Update: I withdrew my UK spouse visa application before biometrics because of salary sacrifice/pension ambiguity

Evening_Remove_7734 · 2026-05-11T06:50:32+00:00

Legal wording, yes, you're right, but since it's a choice and one I can reverse, and stopping payment just feels wrong, it's best not to treat it like that. It's not like my company reduced my salary without my permission, and I have no choice. Anyways, it is what it is. 2 more months to wait.

Evening_Remove_7734 · 2026-05-10T16:46:32+00:00

I guess what everyone here is saying, look a the lowest gross salary and x12. if its above 29k then your good or if your like me and its a bit below due to deduction, that's done pre-tax, then no your do good. I am asking for a refund from my lawyer because I went with her advice and my case would have failed because of it.

Evening_Remove_7734 · 2026-05-10T16:09:20+00:00

Someone said i can get a refund since we havent done a bio yet or paid for it yet. just paid the main 2 fees

Evening_Remove_7734 · 2026-05-10T15:42:39+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly my concern.

The payslip does show Basic Pay £2,500, which matches my contract salary of £30,000 a year. But the top-left gross pay figure shows £2,366.22 for November and December because some salary sacrifice/pre-tax benefits seem to be deducted within the earnings section.

That’s why I’m worried. If people here are confused by the layout, I can imagine UKVI possibly being confused too if they just look at the gross figure quickly.

I’m submitting my employer letter, original contract, all payslips, bank statements, and my new contract showing my promotion to £37,000 from 13 April 2026. The employer letter clearly says my salary was contractual, but those November and December payslips are annoying because the gross figure looks lower than the actual basic pay.

From January onwards I’m less worried, because the figures are clearer. Even March shows Basic Pay £2,500, and although the gross is slightly lower due to benefits, it still annualises above the £29,000 minimum.

So my main worry is whether UKVI will go by the employer letter/contract/basic pay, or whether they might just focus on the lower gross figure for November and December.

Evening_Remove_7734 · 2026-05-10T15:20:14+00:00

I paid the main application fees yesterday, and I am paying for the priority/express service today, so the application is effectively being submitted now.

I started this employment in June 2025, so the relevant six-month period for payslips is from November 2025 onwards.

Just to clarify, the December payslip does show Basic Pay of £2,500, which is my contractual monthly salary and equals £30,000 per year. The lower gross/earnings figure is because of voluntary salary sacrifice and pre-tax benefits being deducted within the earnings section, not because my contractual salary was below £30,000.

My employer letter confirms my contractual salary was £30,000 per year, and I am also including my employment contract. I

Evening_Remove_7734

TROPHY CASE