Spouse Visa Processing Time

Upon submission of your application, it gets directed to a designated immigration official. This step itself can consume a portion of the overall processing time for the Spouse Visa.

The immigration official will then rigorously evaluate your application, paying attention to:

• The information you’ve provided in your application
• Documents that support your claims
• Proof of your relationship’s authenticity
• Your financial records
• Information about your living accommodations

The thoroughness is especially apparent when the officer assesses the legitimacy of your relationship. Following the initial evaluation, your application may be forwarded to another reviewer for further scrutiny.

Finally, a decision will be made on your application, and you’ll be notified of the outcome—either approval or denial—through a letter from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) via mail.

Absolutely. The estimated timeframes for the UK marriage visa mentioned here are just average durations, based on what the Home Office has indicated.

There are numerous variables that could prolong the decision – which could extend it by days, weeks, or even months beyond the average.

A lack of updates from the Home Office shouldn’t be interpreted as an increased likelihood of denial. Delays can occur due to various reasons, such as a high volume of pending applications, mistakes in your submitted documents, or the need for supplementary evidence.

Should the Home Office request additional documentation from you, this will invariably extend your application’s processing time.

If your spouse visa or marriage visa application was submitted from abroad, you’re free to travel during the review period.

However, should your application be granted, you’ll have to return to the country where you initially applied to collect your visa.

Travelling to the UK without an approved visa is strongly discouraged. For those who have applied from within the UK, it’s recommended that you stay within the UK until a decision is reached on your application.

Departing the UK during this time could result in the Home Office deeming your application as withdrawn.

If you have to travel soon after submitting your application, consider opting for priority or super-priority services to expedite the decision-making process before your travel date.

The Spouse Visa allows foreign nationals who are married to a British citizen or settled person, to enter the UK.

If your application is successful, you will be able to remain in the UK legally for 30 months.

At the end of this period, you may apply for a UK Spouse Visa extension, until you become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

If you and your partner are engaged and wish to get married in the UK, you can apply for a UK Fiancé Visa instead.

Once married, you will be able to switch into the Spouse Visa to remain in the UK for 33 months.

To qualify for a Spouse Visa, you and your partner must meet specific spouse visa requirements. Nevertheless, some of the following criteria may vary depending on your unique circumstances. If you wish to receive dedicated advice on your application, you can get in touch with our Birmingham immigration lawyers.

The general UK Spouse Visa requirements are as follows:

• You and your partner must be over the age of 18
• You must be married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or a foreign national holding ILR
• Your spouse must meet the minimum income requirements
• You and your partner must have met in person at least once before the date of your application
• You must intend to live together in the UK
• You must have adequate savings to financially support yourselves and your family without applying for welfare support
• You must have suitable accommodation already set up for your arrival
• You must pass and English language test

To demonstrate that you qualify for a UK Spouse Visa, you must prepare an adequate portfolio of documents. Most importantly, you must prove that you didn’t marry your partner for visa purposes or for fraudulent immigration advantages.

Some documents you will need to include in your immigration bundle are:

• Your passport or your valid travel document
• Your partner’s passport or proof of identification
• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Your English language certificate (if needed)
• A short history of your relationship from the day you met to the current date

Depending on your personal circumstances, you may need to provide additional documents. This includes proof of your accommodation arrangements or birth certificates of any children you wish to bring in the UK with you.