Spouse visa - financial commitments

[Ann22]

Hi guys
I've heard so much on that and different lawyers say different things.
For the unmarried spouse visa do you HAVE to have joint bank account to proove that relationship is genuine or utility bills will be enough?

Thank you

[Lucapooka]

Nothing has to be in joint names (that is not a mandatory requirement) but anything in a joint name will look good. A joint bank account is, in fact , quite rare these days -- even for married couples. However, if you don't have anything offical that names both of you, a selection of individual official documents citing your individual names to a common address will suffice.

[Ann22]

THANK YOU!!!
I can't remember where i saw about joint bank account..
However, if you have a bunch on email to individual names but same address, how do you prove that you are in relationship and not just flatmates?

[Ann22]

Here: found that bit on the web-site: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... y/genuine/

it says you must show that you:

"share financial responsibilities with your partner, such as a joint mortgage or tenancy agreement, a joint bank account or joint savings, and utility bills in both your names"

what do you think?

[Lucapooka]

That is a suggestion of the ideal as to what you could provide rather than an inflexible demand. And nowhere does it say that a joint bank account is mandatory.

SET5.13 What types of evidence might demonstrate living together and a relationship akin to marriage / civil partnership?
The applicant must provide six pieces of correspondence addressed to him / her and their partner at the same address as evidence that they have been living together during the past 2 years. The items of correspondence should be addressed to them jointly or in both their names. If they do not have enough items in their joint names, they may also provide items addressed to each of other individually if they show the same address for both of them. The documents provided must be originals and should be spread over the whole 2 years; they should also be from at least 3 different sources. Examples of what documentation the applicant could provide are listed below:

Joint commitments, (such as joint bank accounts, investments, rent agreements, mortgage, life insurance policy naming the other partner as beneficiary etc);
Birth certificates or records of any children of the relationship, showing both partners as parents;
Any official correspondence linking both partners to the same address, for example Council Tax, utility bills, Doctors records;
Any other evidence that adequately demonstrates the couple's long-term commitment to each other.

[Ann22]

That is a suggestion of the ideal as to what you could provide rather than an inflexible demand. And nowhere does it say that a joint bank account is mandatory.

SET5.13 What types of evidence might demonstrate living together and a relationship akin to marriage / civil partnership?
The applicant must provide six pieces of correspondence addressed to him / her and their partner at the same address as evidence that they have been living together during the past 2 years. The items of correspondence should be addressed to them jointly or in both their names. If they do not have enough items in their joint names, they may also provide items addressed to each of other individually if they show the same address for both of them. The documents provided must be originals and should be spread over the whole 2 years; they should also be from at least 3 different sources. Examples of what documentation the applicant could provide are listed below:

Joint commitments, (such as joint bank accounts, investments, rent agreements, mortgage, life insurance policy naming the other partner as beneficiary etc);
Birth certificates or records of any children of the relationship, showing both partners as parents;
Any official correspondence linking both partners to the same address, for example Council Tax, utility bills, Doctors records;
Any other evidence that adequately demonstrates the couple's long-term commitment to each other.

that makes things a little bit easier, thank you!