letter in the sequence given for effectiveness:

• The location of the UK consulate closest to you, which is simple to find online.
• Clearly state the type of visa requested in the subject line.
• There appear to be extra days in UK based on the start and end dates of the trip.
• Your travel’s objective, which aids the visa officer in comprehending the applicant’s intentions.
• Information regarding the funding source for the trip. This could be the candidate, the candidate’s spouse, a guest, or a business.
• The letter could also serve as documentation for the accommodations.
• Daily travel schedule within UK tourist or business visa. Visa’s for sports, medical treatment and visits are not necessary.
• The visa officer will need information about the applicant’s profession and business background to determine how financially stable they are.
• A list of the supporting materials included with the visa application, allowing the visa officer to evaluate all pertinent data.
• The applicant’s contact details in case more explanation is needed.

The applicant’s visa application will be strengthened and their chances of receiving a visa will rise if you include these crucial details in your cover letter.

The Synonyms Of Cover Letter

There are numerous names for a cover letter, therefore it’s critical to distinguish between them. Common alternatives to a cover letter include:

• Personal cover letter
• Covering letter
• Letter of introduction
• Visa letter to the embassy
• Visa Letter
• Letter to the immigration for visa approval
• Letter of visa approval
• Introductory letter for visa application
• Purpose of travel letter
• Letter to the embassy for visa request
• Cover letter for visa application

These terms are all interchangeable and have the same meaning.

How Should I Write My Cover Letter ?

By following these simple steps, you can quickly and easily write a professional cover letter for your visa application using FlightGen:

1.Go through the FlightGen tutorial, which is quite helpful.

2.Get the smart app from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS).

3. Answer the basic questions posed by the Letter Wizard.

4. After reading your letter, you can download the PDF for $4.99.

Is a cover letter necessary when requesting visa?

Yes. You will be required to bring a cover letter to the visa facilitation office even if the UK visa laws do not specifically state that one is required.

Sample Cover Letters (Based On Purpose Of Travel)

The format of your cover letter for the UK, we assume you are aware of your visa status and that the type of visa you need depends on the purpose of your trip.

Sample Cover Letter For The Application Of A Tourist Visa To UK

Use the sample cover letter for a tourist visa provided below if your trip to UK is merely for leisure. You need to have a basic trip itinerary and lodging documentation, such as reservations for a hotel or hostel. For additional information about a cover letter for a tourist visa.

You can download the pdf format of the above sample below,  this was generated using our FlightGen App.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Business Visa Application

If you are applying for a business UK visa, your documentation and purpose of visit would differ. Use the cover letter template below, and be sure to customize it to reflect your qualifications.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Visitor Visa Application

If you are applying for an UK visiting visa, you do not need to attach a copy of your travel schedule in your cover letter. For help writing your own visa letter for a visitor visa application, see the sample supplied below.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Medical Visa Application

Use the sample cover letter for UK Medical visa application offered below if you have a medical issue and wish to receive treatment in UK.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Spouse Visa Application

Is your spouse a citizen of UK? If you wish to accompany them, you must obtain UK Spouse Visa, often known as a Spousal Visa. As you are not need to submit a detailed itinerary, the cover letter for this visa is straightforward. Also, your spouse needs to be in possession of UK passport or a residence permit.

You can adjust the example cover letter supplied below to suit your particular needs, or you can use the FlightGen App to produce a cover letter for a spouse visa.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Work Visa Application

Prior to being able to work in UK, you must first obtain UK work visa, which permits you to employment both inside and outside of the area. Below is a sample cover letter for UK work visa.

You can download the pdf format of the above sample below,  this was generated using our FlightGen App .

Sample Cover Letter For UK Student Visa Application

One of the best places to study, particularly engineering, is UK. Additionally, You need UK student visa in order to attend school there. The following is the cover letter format for UK Student visa.

Sample Cover Letter For UK Transit Visa Application

A Transit visa, a kind of short-stay visa, is required while passing through one of the UK’s main airports, such as Heathrow. How to write a visa letter for UK Transit visa is demonstrated in the example below.

What Additional Documents Must Be Provided To Apply For UK Visa?

• Original passport with at least two blank pages and a six-month validity period
• A visa application must be fully completed and signed
• Two recent colour passport photographs that meet standards
• Statement of purpose and precise travel itinerary (Can be created using FlightGen App)
• Bank statements for the last three months, original, updated, and bank-attested (Online not accepted without bank seal on it.)
• Returns on Income for the Previous Three Years (Form 16)
• A flight itinerary (for use in visa applications, use the FlightGen app). For Android and iOS devices.
• Hotel reservations
• Travel Insurance (minimum coverage of EUR 30000) HDFC Ergo offers travel insurance beginning as 300 INR. For other countries, use VisitorsCoverage.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Where should i send my cover letter in order to apply for a visa .

You must bring all of your application materials, including your cover letter, to the visa appointment. Usually, this is carried out at UK consulate or a facility that processes visas, such VFS or BLSS.

When applying for UK visa, how important is a cover letter?

A cover letter is required for every visa application, but visa’s demand much more of one.

Two objectives are met. It gives more information about your travel plans, which makes it easier for the visa officer to accept or (deny!) your visa application.

The data in your papers will first be compared to the data in your cover letter. Your visa application will go smoothly if this is the case.

Only those who are applying for visa’s may speak with the visa officer here. So now is your chance to present a strong case for getting your visa.

Your UK visa application could succeed or fail based on the quality of your cover letter.

What should a visa application cover letter include?

Introduction letters are also known as personal cover letters at times (also known as visa letters).

Its goal is to provide information about your journey to visa officials. After that, they will compare it to your supporting documentation.

Your visa application will be processed swiftly if all the information is accurate.

To obtain your introduction letter as soon as possible, use the FlightGen App.

But, you might draw ideas from the example below if you wish to write one on your own.

Your cover letter will be written for you by the FlightGen App.

What should the major points of my cover letter for UK visa be?

Your cover letter should include your vacation itinerary, dates, and daily plans as well as any paperwork you’ve submitted to get your UK visa approved.

When applying for a visa, which document must I provide with my cover letter?

To get your visa accepted, you must include every document you want to submit. Please detail any further documents you have.

Should I use the same font size and style while drafting a cover letter for a visa application?

No. A typeface that appears ornamental is not preferred; rather, it should be simple and obvious. Utilize two lines or less, suitably spaced apart, with the appropriate line height. The visa officer should be able to read your invitation letter with less difficulty now.

Which cover letter is most effective for a visa application?

The most effective cover letters provide the UK officer with all the information they require for your trip in an easy-to-understand format. The greatest cover letters are created with the FlightGen App in this regard.

What should a cover letter for a visa application include?

The following details, including the itinerary, departure dates, and arrival times, should be included in your cover letter. Please submit any supplementary documentation needed for the issuance of UK visa.

Include contact information in case the consulate needs to get in touch with you.

What common faults should I avoid while writing a cover letter?

The most crucial thing to keep in mind while creating a cover letter is to avoid telling lies or posting false information.

What are the other Travel Visa Documents other than Cover Letter?

The important travel visa documents are:

Invitation Letter for Visa

NOC letter for Visa

Dummy Ticket / Dummy Flight Ticket

Flight Itinerary

Travel Itinerary

Travel Insurance

Proof of Accommodation / Dummy Hotel Booking