joanna123

Thanks NicF - Yes, I've actually been talking with 1st Contact and they are good.. It's just they are based in Melbourne and I'm in Bris, but we can and probably will use them.

Hi everyone - thank you so much for all your ideas and wishes. It's all so awful. And they're so inhumane! If they had just sent one little email saying they can't find our bank statements, or, can we provide a 'current' and not an expired lease, we would have done so.. I also thought that a lease just continues if it 'expires'.. For example, a shop my sister and I jointly own in the UK has been tenanted by the same people for 13 years, but 2 years ago they chose not to renew their lease... So we can't include the income! I can ask them to sign a lease for 12 months and see if they'll do that.. I think our decision is going to have to be to reapply and schedule all our documents and make it a lot easier to read and understand than we previously did.. We should have presented all the documentations in a clear and simple way, and I now realise this costly error. Yes, my husband could enter on a tourist visa, but obviously wouldn't be able to work, and would also have to return to Australia within 6 months.. This obviously isn't ideal. I guess the other option is to do that and at the same time to appeal the decision of the visa and submit the documents they require and ask them to check their inventory for our bank statements (presuming they took copies)... It's pretty unfair, considering we meet the 18,600 requirement by double etc.. I just want my little boys to be with their grandparents I've given Australia 13 years and I've paid taxes in the UK on properties etc all that time. I feel hard done by that they could have resolved this with just one phone call or email - but I guess they don't have to and they were having a bad day.. Thanks again all. I'll be looking for a Brisbane based UK agent to help us with this one!

Gbye Grey Sky - We're almost passing each other in the sky! We leave Brisbane on 17th Absolutely - you're right, we didn't schedule anything, it was pretty messy. I'm surprised at myself to be honest when I look back. Thanks for your advice. I need to have a good think!

Thanks Newjez and Bristolman. We could appeal, but apparently it takes up to 6 months. And, an experienced agent has told me we would be unlikely to win as we omitted to send them a current lease (it had expired). I know, due to income/properties, you'd think it would be so simple, but we didn't present the information well, and they say they didn't receive two sets of the bank statements (but they were in the docs they returned to us!) Also, my husband couldn't legally work if we went on a tourist visa. It wouldn't be ideal as he'd have to return within six months, but it is an option I guess..

My husband's spouse visa has been refused. We applied under cat C - non-employment income. The two reasons given were both under the financial requirement - everything else was met: 1. We did not provide bank statements from all three banks where the income from rental properties was going.. However, when we looked through our returned documents, all three bank statements for 12 months immediately prior to application WERE there. How can I prove this?? Secondly, we did not provide a current lease for 2 of the 6 properties we own. The leases had expired, but tenants were still in the properties, and income was clearly shown. PLUS, the four remaining leases more than covered the required 18,600GBP. We met the financial criteria by double the required amount. I know we shouldn't have booked the flights, but we have. We leave Australia in 7 weeks. Apparently an appeal can take up to six months, and even if we are able to provide the 2 leases that had expired (now renewed), the likelihood is they may still refuse the appeal. We may also be able to apply under cat A as I have a job offer in the UK. Apparently, if I get that in writing, we can use rental income from our Australian property as income as well.. I have been told that this might be the best option for us - apply again under a different category, and pay for the priority processing, meaning we can still (providing we put in the correct documents this time), leave as planned. This of course, will cost us an extra $4500. We are so devastated.. We really need to get to family in the UK. We're exhausted and fed up and need the support with the kids! x

Hi Marissa - not late to answer, thank you so much Yes, we have Appendix 2, although about to re-write it so it's legible! x

Also, how did you present your docs? in a file?

Marissa! Thanks and congratulations! I just saw this email... You'll be leaving soon?! We have the biometric interview tomorrow and frantically finalising all our documents together now....

Just applied for my husband's British spouse visa! Biometric/interview on 13th April.. Better make sure we've got all the paperwork sorted!!! Pretty nervous now!

It is my understanding that once you do the online application for the spouse visa, you then automatically get invited for the biometric testing/interview which is where you hand in your paperwork. How soon after you hit the send button do you get the date for your interview? ie: will it be a few days, or a couple of weeks, or longer? I just want to know that when I apply whether I need to have my paperwork ready to go immediately..! Thanks.

Sorry, should say Category C, Non-Employment income - any help appreciated.

Hi all - this is my visa checklist - have I forgotten anything? Any help much appreciated! We are both in Australia - My husband is the applicant (Australian) and I am the British sponsor. This is a Spouse visa application. We are applying under Category C - Non-salaried income. Application form VAF4A Title deeds (purchased and downloaded from land registry UK website) 12 months of original bank statements sent by UK bank showing rental income in UK 12 months of original Australian bank statements showing rental income in Australia Personal statement from applicant Personal statement from sponsor Leases for rental properties (originals) Statement from parents in the UK detailing living arrangements (including bill, council tax statement and title deed) Passport photo Applicant’s current Australian passport (and previous passport) Marriage certificate - do we need further evidence of our relationship? Photos? We have been married for 11 years. Appendix FM-SE Photocopy of my British Passport bio page - does this need to be a certified copy? I'm presuming it does.. Do we need to get a property inspection report? We will be staying at my parents' property - they do not live there, so we will have the house to ourselves (4 of us). It also states you must complete one of the six appendices… Is this FM-SE or something different? Many thanks Jo

Thanks Marissa - how did the biometric interview go? When do you think you'll get a decision? Have you booked flights yet or are you waiting for visa?

On the same note, if you go back to UK, are you entitled straight away to healthcare etc and all other UK benefits such as childcare (or whatever they call it there)? I've heard there are some implications and you have to live there for 2 years first..??

How did it go? Just saw this - we are doing exactly the same thing... Same circumstances, although haven't submitted visa application yet. Any tips?!