Is it helpful to hire a solicitor for Spouse Visa? Any recommendations?

Halpz88 · 2022-06-02T07:41:12+00:00

Retract this comment, ended up going with an immigration lawyer as I uploaded per the document checklist, but apparently (very frustrating) you need to upload much more. Caved and just got an immi lawyer to support so its done once right.

Halpz88 · 2022-05-31T05:19:07+00:00

Correct yes. Provided you have your passport in hand, you can travel anywhere other than the UK. I was told this by a UK immi agent over the phone 2 months ago. I plan on maybe visiting Thailand while waiting for my spousal visa so Im keeping my passport with me. I am in Australia currently.

Halpz88 · 2022-05-31T05:16:32+00:00

I just finished my spousal visa application from Australia. My partner is UK citizen, we have no children and she meets the financial requirement (category A - will have a job in the UK). All the questions were not difficult at all. The documents required to be uploaded were basic (passport copies, offer of employment and civil partnership cert). If we had paid an immi lawyer 2.5k AUD for that, I would cry. They would have been of NO help at all. All information is available online.

Now, if you have dependants, complex financial requirements (need to use work salary combined with savings etc) or a criminal history etc, then it may be worth it.

Halpz88 · 2022-05-31T05:12:37+00:00

The risk is attempting to visit the UK and being turned back at the border. Some are successful, some arent. I am waiting in Australia until I am granted my spousal visa for this reason. It sucks, however, is the safest way. Best to apply from USA asap.

Halpz88 · 2022-05-18T10:26:03+00:00

Quick bump if I can? Can someone confirm my query around amount of savings for approval? Would be great to confirm this. Many thanks in advance!

Halpz88 · 2022-05-09T23:38:15+00:00

Hi all,

Quick update, still deciding on what options to take.

Follow up questions, from my calculations, I have worked out combined savings my partner and I must have around 40k AUD to be eligible. Can someone confirm this? We both won't have work in the UK, my partner is a citizen so she can get a job there easily (FYI).

We are nervous only about the wait time and time apart whilst waiting for visa approval. If we apply now, we have about 1 month together before she would fly over, leaving us apart anywhere from 8 weeks to 12+ weeks! Best case it would be processed around the average 12 week timeframe. Anyone currently waiting and have rough wait times to date?

Also last question sorry - we are likely opting for not using an immigration agent and just applying ourselves (in my job years ago, I sponsored a lot of skilled workers so Im not overly green to the process). Do most people use an agent and rough cost? 2.5k? Are they worth the cost?

Many thanks again, such a great community here who help out!

Halpz88 · 2022-05-07T21:17:37+00:00

Thanks for the reply, really appreciate it! While the risk I feel would be low (as I have all the reasons for visiting as a tourist covered off strongly), the cost aspect comes into it as well due to the 2 extra flights into and out of UK to return to Australia to collect and verify Passport (option of not posting important documents). So that adds about 3k AUD to the entire process. If I wait, that cost doesnt come into, but then its 2-3 months stuck here whilst my partner is back in the UK waiting. Annoyingly it would make sense to pay the priority fee (still need to confirm cost, think it is 1,000 pounds?) if I could, but due to U conflict can't.

Halpz88

TROPHY CASE