UK Residency Application- Documents Requested

[fedupandfiredup]

My ex husband has a Canadian wife. I have two children with him; they have none together.

She is apparently applying to renew her residency and he has therefore asked me to produce some documents. Firstly, copies of the kids' passports and birth certificates (I'm not sure why these are relevant as the children are not her dependants). I will provide these as he has parental responsibility so is entitled to them anyway.

Secondly, he has asked for a utility bill in my name at my address. I am suspicious in regards to this and uncomfortable with providing it.

Is this legit? Would they really ask for this?

Back story: domestic abuse, misrepresentation, financial abuse, significant debt, gross financial mismanagement.

Doesn't sound legit to me. What purpose would it serve? Her visa application is not your responsibility.

www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/provide-information This page lists the information needed for a visa extension. No mention of anything like that.

Thank you. It's just such a bizarre request

Delicately suspicious. You are correct to refuse to provide your documents

@MrsRockAndRoll

Delicately suspicious. You are correct to refuse to provide your documents

Thank you. I've tried to get hold of UK Borders and Immigration to query it, with no luck. I'll try calling again later, but I definitely won't be providing personal information. Thanks

I wouldn’t provide any of those documents given that background. Not your circus.

birth certificates are public documents, he can request a copy himself.

the other docs. no no and no. not your circus not your monkeys.

Thank you so much for the replies everyone. I have sent the copies of the children's passports and birth certificates. But I've told him that I won't provide my personal information, and that the authorities are welcome to contact me directly if it's critical.

Just waiting for him to have his tantrum now....

Hi OP, so I just actually went through this whole process last week (it's extremely fresh in my mind, and yes, I came through with right to reside in the UK indefinitely afterward).

You are getting some not quite right advice above. 1) all children's passports, 2) all birth certificates of children, and 3) a letter / address for children's location must be provided. We used a school letter/NHS letter with the address of 'parent' and 'child's name' on it. While it is incorrect he has asked for a utility bill with your name on it, he absolutely will need a letter confirming the children's address (which may just have your name on it too). PM if you want the full list of what is needed. I have it saved.

Oh, and just for anyone wondering about the UK visa process. I had to provide 12 utility bills spread over 2.5 years (evenly spread too) in both my partners and my name. It's a HUGE part of the process of proving where you have lived and been partnered with that person. However, for an ex-partner, this would not come into play. Children's address will, but utility bills will not.

@Hawse

Hi OP, so I just actually went through this whole process last week (it's extremely fresh in my mind, and yes, I came through with right to reside in the UK indefinitely afterward).

You are getting some not quite right advice above. 1) all children's passports, 2) all birth certificates of children, and 3) a letter / address for children's location must be provided. We used a school letter/NHS letter with the address of 'parent' and 'child's name' on it. While it is incorrect he has asked for a utility bill with your name on it, he absolutely will need a letter confirming the children's address (which may just have your name on it too). PM if you want the full list of what is needed. I have it saved.

Thanks. There is a court order outlining the children's residence arrangements with both addresses in full. I suggested that this would do the job, would that be correct in your experience? Thanks

@Hawse

Oh, and just for anyone wondering about the UK visa process. I had to provide 12 utility bills spread over 2.5 years (evenly spread too) in both my partners and my name. It's a HUGE part of the process of proving where you have lived and been partnered with that person. However, for an ex-partner, this would not come into play. Children's address will, but utility bills will not.

Sorry, another question, was yours for your own children? I don't really understand why the children are even in the application, they're not her dependents?

While Hawse may be correct regarding the documents, she was applying for herself to stay. That's an entirely different situation from OP's who has her abusive ex making demands of her.

@MrsSquirrel

While Hawse may be correct regarding the documents, she was applying for herself to stay. That's an entirely different situation from OP's who has her abusive ex making demands of her.

Absolutely. I completely understand. Which is why I have stated a utility bill in the OP's address is not necessary. Something with the child's address however is often requested; that could have a parents name on it + child's, or merely in the child's name soley.

Now I am not a immigration lawyer, so don't quote or flame me for this, but my guess is why all this is relevant is that the OP's ex husband is the sponsor for the application. And therefore must provide all evidence relevant to him too (e.g. as father to british born children), and seeing as new wife is the one applying for visa, she is the 'step mum' so still has to note the children on the application form.

I have just looked up my 'saved' application and it absolutely asks the following: 'do you or your partner have any children together, do you have any children from someone who is not your partner, and does your partner have any children living in the UK from a previous relationship.' The last one is key here I would assume, and they would ask further details (I clearly didn't get those questions so cannot comment as its not applicable to me).

Also, the form does explicitly ask about ex-partners and pretty sure a divorce certificate has to be provided, but as I am not divorced I did not have to provide and just ticked 'no'.

OP, if this really concerns you, and granted I can see why it might, and if you feel like your husband is just doing this to be controlling, I would join one of the immigration specific web boards and see if they have advice for you. They are really helpful and I am sure someone has been in a similar situation. www.immigrationboards.com/indefinite-leave-to-remain/ or www.immigrationboards.com/general-uk-immigration-forum/.

Hi OP, I couldn't quote your message, but in response to the question about the court order, this is where it is tricky - I think (and again, this is a question for an immigration specific board) that it has to be dated within 3 months before application is made. I had to ask my DD's nursery to do us a special letter especially to ensure the dates worked, as my NHS letters (which I also provided) were over the 3 month limit. So depends on when your court order was dated (essentially).

I do think specialist advice from someone who has done the UK visa process with stepchildren would be useful though, as clearly while I have done this whole process, it doesn't fully fit your scenario. Sorry but hope my advice was helpful nonetheless..