Fiance Visa Application Zambia, Is passport ready for collection?

[Atlas]

Hi All,

My fiance is in Lusaka Zambia. We have been talking about marriage for some time now and I plan to propose this summer (July / August), then file the fiance visa application in Lusaka.

In the meantime, I have started researching the Fiance visa and getting all the necessary supporting documentation in order.

I want to submit some whatsapp / messenger screenshots as proof of relationship. The whatsapp screenshots don't show the date, only the day and time.

I have been able to export the whatsapp chat to a text file, this shows the dates, but other members on the boards say its better to have screenshots.

1) Can I include whatsapp screenshots without date? Or should I stick to the text extract which includes date information?

2) How many screenshots are recommended? I know this question has been asked many times but I have not seen a definitive answer. I plan to have 4 screenshots per page. With 1 screenshot per week. So for 1 year that's 13 one sided A4 pages.

Many thanks.

[Amber]

Have you both met in person, if so, when?

[Atlas]

Long story,

I spent much of my teenage years in Zambia. She was my girlfriend during this time. But I have no pictures to prove this.

Since I started work, I have been to see her multiple times, for around 3 weeks each time:

• 2018 November

• 2019 May

• 2020 January

I have pictures, ticket invoices / receipts, passport stamps.

[Korekt]

You will be asked to state when your relationship began as part of the application process. It will be helpful to be able to evidence that.

Not necessarily the teenage years unless you wish to state that's when your current relationship began.

[Atlas]

You will be asked to state when your relationship began as part of the application process. It will be helpful to be able to evidence that.

Not necessarily the teenage years unless you wish to state that's when your current relationship began.

Thank you. I will mention teenage relationship, but will emphasise that the current relationship started November 2018. Only problem is I don't have Facebook/whatsapp chats from this time, Just pictures of the two of us together and passport stamps, e.t.c.

I have the original pictures, and these have metadata, so if its comes to that, I could provide the original images and that could be used as proof of start date.

[Atlas]

Hi All,

I have proposed to my girlfriend, now Fiancée and she accepted

My initial plan was to get her here on a Fiancée visa, get married here, then apply for spouse visa. I thought this would be easier, i.e application less likely to be rejected.

Looking at the costs, could I get married to my Fiancée in Zambia, then apply straight for the spouse visa?

This would save us a lot of money, would the Zambian marriage be recognized by the UK government?

[CR001]

Looking at the costs, could I get married to my Fiancée in Zambia, then apply straight for the spouse visa?

Yes.

This would save us a lot of money, would the Zambian marriage be recognized by the UK government?

Yes
A marriage is recognised if it is conducted in the appropriate way in a foreign country. There is no rule that only British marriages are recognised

[Atlas]

Looking at the costs, could I get married to my Fiancée in Zambia, then apply straight for the spouse visa?

Yes.

This would save us a lot of money, would the Zambian marriage be recognised by the UK government?

Yes
A marriage is recognised if it is conducted in the appropriate way in a foreign country. There is no rule that only British marriages are recognised

Thanks,

I have researched the Fiancé visa thoroughly, so I'm pretty confident I meet its requirements.

Beyond providing a copy of the marriage certificate, wedding pictures, and paying the NHS surcharge, e.t.c does the spouse visa have any requirements that are not covered by Fiancé visa?

[CR001]

Same requirments for both, English, financial, evidence of relationship, proof of accommodation etc, as they are both under the settlement visa category.

[Atlas]

Hi,

We applied for a fiance visa, I wans't checking the tracking, so the date indicates the first time I saw that tracking event. Timeline:

• 10th July 2020: Biometric Enrollment Done (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Transferred to DMC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Received by DMC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Transferred to VAC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Received by Vac (green)

• 25th August 2020: Passport Picked By Applicant (red)

A picture of the tracking available on TLS website:



25th August, also received an automated email from TLS contact saying:

Dear Applicant,

Reference:

TLS UK Visa Application Centre is pleased to inform you that your visa application process is almost over and that your passport will soon be ready to be returned to you.

You will receive an email from us soon to inform you about collection or delivery procedure.

