U.K. Spouse Visas: Top 10 Reasons for Refusals

With all the changes being made to the immigration laws and all the added fees, getting a U.K. spouse visa seems harder than ever.

Stories of families being separated for years have grown more common these days. Each heart breaking tale only makes the idea of even trying for a visa seem that much harder.

We want to help all families stay together and to make this entire process as easy and stress-free as possible. An important step in getting your spouse visa approved is to understand the reasons why it can be denied.

Let’s go through these reasons together.

1. Wrong Online Application Form

This can seem simple to get right at first. But navigating through the multiple different forms available through the government websites can be daunting. Forms can look similar to others when you don’t know what to look for and it is because of this that we mention it first.

You need to check and double check to make certain the form you are filling in is exactly the correct one for your situation.

2. Incomplete Forms

It can be easy to overlook one small box of information but it is important that you fill in the forms completely before submitting them. The person who will either approve or deny your U.K. spouse visa will be going through these forms with a fine-toothed comb and you should too.

Check your forms multiple times. Even when you feel like you’ve checked them enough, it can never hurt to look over them one more time. It will save you a lot of trouble in the future.

3. Not Enough Proof of Financial Support

Only a person earning at least £18,600 a year can bring over a spouse to the U.K, and the government will be checking to make sure that your family can uphold that kind of financial support.

This is a sum that a lot of British people are finding hard to achieve, but the fact remains that it is still the rule. The sponsor of the applicant will need to provide them with substantial proof showing their earnings.

4. Wrong Type of Online Bank Statements

Going together with the necessary financial proof, one way of doing this is by showing bank statements. However,  you need to use original bank statements to get your U.K. spouse visa approved.

Printouts from the Internet will not be enough in this case.

5. Criminal History

Individuals with a history of criminal activity will find it much more difficult to get an approval than those without. It can often depend on the nature of the crime, as well as how much time has passed since that crime took place.

Under the Rehabilitation Of Offenders Act, it can be possible that a crime committed a long time ago will be ignored. However, this is all very dependent on the individual and the crime.

You should be aware that anyone applying for a U.K spouse visa who has a criminal record will be under more scrutiny than others.

6. Previous Refusals

It can seem unfair but unfortunately, the entire process can be a bit unfair sometimes. If you’ve previously applied for a visa and were refused, the chances of your next attempt being refused will be even higher.

Previous refusals are not an immediate reason for a person’s application to be refused, but it will make the reviewer look over everything even more finely. They’ll be particularly interested in looking for any discrepancies in the information you’ve provided as well as looking for whatever it was that made them refuse you in the previous cases.

7. False Documents

Supplying information that is not correct will not be accepted.

Everything you write down in the application will be checked and double checked by the person reviewing your case. There will be phone calls and searches to find out more about you and your loved one before the U.K spouse visa will ever be approved.

If there is falsified information on those documents, they’ll find out about it. Make certain to always write down the correct information to the best of your ability to keep this from happening. It can lead to a lot more trouble for you if misinformation is given.

8. Not Qualified

You have to make certain to read up on the necessary qualifications and information about the visa before ever applying for it. If you don’t know everything there is to know about the visa, chances are that you’ll overlook something that might lead to your visa being refused.

Be certain to take the time to learn about the rules and the process. It will help you stay informed about everything you can expect before jumping into the deep-end.

9. Forgotten Documents

When you apply for a U.K. spouse visa, you’ll need to provide the appropriate persons with a number of different documents. If you forget one of them, it could lead to your application being refused.

A general idea of the needed documents include but are not necessarily limited to:

• A completely filled-out visa application
• A current passport
• Bank statements from at least the last three months (remember, not just printouts)
• Proof of Identity
• Results from a tuberculosis test
• Proof of education and any degrees a person might hold
• Recent photographs
• Proof of residence
• Marriage certificates

Certain documents may be added to an overall list depending on the individuals involved and any outlying circumstances in their situation.

10. Forgetting English Translation Certification

Any persons needing to translate the English application into a different language will need to provide information about that translation.

To keep it as smooth as possible, you should choose a professional translator. You’ll have to give the name, address and other contact information about the person who did the translation, as well as a full signature from that translator verifying that the translation is correct.

All of this should be done on a proper certificate form.

Final Thoughts on U.K. Spouse Visas

All of this may make it seem nearly impossible to get your U.K. spouse visa approved, but don’t despair. Keeping yourself informed is one of the best ways to make sure you can get through this process as swiftly as possible.

You don’t have to do any of this alone. You can seek out immigration advice from professionals who want to help you through this process and make your life easier.

Immigration Application Services

• Review of all your documents
• Advice on document requirements
• Advice on replacement or alternative documents
• Suggestions on how to improve your application
• Provides peace of mind before your apply
• Application checked by qualified immigration caseworker
• Advice on how to obtain all family certificates such as marriage, birth and death