Tips to prepare documents for submission (settlement).

I got nothing to do so I thought to share how I prepared my documents for submission.

1. First, make sure to photocopy every document you wish to submit. Make a copy of the application form and Appendix 2 but keep it to yourself for future reference.

2. Put them in a logical order. Here's my order of the documents I submitted.
Application form and relevant Appendix -- Passport and Passport Photos-- English and TB Test -- Financial Documents -- Accommodation -- Proof of Relationship.

3. Anything small like passport and passport pictures can be placed in a Ziploc bag so it won't get lost.

4. Make two piles for your documents. One for the original and the other for the photocopy. You can put a colored paper in front of the piles saying original and photocopies. You can also put colored papers (write the certain docs that can be found there) in between categories like financial docs, accommodation and relationship like what i did so it would be easy for the ECO to identify which is which,

5. Bind each pile with a string (in my case ribonette) so it won't get mix up.

I'll show a sample pic of what I did. Hope this helps

PS. Credits to the other forum where I learned all this.

This is so helpful! Thank you so much @Brom27! Been fuzzing about our documents and up until now i haven't organized them yet!

Thank you so much for the tip!

Oh I'm just in time. Hehe no worries

We wrote up content pages and broke down the application pack to follow the flow of the electronic application
Section 1. Application
Section 2. Finance
Section 3.Social

We have the same order of documents.
But it seems yours is much more organized! Mine was like in each folder (2 folders for originals and photocopies, the VFS staff returned these and just took the documents) with plenty of paperclips on bulk documents of the same thing. I got the paperclips back though. My passport photo is nowhere to be found!

mine was, I made a list first of every documents and I compiled them of each section. My documents then my fiancés documents (all proofs) I organized them first before I photo copy them. The day before the submission, I already removed them from the folder cuz I knew that the VFS officers will ask me to remove them so I just put them all with a small box where they can fit with the separate photo copy.

My tip: if it's just a documents printed from the computer like chat logs, call logs, or exchanged emails, you don't need to photo copy them cuz it will just add weight on your application. That's the advice of the officer who assisted me before.

I agree. When I got my documents, some photocopies were returned such as: his bank statements, his/my payslips, p60, chat/call logs, itineraries, flight tickets, receipts, photos, his mortgage details, water bill, council tax and some supporting docs I can't remember.

To be sure, just make photocopies. Better safe than sorry.

Are they just photo copy when they returned it to you? It's just the logs, and e-tickets, and gmail photo copy that I didn't include cuz I want my original docs back also the pictures and cards and Adam's financial docs.

It's also good that we have this thread to help the new members on how they can easily organize their application and so that they can't experience what we've experienced before. Haha

The originals were returned as well, except for my passport photo! The VFS staff just put it inside the bag and I think it got lost during the review. Never thought of putting it in a ziplock bag. You'll surely get the pictures and cards back, I don't think they will take it. As for the financial documents, I got mine back including the photocopies.

Honestly, this forum helped me A LOT. This is where I got ideas when I was still collecting the documents and processing my application. Sharing of experiences is truly helpful.

Good luck on your application @Chicksisweetie
Hope to hear a good news soon!

I'll see what original documents they'll return to me.
And yeah that's true! This is the only forum really helped me a lot and I'm glad that I found it. I got all my questions answered from here. So, thanks so much to the creator of this site!

Yeahh.. I'm still waiting for the positive result

Nice one @Brom27 gives me the idea on how to compile my docs..last time i applied for visit visa, it was all messed up

Remember the idea of getting a copy of every documents you passed is that when your application is denied the officer reserves the right to retain the original documents you passed so if worse comes to worst you won't have a copy in hand to apply again after your refusal. So it's always wise to have everything copied.

My appointment is on friday already and I still havent organized the document that I need to submit! I'm so busy! I dont even have time to think about the application and we're still not finished answering appendix 2! Omg!!! Im panicking right now! So many things to do I just want to sleep!!!

Been there, done that. Just geet everything ready and once you get rid of all that documents and get to the waiting game you could just relax a bit...

Well... I got rid of all the documents but I still can't sleep. I think there's no guarantee to relax until I get the decision. smh

When I did the application, I was working and whenever I get home I immediately work on the documents. It was really tiring and exhausting! Days prior my submission to VFS, I normally go to bed around 1AM.

I feel you!

I thought I was going to settle down a bit once I submit all the documents but looks like I have to stay like this a little longer.