u/mochi544

Obviously we’re going to be eating out and enjoying most of our food in person but I’ve seen lots of people talk about how convenient it is to order takeout for the hotel for those days you’re extra tired etc.

I’ve heard it’s not really possible without a Chinese number as a foreigner so is there any way to access meituan to order takeout food to a hotel? I’ve read some suggestions saying to use a hotels number but will it still require a verification code etc?

Anyone have advice on how to do this?

Thanks

Everything from last pay received apart from Amazon for me.

Absolutely over the moon and still processing, but we finally got approved today! I say finally, I know it was within the 8 week window but the wait is absolute torture.

Bio: 15th July
Approval email: 27 August 10am
Applied from within the UK
31 working days
No solicitor used, standard application

I’m so grateful for all the help I’ve had on this sub. I really want to give back to anyone who is also going a similar route to me combining self employment and regular employment for the financial requirement as that was the biggest headache in terms of documentation, as I know it’s not as common/straight forward.

While I’m not an expert, if anyone has questions about it, I’m happy to answer but always seek professional legal advice if it’s complex!

So happy! And hang in there everyone waiting, I know it’s tough but it will come through!

Anyone know how long roughly decisions are being made for spouse extensions from within the uk? Saw some made as quick as 12 working days.

We applied just over 3 weeks ago so I know we could be in for more waiting.

Planning to visit China with 13 nights in Shanghai and 2 in Hangzhou and a day trip to Suzhou at some point.

I know 13 nights in Shanghai sounds crazy but we’d do a few day trips potentially, Suzhou definitely on the list.

The reason I’m considering spending longer in Shanghai is because We went to Japan a few years ago and made the classic mistake of cramming way too much in two weeks visiting 4 cities and up and down the country on bullet trains, checking in and out constantly and just not being able to absorb anything for long enough before being on the move again. I vowed to myself I’d never travel like that again trying to cram the whole country into a two week trip.

That’s why I’d prefer to stay in Shanghai as a base with a small getaway to Hangzhou and some day trips. Would you say 13 nights is crazy long in Shanghai? Would you suggest perhaps 12 nights in Shanghai and 3 nights in Hangzhou instead?

We’d definitely like to absorb Shanghai and have time to be flexible and kind of just roam and see where the day takes us, but does anyone think that’s just way too long? Open to suggestions for other day trips too.

Thanks!

Hi all,

I am about to submit the documents for our FLR(M) extension. We've paid the application fee and NHS surcharge. I'm fairly confident with the list as we used the exact same method (financially and accommodation wise) for our first granted spouse visa but there is the cohabitation element to the extension this time.

These are the documents we will submit. I am combining category A and F (employment and self employment income to meet our £18,600 transitionary financial requirement as we applied and was granted our first spouse visa before increase to £29,000. All evidence provided will be from the previous complete 25/26 financial year.

Financial requirement

1 set of bank statements 25/26 year

Payslips from employer from the 25/26 year

Letter from my employer confirming my current salary, contract type, state date of employment

2 recent bank statements and payslips showing ongoing income

25/26 self assessment (includes s100 and SA302)

Unaudited accounts

Letter from accountant confirming total combined earnings

HMRC Tax year summary

My P60 from 25/26 year (as supporting evidence not essential)

I have NOT included a transaction table of all self employed earnings as advised here, it's fairly straightforward to follow, I have just explained how my self employment income appears on the bank statements in a 'Financial requirement guide'

Accommodation requirement

Permission letter from mother to stay in her home (we all live together)

Recent council tax bill

Recent energy statement

Mother’s passport scan (1st) page 

Title register of our home 

Cohabitation requirement

7 individual documents from 3 sources from June 2024 - June 2026 covering 2 year period 

Joint relationship statement and photos from past 2 years 

Passport copies both mine and partner (first page only? Or recommend pages where my partner the applicant has left the country/anything visa related

Other key documents

Partners master degree to prove English language (received in London uni and course was in London/English)

Civil partnership certificate

2 signed declarations. My partner (the applicant) signed 1, and I signed the spouse declaration. Is this correct?

Am I missing anything? We will include the declaration forms as well, but does anyone know which we need to sign based off our evidence?

Thanks.

Hello,

I’m combining category A and F to meet out £18,600 transitional financial requirement for spouse visa extension (we applied and was granted our first before the increase to £29,000).

I’m fairly confident with the application as have used this method previously for first spouse visa however, there is a 64p discrepancy on my P60 and self assessment. Essentially, the accountant rounded my employment earnings down to the nearest pound, for the sake of calculating my combined employment and self employment earnings. He explained for self assessments they always round figures to the nearest whole pound.

