UK Visitor Visa - Sponsorship questions

[budakhan]

Hi,

I'm looking to sponsor my girlfriend (Chinese national) for a 6 month visitors visa which we'll apply for mid-Jan 2014 and then a student visa for a course starting in sept 2014.

I'm really struggling to find definite answers about the requirements I have to meet for sponsorship though and I'm hoping someone on here might be able to help...

I'm British and was in permanent employment up till Feb 2013, I then took a 6 month break. In mid-Aug 2013 I set up my own limited company where I subcontract my services out to other companies and then invoice them. I currently have a 6 month contract (mid-Aug 2013 - mid-Feb 2014) for my services with one company and I'm expecting this to be extended for another 6 months in the next few weeks. My accountant has set me up a PAYE scheme so I do receive a monthly salary, but its quite low, and also receive dividends from the company.

My questions are:

what is the level of salary do I need to be on to successfully sponsor my girlfriends visa?

is there a level of savings that can be counted instead of salary?

will the fact I will only have 5 months worth of payslips when we apply for a visitors visa in mid-Jan have a significant bearing?

If anyone can give me some guidance on this I'd be greatly appreciative, I've tried border agency and two immigration/visa agencies so far and still can't get any answers.

[vinny]

Please continue in previous thread.