Your Guide to Applying For a Spouse Visa Extension

Once you have secured your first spouse visa it is all too tempting to think that you don’t need to spend much time or thought on your spouse visa extension application as after all you got your first spouse visa so an assumption is made that the Home Office will automatically process your schedule extension application and grant it. In this guide to applying for a spouse visa extension we look at common mistakes that are made when applying for a spouse visa extension and how best to secure your spouse visa extension.

spouse visa solicitors

spouse visa applications and extensions are complicated, so it pays to use a spouse visa solicitor who specialises in spouse visa applications and appeals. London based OTS Solicitors are experts in Spouse Visas and their spouse visa team will advise you on the requirements for your spouse visa extension and guide you on the best way to extend your spouse visa.

For fast professional advice from friendly spouse visa solicitors call us on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form.

spouse visa extensions

Most spouse visa extension applications are a ‘means to an end’ as eventually you will want to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain but need to apply to extend your original spouse visa in order to remain lawfully in the UK to then meet the continuous residence eligibility criteria for an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain . For many spouse visa holders the status of Indefinite Leave to Remain is just a stepping stone to making a British naturalisation application and securing British citizenship.

First steps

It may seem obvious but many people still get caught out. If you are applying for a spouse visa extension you need to make your spouse visa extension application before your current spouse visa expires.

If you forget your spouse visa date or don’t take action then you will be classed as an ‘overstayer’ and this in turn may affect your spouse visa extension application and also any future Immigration applications, such as your Indefinite Leave to Remain or British Citizenship application.

Provided that you submit your spouse visa extension application before the expiry of your spouse visa it is Ok as you are not classed as an overstayer if you have a Home Office application pending. However, spouse visa solicitors say it is best to plan ahead and not rush and put your spouse visa extension application in at the last minute. That is because it can take time to get the best supporting paperwork to evidence that you meet the spouse visa extension financial requirement or that your relationship is subsisting and genuine.

spouse visa solicitors recommend to diary up your spouse visa extension application as the Immigration Rules say that you can apply for the spouse visa extension up to twenty eight days before the expiry of your current spouse visa.

spouse visa extensions and the financial requirement

With the passage of time you may have forgotten how much hassle was involved in sorting out the financial paperwork to meet the spouse visa financial requirement. When you apply for a spouse visa extension you will still need to prove that you continue to meet the spouse visa financial requirement so it is best to take early legal advice from a spouse visa solicitor on the sort of documents they will need from you to submit a well prepared spouse visa extension application with the correct supporting financial paperwork.

What you or your spouse visa solicitors can't afford to be is lazy and not pay attention to the Immigration Rules and the detailed financial requirement document guidance as failure to provide the right supporting paperwork, even on a spouse visa extension application, will result in the Home Office refusing the extension application. Whilst you have a right of appeal against the refusal of a spouse visa extension application it is best to avoid going down the appeal route by spending time and care on your extension application.

Don’t forget that when it comes to your spouse visa extension application the income to meet the financial requirement (currently income of £18,600 gross per year for a couple without dependent children) you can count not only your sponsoring spouse’s income but your own as well. That wasn’t necessarily the case when you applied for your original spouse visa, if you applied from overseas.

You may think that your financial circumstances are straight forward because you or your sponsoring spouse earn well in excess of £18,600 per year or because you have £60,000 or more in cash savings. However, specialist spouse visa solicitors will tell you that whether your financial circumstances are clear cut or not the required supporting financial paperwork isn’t as the Immigration Rules are both complicated and detailed.

spouse visa extension fees

It is worth spending the time on a well-prepared spouse visa application because if you submit a poorly prepared application or one without the correct supporting financial and other paperwork, your spouse visa extension application is likely to be rejected.

If your spouse visa extension application is rejected the Home Office will not refund the spouse visa extension application fee of over £1,000 and you will also have to incur costs in appealing the spouse visa refusal decision to the First-Tier tribunal or even to the Upper tribunal,

UK spouse visa extension

Once you have got your spouse visa it can feel as if you can finally relax, especially if it was a real battle to get your UK spouse visa. However, a UK spouse visa is time limited. In this blog we look at UK spouse visa extensions and how to best secure a spouse visa extension.

spouse visa solicitors

London based OTS Solicitors are experts in Immigration law and specialise in Spouse Visas. Our Immigration solicitors can advise you on the requirements for a spouse visa extension and guide you on the best way to extend your spouse visa.

For fast professional advice from friendly UK spouse visa solicitors call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form.

spouse visa solicitors

London based OTS Solicitors are experts in Immigration law and specialise in Spouse Visas. Our spouse visa solicitors advise on spouse visa applications, spouse visa extensions, spouse visa appeals and spouse visa settlement applications. For fast professional advice from friendly UK spouse visa solicitors call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form.