What documents do you need for a Spouse Visa interview?

While no reason to panic and give up on the process entirely, being called to an interview does mean there may be some doubts about your application. For example, this could include whether you have lived together for a long enough time or that your relationship is genuine. Your partner or spouse acts as your ‘sponsor’ and therefore either parties, or both, could be called to an interview with an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO). Interviews could be done over the phone or face to face.

Page Contents

• Why would I be called to a Spouse Visa interview?
• What documents will I need?
• Documents to prove a ‘genuine relationship’
• Financial requirement of a Spouse Visa
• What questions might be asked?

Mostly, the reason people are asked to attend an interview in the first place is due to providing supporting documentation that didn’t provide enough detail or entire documents were missing. It is incredibly important to provide up to date and full documentation to send alongside your application to support it.

This should include:

• Your passport and/or travel documentation that’s valid
• Original marriage or civil partnership certificate if you’re married
• A valid certificate from passing an English Language test
• Evidence that you have available accommodation in the UK
• Proof that your partner is a British citizen or settled person
• Proof that your relationship is genuine
• Proof that you meet the financial requirement

The last two points are most often areas for concern – so we’ll go over each one in turn.

It can feel a little frustrating to feel your relationship is being disbelieved by the Home Office. This route can be used to bring partners to the UK through ‘sham marriages’ or partnerships just to get to the UK that aren’t actually genuine. Therefore it’s really important to provide as much information as possible.

The Home Office will want to see evidence that you and your partner have formed a marital and/or financial union, including living together, for at least two years. Therefore some examples of supporting evidence could be:

• Joint mortgage or tenancy agreement
• Travel documents showing you’ve visited each other before
• Conversation logs (texts, Skype etc)
• Photographs of you together
• Proof of a shared bank account

A Spouse Visa holder cannot access government benefits support in the UK. Therefore you must prove you have enough money to support yourself without public funds. You will also have the right to work. To do so you could provide bank statements, payslips or other official documentation. Also, the partner that is a British citizen or settled person will need to prove they make over £18,600 a year. With one child this increases to £22,400.

Most importantly for your Spouse Visa interview, you must make sure both partners know and understand which documents are being sent to the Home Office. The evidence you provide must match up to your answers to the interview questions.

It’s important to prepare for the kinds of questions that might get posed, especially in an environment where you may be nervous. Some types of question that could get asked might be:

• When and how did you meet?
• What are your husband’s/wife’s hobbies?
• What do you have in common?
• How have you kept in contact/how do you communicate?

Partners will probably be interviewed separately, to allow ECO’s to pick up on any inconsistencies in your answers. Therefore knowing beforehand what the questions might be can help you feel more prepared and master the interview.

Having a spouse visa interview can be daunting but you can avoid it by getting immigration advice from a licensed professional solicitor to help you with your application.

The spouse visa interview is incredibly important, part of the visa process and not one to be underestimated. Stay calm and prepare properly, and you can then focus on your life in the UK as a family.