You can track the progress of your visa application by connecting to your account or by using our Track My Application app

We have not heard anything since. Tracking via the TLS app seems to contradict whats on the website, the TLS App only shows the first two status ticked:

• 1 Application received at the visa application centre (ticked)

• 2 Application transferred to decision making centre (ticked)

• 3 Passport ready for collection or delivery (not ticked)

• 4 Passport returned to applicant (not ticked)

Based on the above, should we go back to visa centre and collect passport?

Some sites say once the TLS website says "Application Received by Vac" you can go and collect passport, no need to wait for further notification.

[AmazonianX]

Hi,

We applied for a fiance visa, I wans't checking the tracking, so the date indicates the first time I saw that tracking event. Timeline:

• 10th July 2020: Biometric Enrollment Done (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Transferred to DMC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Received by DMC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Transferred to VAC (green)

• 25th August 2020: Application Received by Vac (green)

• 25th August 2020: Passport Picked By Applicant (red)

A picture of the tracking available on TLS website:



25th August, also received an automated email from TLS contact saying:

Dear Applicant,

Reference:

TLS UK Visa Application Centre is pleased to inform you that your visa application process is almost over and that your passport will soon be ready to be returned to you.

You will receive an email from us soon to inform you about collection or delivery procedure.

You can track the progress of your visa application by connecting to your account or by using our Track My Application app

We have not heard anything since. Tracking via the TLS app seems to contradict whats on the website, the TLS App only shows the first two status ticked:

• 1 Application received at the visa application centre (ticked)

• 2 Application transferred to decision making centre (ticked)

• 3 Passport ready for collection or delivery (not ticked)

• 4 Passport returned to applicant (not ticked)

Based on the above, should we go back to visa centre and collect passport?

Some sites say once the TLS website says "Application Received by Vac" you can go and collect passport, no need to wait for further notification.

The contradictory tracking update and not haven received a collection email makes the situation confusing.
If there is a way to contact TLS to clarify or go there to check, it may be the option to sort the doubtful/unclear situation.

[Atlas]

Thanks, I sent TLS contact Lusaka an email today via a feedback form. They don't make it easy to contact them, the contact us page has no phone number or email address, as far as I could see, the only means of saying something to them is either going in person or using feedback form.

Another question, lets assume the visa has been granted, my understanding is that it will state a time period (1 month ?) during which you have to enter the UK, e.g "25th September to 25th August"

is this correct?

[AmazonianX]

Thanks, I sent TLS contact Lusaka an email today via a feedback form. They don't make it easy to contact them, the contact us page has no phone number or email address, as far as I could see, the only means of saying something to them is either going in person or using feedback form. Hence why the option of going there in previous response.

Another question, lets assume the visa has been granted, my understanding is that it will state a time period (1 month ?) during which you have to enter the UK, e.g "25th September to 25th August" This used to be the case, however since covid period all such entry vignette instead of being 1 month are granted with a validity of 3 months. This allows for the spouse to have a chance to plan the journey despite any pandemic exigencies.

is this correct?

[Atlas]

Quick Update,

I received two emails today (After having contacted TLS yesterday via the feedback / complaints form :


Email 1: Received 7AM

Your UK visa application is ready for collection

Dear Applicant,

Reference:

Our Visa Application Centre in Lusaka will be reopening on [date]. A decision has now been made on your visa application and you will be able to collect your passport at our centre from that date.


Please note that our visa customers will be required to wear a mask and respect social distancing guidelines to enter our centre. This is to ensure the health and safety of both our customers and staff. #StaySafe
Your passport and supporting documentation are now ready for:

Collection in person

Please come with the following:

Your Original trademark Application Checklist;
Your Original Photographic ID;
Copy of Your Photographic ID;
Copy of birth certificate (if collecting for your minor child)*.
Collecting using a representative

Your Representative should provide the following:

Your Application Checklist;
Copy of Your Photographic ID;
Representative’s Original Photographic ID;
Copy of Representative’s Photographic ID;
Signed Letter of Authorisation from You (clearly stating the Representative’s details) – Download the form;
Copy of birth certificate (if collecting for a minor)*.
IMPORTANT: If any of the above document is missing, the representative will not be allowed to retrieve your travel document.

