Can you help me with general, basic, yet hard to find info!

[RobertG]

I've just spent a frustrating time on the UK border agency site, which plays up, refuses to load pages and goes in circles. The British High Commission in Australia refers all my questions back the site.
I'm fifth generation Australian, 49 and have been sounded out for a job in England. Cannot find out my visa eligibility.
The key thing here is that my wife is English, She was born there, became a Permanent resident of Australia in 1972 but never sought citizenship and still holds a British Passport. We've been married just about 30 years. The job offer is for both of us.
I'm a restaurant manager, not a nuclear scientist or Olympic hopeful or top class cricketer.
Anyone have any idea whether this sounds easy / hard/impossible/piece of cake? How long it might take? Any other insights?
I can offer nothing except my undying gratitude!

[CR001]

spouse visa on form VAF4 which has a financial requirement that needs to be met

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... utside-uk/

[vinny]

See also

A case of tough love
Partner of a British citizen or settled person

and

Tier 2 (General)

[NJW]

As a British citizen your wife can, of course, return to the UK any time she wishes without any restriction.

If your wife, not you, can meet the financial requirement from her income, or you can both meet it from cash savings, and you meet all the other requirements, including accommodation, then you should be able to obtain settlement in the UK as a spouse and you will be able to work.

For the financial requirements, see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary and http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... ndix-fmse/

For more details on settlement as a spouse see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... spouse-cp/ and http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... /set/set3/

Your visa will be valid for 33 months and after living in the UK for 30 months you apply for Further Leave to Remain (see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... ing-in-uk/) which will be valid for a further 30 months and at the end of that you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... ormset(m)/)

As an Australian you will not need to meet the language requirement for the initial visa and FLR, but you will need to meet the Knowledge of Life and Language in the UK requirement for ILR; see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... uage-life/.

For both FLR and ILR there is a financial requirement, but for these applications your income as well as your wife's can be used.

If you cannot meet the financial requirement, or any of the others, for entry as a spouse then your only alternative is the Tier 2 route suggested above. Which, assuming your qualify, may be a better and cheaper option anyway!

[RobertG]

I'd like to thank you all for your links. It looks like I have to fill in a bit of paperwork, possibly pass a test (As a history buff I found the sample test pretty easy) and with an income of about 25k each we should be OK. AT least that's how I read it. Thanks again!

[RobertG]

It has not all been plain sailing
If I fill in the spouse from, I get to the last page and have to pick my category. None of them apply, in which case the form tells me I have the wrong form.
I tried to apply online. It asked me five questions, confirmed them and then when I press the button, it tells me "Form not found" Tried three browsers. Registered for site. All to no avail
I went to the home page of the site where the page wasn't found (https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/) registered again there and filled in a huge form which may or may not be a beta test form, and again, got to the end and it started asking questions about my wife's application to work in the UK, which is non-existent
It can't be this hard. I'm an IT professional, for God's sake, and yet I can't find my way around the UK border site without developing a migraine. I'd love to just ring the consulate but the site says you can't.
If anyone can add any idea about where I might be able to get help, I'd love to hear about it.

[Just Wondering]

G'day from Perth.

You should be applying for your partner visa online, and you've gone to the right site.

I am slightly confused with how far you got. Did you register online, receive an email and follow the link to finish registration?

You should have then clicked on the link "Apply for Myself" and filled in the details including:
Reason for Visit - Settlement
Visa Type - Settlement
Visa Sub Type - Husband

You need to complete the other 8 sections online as well as fill in Appendix 2 (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... vaf4a2.pdf). There may be a form for your wife to fill out as sponsor.

Bear in mind the definition of "present and settled" - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... 3/#header4

[RobertG]

Thank you "Just Wondering"
I had selected "Work" instead of settlement and that is where it all went wrong, it seems. I will enter all that info again and see what happens. But it feels right.

[RobertG]

Ok, so it all went spiffingly until I got to "Sponsor" Page. It implies there must be a sponsor other than my wife. Anyone have any idea why? Or how to deal with this?

[Just Wondering]

Your sponsor is your wife.

What does it say that makes you think it's not your wife?

[RobertG]

There is a wife page AND a sponsor page. The relationship of the sponsor to you is a drop down box that does not include spouse

[Just Wondering]

There is a wife page AND a sponsor page. The relationship of the sponsor to you is a drop down box that does not include spouse

Is this under the Sponsors Details page? Under the question "What is their relationship to you?" which lists a bunch of relatives and then "Other relative"? If so, I'd choose Other Relative.

It seems pretty stupid considering that you're applying for Settlement as a Husband.

[RobertG]

Is this under the Sponsors Details page? Under the question "What is their relationship to you?" which lists a bunch of relatives and then "Other relative"? If so, I'd choose Other Relative.

It seems pretty stupid considering that you're applying for Settlement as a Husband.

It is, I did and it is!

[Just Wondering]

Let me know how you get on with the rest of it.

Best of luck.

[doublelle68]

Hi, I'm a Malaysian, married to a Brit and have got a valid BRP. Am wondering, because my mum is ill, I may have to go back home to visit her quite frequently. Is there a specific time limit for each visit and is there also a limit to the number of times I can go home in a year?


Thanks.