The Essential Guide To UK Spouse Visa Interviews

If you are married to a British citizen and applying for a UK spouse visa so you can join them in the UK, you may be asked to attend a UK spouse visa interview questions and answers session. This fills many couples with fear, with images of a stern, humourless UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) official picking over every element of your lives together, trying to work out whether or not your marriage is a sham.

However, as long as you have the best advice from an experienced Immigration solicitor, you should pass your spouse visa interview with flying colours and be able to confidently answer marriage interview questions.

To help you, we have set out the answers to some frequently asked questions about UK Spouse Visas,UK airport immigration questions for spouse and spouse visa interviews.

What are the eligibility requirements for a UK spouse visa?

To be eligible for a UK spouse visa you must meet the following criteria:

• You and your spouse must be 18 years old or over.
• You must have met each other and be legally married - this is to prevent arranged marriages.
• You must intend to live together permanently.
• You must have enough money to support yourselves (and any dependents) without claiming public funds.
• Your sponsoring partner must earn more than £18,600 per year or have enough savings to be able to sponsor you. The minimum financial requirement is higher if they are also sponsoring dependent children.
• You must have suitable accommodation for you, your spouse and any dependants.
• You must satisfy the English language requirements.

Why would UKVI request a spouse visa interview?

Sometimes UKVI will demand that you attend a spouse visa interview, even if you instruct an expert Immigration lawyer to put together the best application possible.

It is imperative that you take the spouse visa interview process seriously. If UKVI have requested that you have a spouse visa interview, either by phone or in person, it means that they have doubts about the authenticity of your relationship.

If you are a fiancée of a British citizen, you must convince the interviewing officials your relationship is genuine and continuing, and you are both committed to getting married and living together in the UK for romantic reasons, rather than simply applying for a UK marriage visa for Immigration purposes. If you are already married or in a registered civil partnership, you and your spouse must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining officer that you both entered into the marriage or civil partnership in good faith, and not to evade UK Immigration laws.

What type of questions could I be asked in a UK spouse visa interview?

Questions that may be asked by an examining officer include:

• How did you meet?
• What did you like about each other?
• What is your spouse’s favourite colour, food, book, movie etc?
• What was your first date like?
• How often do you speak on the phone?
• How much does your spouse earn?
• What was your wedding like?
• Where does your spouse live in the UK and how much is their rent/mortgage?
• What are the names of your spouse’s parents/siblings?

This is just a small sample of questions that may be asked at an interview. The interviewers will be carefully listening to your answers, trying to spot any inconsistencies that may lead them to conclude that your marriage is not a genuine, loving partnership.

How can I avoid being asked to attend a spouse visa interview?

The best way to avoid being called in for a spouse visa interview is to instruct an experienced Immigration solicitor to put together the best application possible to UKVI.

Your Immigration lawyer can collate the necessary documents that prove your marriage is genuine, and present you and your spouse in the best light.

Example of documents to include when making an application for a UK spouse visa include:

• your marriage certificate
• letters of support from your family and close friends
• photographs of your wedding day and life together
• phone or Skype records which prove how often you talk when apart
• rental agreements and utility bills under both your names if you have lived together before

In Summary

Applying for a UK spouse visa can be daunting, after all, the decision of whether or not you can move to the country your spouse resides in, rests on your application being accepted. If you are asked to attend a spouse visa interview, take it seriously and ensure both of you prepare for it. If you are a genuine couple, this will come across naturally to the interviewer, hopefully leaving you free to join your spouse to begin your married life together in Britain.

OTS Solicitors is one of the most respected immigration law firms in London. Our immigration team dealing with family matters comprises of Smit Kumar, Hans Sok Appadu and Maryem Ahmed, all of whom would be happy to talk to you about applying for a UK Spouse Visa.

By making an appointment with one of our Immigration solicitors, you can be assured of receiving some of the best legal advice available in the UK today.

If you wish to discuss any of the points raised in this blog, please phone our London office on 0203 959 9123.