*It fits with Children Protection Act, to guarantee that we are giving the passport back to one of the parents.

Return by Courier

If you have selected our Express Courier Return service, your documents will be sent back to you by courier. They will be dispatched within 24 business hours. You will receive an additional email from us to confirm when they have been dispatched. The local courier service provider may also confirm this with you, depending on which courier is used in your area.

If you did not select our Express Courier Return service at the time of submitting your application, it may be possible for you to purchase this service now for an additional fee to avoid having to travel to the Visa Application Centre to collect your documents.

From June 8th, there will be new rules in place for entering the UK due to COVID-19. Please check the latest information before you travel at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Email 2: Received 10 AM

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Please note that your passport is ready for collection. You may collect it during Passport Return Hours provided on our web-site in “Address” section - https://pos.tlscontact.com/

The TLS Contact App status is unchanged from before, perhaps there's a glitch in the system. Either way, my fiancee will be going to the visa centre next week to collect her passport.

[AmazonianX]

Quick Update,

I received two emails today (After having contacted TLS yesterday via the feedback / complaints form :


Email 1: Received 7AM

Your UK visa application is ready for collection

Dear Applicant,

Reference:

Our Visa Application Centre in Lusaka will be reopening on [date]. A decision has now been made on your visa application and you will be able to collect your passport at our centre from that date.


Please note that our visa customers will be required to wear a mask and respect social distancing guidelines to enter our centre. This is to ensure the health and safety of both our customers and staff. #StaySafe
Your passport and supporting documentation are now ready for:

Collection in person

Please come with the following:

Your Original trademark Application Checklist;
Your Original Photographic ID;
Copy of Your Photographic ID;
Copy of birth certificate (if collecting for your minor child)*.
Collecting using a representative

Your Representative should provide the following:

Your Application Checklist;
Copy of Your Photographic ID;
Representative’s Original Photographic ID;
Copy of Representative’s Photographic ID;
Signed Letter of Authorisation from You (clearly stating the Representative’s details) – Download the form;
Copy of birth certificate (if collecting for a minor)*.
IMPORTANT: If any of the above document is missing, the representative will not be allowed to retrieve your travel document.

*It fits with Children Protection Act, to guarantee that we are giving the passport back to one of the parents.

Return by Courier

If you have selected our Express Courier Return service, your documents will be sent back to you by courier. They will be dispatched within 24 business hours. You will receive an additional email from us to confirm when they have been dispatched. The local courier service provider may also confirm this with you, depending on which courier is used in your area.

If you did not select our Express Courier Return service at the time of submitting your application, it may be possible for you to purchase this service now for an additional fee to avoid having to travel to the Visa Application Centre to collect your documents.

From June 8th, there will be new rules in place for entering the UK due to COVID-19. Please check the latest information before you travel at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Email 2: Received 10 AM

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Please note that your passport is ready for collection. You may collect it during Passport Return Hours provided on our web-site in “Address” section - https://pos.tlscontact.com/

The TLS Contact App status is unchanged from before, perhaps there's a glitch in the system. Either way, my fiancee will be going to the visa centre next week to collect her passport.

Thats great, update the forum of the good news when she picks up passport.

[Atlas]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

[AmazonianX]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

Congratulations.

[AmazonianX]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

How many months vignette was issued?

[Atlas]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

How many months vignette was issued?

6 months, valid from 14/12/20 to 14/06/21.

A bit later than I would have liked, but still very happy.

[CR001]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

How many months vignette was issued?

A Fiance visa is ALWAYS issued for 6 months! Unclear why you are questioning the validity.

[AmazonianX]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

How many months vignette was issued?

A Fiance visa is ALWAYS issued for 6 months! Unclear why you are questioning the validity.

Momentarily doscont it as spouse visa hence the above question. Already posted before recall fiance visa.

[AmazonianX]

The visa has been granted!!!

Thanks all members for your guidance and support throughout the process.

How many months vignette was issued?

A Fiance visa is ALWAYS issued for 6 months! Unclear why you are questioning the validity.

Momentarily discount as spouse visa hence above question and already posted then recall its fiance visa application.