One of the most difficult parts of the UK spouse visa application is fulfilling the financial requirements. Appendix FM states the financial requirements clearly, which are critical guidelines for all spouse visa applications.
There are two financial requirements that must be met: a minimum income that must be shown with specific paperwork, and suitable family housing.
Minimum requirements for finances
You must meet a financial criteria in order to demonstrate that you can be effectively supported in the UK without relying on public subsidies.
The financial criteria for a UK Spouse visa application specifies that you must show that your Spouse (or both of you if you have valid leave to remain in the UK) has a gross yearly income of at least £18,600; extra £3,800 for a first kid (not a British, settled, or EEA national); plus £2,400 for each additional child (who is non-British, settled or an EEA national).
The financial requirement can be met entirely by gross yearly pay or, if below the level, by a combination of salary and savings. It is also feasible to rely only on your savings.
The applicant’s salary is not taken into account while applying for entry clearance. The sponsor’s pay is the only one that can be counted. The applicant’s income will be considered in the extension of leave applications, as long as it is not the product of illegal work.
Savings must total £16,000, plus a 2.5 multiplier for the difference between the salary earned and the amount required.
Accommodation requirements
Another important requirement is to have accommodation for your family in the UK.
Definition of ‘Family’ means those members of the spouse who are not applying leave to remain but live together in the same household.
Basically, you’ll need to count how many individuals are sleeping in each room. Living rooms are included in the category of rooms. There should be no more than a specific number of people per room of the house, and children of the opposite gender should not be forced to share a room until they are 10 years old.
Children under the age of one are not allowed to share a room with their parents. Children from 1 to 9 years old are counted as half of a person, whereas those aged 10 and up are counted as one person.
You must include a description of the property in the documentation when you submit your application, which defines the number of rooms available.
In case you earn less than £18,600
You generally don’t need to worry about this area if your sponsor earns less than £18,600 a year in a job they’ve been doing for years. This is a far more in-depth look at the minimum income criterion for those whose sponsors don’t make £18,600, or who have recently begun a new work, or who are otherwise struggling to meet the barrier.
The requisite income and/or savings can be shown in a variety of ways. Sources of income can be combined and matched in some instances, but not in others.
You must consult immigration solicitors for the best bespoke advice and services who can help you guide you through the spouse visa application and minimum financial requirements.
A Y & J Solicitors have been helping UK spouse visa applicants for more than 10 years.