Acceptable income sources include employment income, pension payments, non-employment income (e.g., rental income), and self-employment income (Category F)

If you have no other income, you would need at least £88,500 in cash savings, held for a minimum of six months, to meet the financial requirement.

Typically, six months of employment in the current role is needed, though there are exceptions for those who have just started with a new employer.

Yes, the Home Office requires evidence of income over the last six months. This applies to employment income, pension payments, and other accepted forms of income.

You must hold your cash savings for at least six consecutive months before applying for the spouse visa. The Home Office requires evidence that these funds have been consistently available during this period.

If your partner receives certain benefits, you are exempt from the minimum income requirement. These benefits include:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement, or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension
• Child Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment

In these cases, you must demonstrate that you and your family have enough money to support yourselves and cover housing costs without relying on additional public funds. The caseworker will assess your income and housing expenses to ensure they meet the requirements.

n most cases, financial support from a third party cannot be used to meet the spouse visa financial requirement. The applicant and their partner must generally show that they have the necessary funds under their own control, without relying on resources from others.

However, there are a couple of exceptions:

• If a third party has gifted money to the applicant or their partner, it can count as cash savings as long as it has been held by the applicant, their partner, or both jointly for at least six months before applying, and they have full control over it.
• In certain exceptional cases, a credible, sustainable guarantee of financial support from a third party may be considered. This must meet specific criteria and be well-documented as outlined in the guidance on exceptional circumstances.

The processing time for a UK spouse visa application is typically between 8 and 12 weeks. However, priority services are available for faster processing, though these come with additional fees.

Yes, spouse visa holders are permitted to work and study in the UK without restrictions. This visa allows you to engage in full-time or part-time employment in any sector.

Yes, if you’re in the UK on a different visa category, you may be able to switch to a spouse visa, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and are not on a visitor visa.

To apply for an extension of your spouse visa, you’ll need to submit an application before your current visa expires. You must continue to meet the financial, accommodation, and relationship requirements. Additionally, you may need to pass an English language test unless exempt. An extension is typically granted for 30 months, allowing you to continue living in the UK with your partner.

You can apply for ILR as a spouse after living in the UK for five years on a spouse visa. You must also continue to meet the financial, accommodation, and relationship requirements, as well as pass the Life in the UK test and an English language test (unless exempt).

Each spouse visa extension typically lasts 30 months. You can apply for as many extensions as needed to reach the five-year residency requirement for ILR. However, if you do not intend to apply for ILR, you can continue to apply for extensions as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Generally, only time spent on a spouse visa counts towards the five-year residency requirement for ILR as a spouse. However, there are some limited cases where time on other family or partner visas may count

Yes, an overseas marriage can be used to apply for a UK spouse visa, provided it is legally recognised in the country where it took place and meets the UK’s requirements for validity. The Home Office will assess the validity of the marriage based on the laws of the country in which it was conducted. You will need to submit official documentation, such as a marriage certificate, as evidence of your marriage.

Example: If a couple married in Turkey at an official civil registry office (Evlendirme Dairesi), this marriage would generally be considered valid for a UK spouse visa, as Turkish civil marriages are legally recognised by UK authorities.

However, some types of marriages that may be legal in certain countries are not recognised by UK immigration authorities. For example, marriages involving polygamy (where a person has multiple spouses) are not accepted for a UK spouse visa. Only monogamous marriages, where each person has only one spouse, are considered valid for UK immigration purposes.

Yes, you can apply for a UK Fiancé(e) visa if you intend to marry or enter into a civil partnership with your partner within six months of arriving in the UK. This visa does not allow you to work, but once married, you can switch to a spouse visa, which permits you to live and work in the UK.

After marriage, you can switch to a spouse visa without needing to leave the UK.