Spouse Visa UK for US citizens

You can complete your UK Partner Visa application online from the US, with the help of one of IAS’ immigration attorneys. As part of this process, you must choose the US location where your civil partner will enrol their biometrics (a digital photograph and your fingerprints).

The next step is to pay your immigration health surcharge and your application fees. At this point, your application for a UK Spouse visa will be officially considered submitted, and you can arrange your supporting documents to be sent to the authorities. You must also schedule and attend your biometrics appointment.

If you are a US national, before you apply for a Partner Visa UK you must ensure you meet the following requirements:

• You and your partner must both be over 18;
• Your marriage must be recognized by the UK government;
• You must prove that you intend to live together and stay in the UK;
• Your application must include proof of suitable accommodation;
• You will need to meet the financial requirement;
• You must prove that you meet the English Language requirements if you are not from an English-speaking country.

To be eligible for a UK Spouse Visa, you must be earning a certain amount, or have enough savings to sustain your family. To meet the financial requirement, you will be asked to prove that you earn a certain minimum annual income (before tax). If your income is less that you need, you can use cash savings to meet the eligibility requirements.

The amount of savings or income required to apply for a Spouse Visa from the US depends on who you are applying for.

If you wish to bring your partner, you will need an income of at least £18,600 per year before tax. However, if you and your spouse have children you want to bring with you from outside the UK, you will need to earn an extra £3,800 for the first child, and then an extra £2,400 for each child after that.

To get a UK Spouse Visa from the US, you must provide evidence that you and your partner are in a genuine and containing relationship, and that you intend to live together. In other words, you need to include documents that show that you:

• Have lived together for at least 2 years;
• Have children together (if applicable);
• Have a shared bank account or savings;
• Have met in person at least once before you got married;
• Has spent time together and have been in frequent contact.

If your application is successful, your partner will receive a permit which allows them to enter the UK during a 30-day period.

Once they arrive, they will need to pick up their biometric residence permit within 10 days.

If your partner doesn’t enter the UK within the 30-day period, they will need to pay an additional fee to apply for a new 30-day entry permit.

If the Home Office refuses your application, you will receive a rejection letter with further details on how to proceed. For example, you can appeal, providing that you have enough evidence to prove that the decision of the UKVI make it impossible for you to be together.

Appeals are usually time-consuming and complex processes. For this reason, it is always recommended to seek the help of a specialist immigration attorney, who will advise you on all the eligibility requirements Get in touch with IAS’ immigration specialists to find out more.

If you are a US citizen applying for a Spouse Visa, your permit will last for 33 months if you are applying from outside the UK. If you are submitting your application from the United Kingdom, your visa will be valid for 30 months. Eventually, you may be eligible to get Indefinite Leave to Remain, and then apply to become a British citizen.

Before your visa expires, you can renew it for another 2 years and 6 months. At the end of this additional timeframe, you can apply to settle in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain.

It usually takes up to six weeks for the Home Office to evaluate your case. Nevertheless, your application could take as long as 12 weeks if extra checks are needed to review your eligibility against the financial requirement or English language criteria.

Besides, your Spouse Visa processing time will depend on the country you are applying from. Applications from within the UK using the Premium Service could take as little as two weeks.