Immigration advice

[nursingdreams]

I have had some really amazing help from this board before so I'm trying my luck again.

I am currently trying to get a spousal visa for my husband who lives in Africa. I left my job in jan 2011 to work in Africa and Dec 2012 I was lucky enough to go back to the same job when I returned to the UK.

In order to meet the financial requirement I must be able to provide 6 months of payslips, which will be Dec12-May13. When I saw the lawyer in jan he said I could use the payslips I have and use old ones (from 2010) and he would write a cover letter explaining I went overseas to work.

I went to see him last week to provide the remaining bits of paperwork and he said that we would be taking a risk doing this but it should be ok?!

To be honest the amount of money I've paid is already ridiculous and we can't afford the visa to be rejected. So should I wait for the 6 months and play it safe or should I take a risk and use old payslips and hope that they are happy?

I would not use old payslips, they are dated anyway.

May 2013 is only a couple of months away. Call on your patience. You want to do it all above board, like you say you cannot afford (financially, emotionally) to have the application rejected.

Sounds like a bit of a dodgy lawyer....

It's a horrible process isn't it? I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt...
The one good thing is that it tests the relationship (admittedly, to the limit).

Wishing you all the best and crossing my fingers that it all works out! Honesty is always the best policy! I'm sure it will pay off in the end.

Good luck!

Never ever lie to the border agency! They will reject the application.

And why have you got a lawyer doing it? And he sounds dodgy!

Me and DH (non UK national) did it ourselfs, we had nothing to hide and we just took time and care filling in the form.

Thanks for the messages. We got a lawyer involved as we tried to get DH a visitor visa and it was rejected and we found the whole process so stressful we thought we'd pay an immigration lawyer to help.

He wasn't suggesting we lie about the dates of the payslips but purely say that I was being paid enough before my sabbatical and I'm now back on the same amount. Just the guidelines from UKBA seem clear that you must have earnt over 18600 for 6 months.

Think I'll just wait until we have 6 months worth of new payslips and then apply. Thanks for all the advice

Hi Nursingdreams

I think you are right to wait, you dont want to give them any reason to reject the application.

I had a similar situation as my husband is also from Africa and the whole situatin as the OP has said is so stressful so my thoughts are with you.

UKBA took 16months to assess our application and still rejected the spouse visa in favour of 3 year discretionary leave - fingers crossed for you both :-)