Will this be fine? My total income far exceeds the minimum requirement just wanted to check Incase they refuse because the p60 showed 64p more.

Thanks

I’m the British sponsor for my partner for our spouse visa extension. Which form do I sign and which does my partner sign?

For the third it mentions a third party. We are living at my mothers home and that is our accommodation for the next extension and we have used some documents in my mums name (title register, council tax bill, and energy bill in her name). Does this technically mean she is a ‘third party’ and needs to sign the 3rd form? Or not necessary?

Also I’m assuming they have to be printed and hand signed as opposed to a digital signature?

Hi all,

We will very shortly be applying for my partners spouse visa extension. I am the British sponsor, and we are applying from within the UK.

These are the documents we will submit. I am combining category A and F (employment and self employment income to meet our £18,600 transitionary financial requirement as we applied and was granted our first spouse visa before increase to £29,000.

**Financial requirement**

1 set of bank statements 25/26 year

Payslips from employer from the 25/26 year

2 recent bank statements and payslips showing ongoing income

25/26 self assessment

Sa302 

Unaudited accounts

Letter from accountant confirming total combined earnings

HMRC Tax year summary

**Accommodation requirement**

Permission letter from mother 

Council tax bill

Energy statement

Mother’s passport scan (1st) page 

Title register of our home 

**Cohabitation requirement**

6 individual documents from 3 sources from June 2024 - June 2026 covering 2 year period 

Joint relationship statement and photos from past 2 years 

Passport copies both mine and partner (first page only? Or recommend pages where my partner the applicant has left the country/anything visa related

Partners master degree to prove English language (received in London uni and course was in London/English)

Civil partnership certificate

Am I missing anything? We will include the declaration forms as well, but does anyone know which we need to sign based off our evidence?

Thanks.

Hi all,

We will very shortly be applying for my partners spouse visa extension. I am the British sponsor, and we are applying from within the UK.

These are the documents we will submit. I am combining category A and F (employment and self employment income to meet our £18,600 transitionary financial requirement as we applied and was granted our first spouse visa before increase to £29,000.

Financial requirement

1 set of bank statements 25/26 year

Payslips from employer from the 25/26 year

2 recent bank statements and payslips showing ongoing income

25/26 self assessment

Sa302 

Unaudited accounts

Letter from accountant confirming total combined earnings

HMRC Tax year summary

Accommodation requirement

Permission letter from mother 

Council tax bill

Energy statement

Mother’s passport scan (1st) page 

Title register of our home 

Cohabitation requirement

6 individual documents from 3 sources from June 2024 - June 2026 covering 2 year period 

Joint relationship statement and photos from past 2 years 

Passport copies both mine and partner (first page only? Or recommend pages where my partner the applicant has left the country/anything visa related

Partners master degree to prove English language (received in London uni and course was in London/English)

Civil partnership certificate

Am I missing anything? We will include the declaration forms as well, but does anyone know which we need to sign based off our evidence?

Thanks.

Hi there,

Just getting all my documents and application ready for a July renewal.

I’m combining self employment and employment to meet the financial requirement.

I had a very small £3.10 received as part of my self employment income that was paid via PayPal, however, I made a purchase shortly after and that £3.10 was offset on that purchase and didn’t go back onto my bank statement as a ‘transaction’.

As part of my evidence I am listing all my self employment transactions as it will help the caseworker (my self
Employment income comes into my personal bank account so it’s a bit messy but definitely not complicated).

This means there will NOT be a £3.10 transaction listed for the month it was received. However, it was accounted for in my self assessment/sa302

TLDR: is it okay if I omit £3.10 from my self employment transaction table and not explain why it was not included? To be clear this £3.10 doesn’t appear anywhere else, I’m just worried if the case worker adds every transaction up and sees £3.10 missing. Or will they not do this?

Part of me is worried I’m over thinking this but I’m unsure how closely the caseworker will scrutinise the bank statements against the table of transactions I will provide. All other relevant financial documents will be provided I’m just worried about this specific thing.

Thanks!

For the letter of employment my employer stated my salary increase as of June the 1st 2026 (with my current salary) (I think this is incremental living wage increase)

However I did receive a small promotion last August (so within the financial year I’m using as evidence 25/26 as combining self employment with employment)

Is it necessary for the letter to acknowledge this pay rise as well as the 1st of June one?

My p60 will be provided anyway. Is it cleaner for the employer letter to mention both pay rises? Or fine as it is?

For our first spouse visa I made a table of all self employment transactions (ended up being nearly a 7 page pdf) because my self employment transactions come into my personal bank account meaning they’re listed as PAYPAL but other personal things are listed PAYPAL.

It’s not too complicated but that’s why I made the table because the caseworker may find it easier.

