Spouse Visas
A spouse visa is a type of permit which typically grants the right to reside,
but often comes with a long list of conditions which must be met in advance.
Unfortunately, simply being married often isn't sufficient to qualify for a
spouse visa.
The first concern for many countries before agreeing to issue a spouse visa is
whether the relationship is legitimate or whether it is just a front to help
someone enter the country. You may therefore be required to provide proof that
you are indeed a 'real' couple, including attending interviews, before the
spouse visa is granted.
Although the country you want to live in will provide you with a list of
necessary documents there are some extra steps you can take to help increase
your chances of getting the spouse visa application agreed. This includes
providing extra evidence of your relationship; this might include items such as
a telephone bill showing regular telephone calls between you over an extended
period of time. Such evidence by itself will not be compelling enough to get the
spouse visa automatically granted but it will help form part of an overall
picture which will show your cause is genuine.
Spouse Visa requirements :
Although determining the nature of your
relationship may be a primary concern, there may also be additional conditions.
For example, a spouse visa may not be granted unless you are earning a certain
level of income and have sustained this for a period of time, often around six
months.
The financial requirements to qualify to sponsor a spouse visa may increase
further if you have children or other dependents.
There may also be requirements for the foreign spouse such as being able to
speak the native language to an acceptable level. This could require the
individual to sit a formal test to prove this.
Once granted, a spouse visa is usually not permanent but can be extended. There
is usually a limit on the number of times extension can be granted but after
this the right to reside permanently can be requested, followed later by
naturalization if so desired.