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Advice wanted, please.

Discussion in 'UK Visa and Immigration Help' started by Guarnere2002, Apr 6, 2020.

  1. Guarnere2002
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    Guarnere2002 New Member

    Hi All,

    My partner arrived in the UK December on a fiancée visa. We got married in February, and since then have been trying to get various bits of paperwork together to apply for our Spouse Visa extension (FLR-M). We have hit hurdle after hurdle due in the main to the fact I am in tied-accommodation where I work. My bills are all paid by my company, so I cannot put my wife down on any bills.

    This means that she cannot open a bank account at all as she has no proof of address that qualifies for her to do so.

    She has updated her details for National Insurance, and has received two letters from HMRC in regard to this - including one with a cheque for Tax overpaid while she was last here in 2017! These, apparently, are not valid proofs of address for the banks.

    This means we have no correspondence whatsoever saying that we live together. My employer has written two letters saying that she is now residing in my flat - but still not regarded as proof of address, even though they are, by default, my Landlords.


    Also, she arrived with three prescription medications which she has to take daily. She came with three months supply of two, and six months supply of one. She has now been out of two of them for nearly two months. We went to my GP before all the lockdown started and were told that she needed a bank statement in order to register (They advised, in the middle of the biggest pandemic in known memory, that we go to an NHS Walk-in centre!!!). I told the receptionist that we could not register for NHS treatment and would pay for everything but they still would not take her on, even as a visitor. I e-mailed the surgery asking why this was and, apart from a brief call to see if she had seen anyone yet and whether we still had the problem with medication we have heard nothing.

    As her Visa runs out on May 6th we are in a bit of trouble - as, since we have been in lockdown, we cannot seem to do a thing about anything. As everything is online now we cannot contact anyone for advice. The whole system in this country seems designed to frustrate and demoralise anyone who applies for anything.

    We are quite desperate, and naturally my wife is very upset about it all. One of her pills that she takes is vital, she had been taking it since she was a child and she simply cannot afford not to take it.

    Many thanks for reading this. Any suggestions/advice would be gratefully accepted.

    Regards
    Rob and Wilma
  2. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Suggestions to attain official addressed documents.
    1. Haven't you added your partner to council tax and requested both names be shown on address? Joint addressed Bill

    2. Set up a joint bank account with present bank?

    3. Apply for a provisional driving licence?

    4. Request a National insurance statement (it can take a while to receive though)
      https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/NIStatement
  3. jims456
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    jims456 Active Member

    Hi to both of you
    From memory my wife presented her NI letter, her Filipino passport and her BRP to the Bank (Nationwide). The account in her name was then opened without issue, she was however on a spouse visa not a fiance visa.
  4. Guarnere2002
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    Guarnere2002 New Member

    Many thanks for replying. As stated in my post I do not get bills. My present bank requires proof of address. My wife has a provisional licence but in order to update it they need to have her passport, which we require for our application. As the lead time given to us for replies is currently 3-4 weeks we don't want to risk sending it off. We have got an NI statement, and were told it was not on the list my bank requires as proof of address. We have been to two others with the same result.

    Best regards
    Rob
  5. Guarnere2002
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    Guarnere2002 New Member

    Hi, thanks for replying. We have tried as mentioned above and my bank does not accept this as proof of address.

    Best regards
    Rob
  6. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    dont you get a council tax bill ?
  7. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Try opening a savings account? Having NI and BRP is sufficient for some.
  8. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Are you trying to get proof of address for your spouse visa application or a bank account or both?
    As @Stevembe says try the Nationwide if you can "Basic Flex account" my wife got one with just showing limited information.
  9. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    many banks have a similar basic a/c..usually for people with poor or no credit scores. no need to ask how i know. there is no overdraft or borrowing facility--and a plastic card is purely for accessing your money lodged in your a/c. its not a debit card.
  10. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    I know but the Nationwide the flex basic accouunt I quoted is a debit card,My wife has one.
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
  11. Daveyw1988
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    Daveyw1988 Active Member

    My lady opened one with HSBC no. Problem at all.. Intact even did it through online... Then all had to do is go in store few days later to. Prove who she is and its actually her
    • Informative Informative x 1
  12. Heathen
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    Heathen Active Member

    Hi Rob and Wilma, sorry to read about your predicament, Firstly my wife is here on a spouse visa, when my wife opened her bank account at Metrobank they asked her for proof of address and she gave them her DWP letter which was for her NI number which your wife should have, plus your wifes HMRC letter both of those should be sufficient. Of course my wife has a BRP card which was also requested and passport which your wife also has, so she is only short of her BRP. You didnt say if your wife is working because the bank will also want to know her employers.


    The other issue that you may have is as my wife just pointed out your wife cant work on a Fiancee visa ?. Goodluck and stay safe

    With regards the medication if your wife is able to get a supply of the medication from the Philippines DHL would take no longer than a week..
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020

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