Is there a requirement for me to do this the second time? I’m combining self employment income with employment income to meet financial requirement so will provide my self assessment, unaudited accounts and SA302 which essentially confirms my total earnings.

I was just going to say something like

‘All self employment income for the relevant financial year 25/26 has been accounted for in my self assessment. My self employment transactions are listed as PAYPAL on my bank statements. The bank statements include both business and personal PayPal transactions.’

Or do you think it’s best I lay out all the transactions again?

Thank you

Hello,

Getting quite stressed about the cohabitation requirement. My partners spouse visa is due to be extended by mid July but we want to apply at the end of June.

For cohabitation we live at my mothers home so no joint bills so we will be providing 6 individual documents from 3 different sources.

From what I understand the cohabitation documents need to be spread out over 2 years prior to application.

However it’s tricky to get a June document if we are applying at the end of June. (Most our bills are come in at the end of the month)

My current documents start with the first document dated June 2024 and the final is april 2026. Is it better to apply early July so we have a June 2026 document therefore the documents are June 2024 - June 2026?

I’m worried if I use the current first and last document the application will be refused as June 2024 - april 2026 is technically not a 2 year period.

Can anyone offer advice?

TLDR: do the cohabitation documents strictly have to be 24 months by the exact day I.e 15th June 2024 to 15th June 2026, or can the most recent document be earlier/a few days apart?

Thank you

Hi,

I will be using self employment and employment to meet the financial requirement for our spouse visa extension (I am the British sponsor)

For self employment, I made a table with all bank transactions coming in relating to my self employment, to go with my bank statements.

This is because my self employment is just listed as ‘PAYPAL’ on my bank statements. As my self employment also comes into my personal bank account, There are a few transactions labelled the same thing.

Is it worth making another table or just simply saying

‘My self employment transactions are listed as PAYPAL. However, as the bank account is also my personal bank account there are a few transactions that aren’t related to my self employment income. All self employment income has been accounted for in my self assessment and SA302.’

TLDR: if you used self employment to meet the financial requirement, did you list every transaction in a table as part of the application?

Hi,

We're due to renew my partner's spouse visa shortly, and we will provide 6 documents each from 3 different sources as we live at the family home so have no joint bills together.

I know the documents have to demonstrate 2 years continuous cohabitation from the date of application, so for us we will apply at the end of this month.

The fist document of cohabtiation is from June 2024, and last cohabitation document I will provide is from April 2026. Is this recent enough for a June application? Or do you advise I find an additional document more recent? It's still technically 6 documents but worried april 2026 is not recent enough, or it exactly covers june 2024 to june 2026.

Is there a hard rule about the most recent document being within X number of months of application?

Thanks

Hi,

We're due to renew my partner's spouse visa shortly, and we will provide 6 documents each from 3 different sources as we live at the family home so have no joint bills together.

I know the documents have to demonstrate 2 years continuous cohabitation from the date of application, so for us we will apply at the end of this month.

The fist document of cohabtiation is from June 2024, and last cohabitation document I will provide is from April 2026. Is this recent enough for a June application? Or do you advise I find an additional document more recent? It's still technically 6 documents but worried april 2026 is not recent enough, or it exactly covers june 2024 to june 2026.

Is there a hard rule about the most recent document being within X number of months of application?

Thanks

Hi,

We're due to renew my partner's spouse visa shortly, and we will provide 6 documents each from 3 different sources as we live at the family home so have no joint bills together.

I know the documents have to demonstrate 2 years continuous cohabitation from the date of application, so for us we will apply at the end of this month.

The fist document of cohabtiation is from June 2024, and last cohabitation document I will provide is from April 2026. Is this recent enough for a June application? Or do you advise I find an additional document more recent? It's still technically 6 documents but worried april 2026 is not recent enough, or it exactly covers june 2024 to june 2026.

Is there a hard rule about the most recent document being within X number of months of application?

Thanks

Hi,

We're due to renew my partner's spouse visa shortly, and we will provide 6 documents each from 3 different sources as we live at the family home so have no joint bills together.

I know the documents have to demonstrate 2 years continuous cohabitation from the date of application, so for us we will apply at the end of this month.

The fist document of cohabtiation is from June 2024, and last cohabitation document I will provide is from April 2026. Is this recent enough for a June application? Or do you advise I find an additional document more recent? It's still technically 6 documents but worried april 2026 is not recent enough, or it exactly covers june 2024 to june 2026.

Is there a hard rule about the most recent document being within X number of months of application?

Thanks

Will we be asked this for a spouse visa extension? If so im assuming we just put the times we went abroad on holiday after first spouse visa was granted or do they want my partner (the applicant) to list every time they left the uk again even including times before our relationship and times we submitted for the first spouse visa?