My wife is American. I am a UK citizen. Our two - year spouse visa is due on April 20th 2014. She has to visit the USA next week - a family member is going into hospital - and is staying for the holiday season (Xmas and Thanksgiving - to visit family) - my intention is to join her in early 2014 - but this is not certain. I have work opportunities here in the UK. She has work opportunities in the USA - we don't want to jeopardise the ILR.
So far we have travelled everywhere together, supporting each other's work. I am concerned that being absent for several months might jeopardise this. Is it sensible for me to travel to the USA to be with her early next year (Of course I want to but it has financial and work implications).
I found a useful thread on this forum entitled,
"What's the MAX time you can be out of the UK on a Spouse Visa?? How will this affect our ILR application? PLEASE HELP! "
http://www.lifeintheuk.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=764706
I was unable to respond or get involved or contact the people contributing (this is my first post here)
I read one paragraph from a helpful contributor: (mr lookforward) and it raised certain questions:
"After 24 months have passed from his initial entry in UK, he/she will be eligible to apply for ILR (or whichever category is going to exist when he applies). It is of paramount importance that you have 6 official documents spread evenly over 24 months period, either in joint names or in your individual names but coming to the same address. When he/she enters UK, its of utmost importance that he opens a bank account etc and statements keep coming to your address to show his ties and future intention to live in UK with you. Some other official documents should be arranged in a way I mentioned before."
My questions in relation to this article are:
1. 6 Official documents spread evenly - why is this of paramount importance?
2. My wife does not share my bank account - it is only in my name - she shares the use of my card and funds from the account, but I was unable to get her on the account (I went bankrupt 3 years ago) - is this a problem?
Her name is on the lease of the flat we rent.
My third question was posted above - what advice does anyone have to avoid jeopardising the ILR, given that we may not be spending as much of the last 6 months of our 2-year spouse visa together, as we would like.
Thank you in advance.
If it is possible to address the question to mr lookforward in person, then great. I do not know how to do this