FAO TOM,
PART 1

Hi, Tom,

Please see below a full list of supporting documents that we plan to submit along with the application for UK as spouse of settled person. Can you please help me review and let me know:
a) whether each document satisfies UKBA requirement
b) each item starting with ?? has a specific question in it
c) whether there is any document that is missing.
There seems to be a text limit so I’m separating this into 2 threads.
Thank you very much!

1. Appilcant’s application form: online form + 1 printout included in documentation
2. ?? Applicant’s passport (Is photocopy needed? If so, what pages are needed if not all pages. )
3. ?? 1 applicant’s photo (does applicant need to sign the back of the photo?)
4. ??Applicant’s resident permit (Are original and photocopy both needed here? The resident permit is in French, does this need to be translated as well?)
5. ??Applicant’s previous passports (Is photocopy needed? If so, what pages are needed if not all pages. )
6. Online payment printout – 1 copy
7. Applicant’s birth certificate – Original birth certificate + 1 photocopy + certified translation
8. ??Validated Sponsor’s birth certificate – Original birth certificate + 1 photocopy + certified translation ( what does “validated” mean? Why is the applicant’s birth certificate not need to be validatd?)
9. Marriage certificate – International Marriage Certificate issued by Brussels local government (including English and French + Marriage Certificate in French only.
10. Applicant’s previous marriage certificate + photocopy + certified translation (from Chinese to English)
11. Applicant’s previous divorce certificate + photocopy + certified translation (from Chinese to English)
12. ?? Sponsor’s Certificate for No Impediment: as Belgium government won’t release my original copy, we plan to submit 2 certified copies. ONE is certified copy from Belgium government including: certified photocopy with French supporting letter. TWO is duplicate from the issuing authority – sponsor’s local UK register office, signed by the register officer. (Are both needed to be safe? Or the signed printout from UK register would be suffice? )
13. Evidence of sponsor’s visit – about 30+ boarding passes for both of us visiting each other + photocopy (no translation needed here)
14. ?? Evidence of relationship: photos, about 10 of them, including key moments of travelling together, proposal, meeting parents, classmate reunion, Xmas with friends. (Do we need to write down the date and occasion on the back of each photo? Do we need to provide photocopies of these photos?)
15. ??Evidence of relationship: Viber messages. We do not use Skype. Instead we use an iPhone app named Viber to send text messages to each other. (If this is not translated, do we need to explain in the supporting letter? Do we need to explain what Viber is? They will be printout anyway, would photocopy/2nd copy still needed?)
16. ??Evidence of relationship: emails. (Most of our emails are in Chinese. If this is not translated, do we need to explain in the supporting letter?)
17. Appilcant’s Pearson English test certificate – in English
18. ??Sponsor’s Tenancy Agreement – Original copy + photocopy. This is a 2-bedroom apartment. (Does the applicant need to provide proof for accommodation as well?)
19. TB certificate – as Applicant has been living in Belgium for over 1 year, this should not be needed.
20. ??Supporting letter from Applicant (Will draft one and ask for you proofreading)
21. ??Supporting letter from Sponsor (Will draft one and ask for you proofreading)
22. Applicant degree certificate – in China there are 2 certificates upon graduation. ONE is a GRADUATION certificate, TWO is a DEGREE certificate. We plan to provide original+photocopy+certified translation for both certificates.
23. Sponsor’s past 5 years of P60 + photocopy (2011-2012 is original Inland revenue post, other 4 years are printout from sponsor’s employer and signed+stamped+dated by HR.
24. Sponsor’s 6 months of payslip + photocopy (Feb-May missing because of sabbatical, which will be explained by employer HR letter)
25. Sponsor’s employer’s supporting letter on sabbatical (including date of sabbatical, company policy on sabbatical as a benefit for any employee over 5 years of service, and the fact that it doesn’t change sponsor’s permanenent employee status)
26. ??Job adverts in UK – printout of 10 job adverts in UK that Applicant is qualified for. (The more the better proving it’s easy for applicant to find job in UK?)
27. ??Applicant’s CV (is photocopy still needed?)
28. ??Supporting letter on applicant’s search for jobs in the UK, proving with applicant’s experience(CV) and qualification(degree), she is qualified for those job adverts. (Does it help if she can provide evidence of agreed job interview? What kind of evidence would be needed to support this?)

Optional Information:
Province/Country relating to question : Brussels, Belgium