UK Spouse Visa Interview Questions and Guide

Overview of the UK Spouse Visa Interview

The UK Spouse visa interview is an additional requirement that some Spouse visa applicants will have to undergo in order to obtain a visa.

You will only be called to an interview if UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have any reason to suspect that your relationship with your spouse is not genuine. The purpose of the interview will be to ascertain whether or not these suspicions are true.

The interview may be face-to-face or conducted over the phone. In some cases, both you and your British citizen or settled spouse may have to attend interviews. In other cases, it’ll only be you (the Spouse visa applicant) who has to attend.

If UKVI decides in your interview that your relationship is not genuine or that you entered into it with false or fraudulent intent, such as primarily for immigration purposes, your Spouse visa application will be denied.

According to Home Office statistics, around 13% of all Spouse visa applications are rejected. Although this may not seem like a large number, it’s still extremely important to recognise the importance of doing well in your Spouse visa interview if you’re called to attend one.

Who Needs to Attend a Spouse Visa Interview?

There’s no way of knowing for certain if you’ll need to attend an interview for your Spouse visa.

However, the main reason you might get called to interview is that UKVI believes your relationship with your spouse might not be genuine – in other words, a sham marriage.

They might suspect this due to the type of evidence you provided in your initial application. For example, if the evidence you provided failed to give a full and clear picture of the history of your relationship or if there were certain factors that raised concerns with the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO).

Some of these factors can include the following:

• If your marriage ceremony occurred shortly after you met, or before you met in person
• If you’ve spent little time together as a couple
• If neither of you can communicate in each other’s language
• If your spouse’s financial situation is unstable
• If there are noticeable differences in age, culture, religion and education between you and your spouse

You may also be called to an interview if you didn’t provide enough evidence of a genuine relationship in your application. In this instance, the ECO wouldn’t have enough information to grant you a Spouse visa and would request an interview to learn more about your relationship and your circumstances.

What Questions Are Asked in the Spouse Visa Interview?

The specific type of questions you’ll be asked in the interview will vary depending on your own specific circumstances.

For example, if the ECO noticed that your wedding ceremony happened very soon after you and your spouse met, they might focus on questions that test how well you know your spouse, and why you decided to marry as quickly as you did.

On the other hand, if the ECO has noticed that you’ve been refused for some UK visas in the past, they might also focus on your travel history and your intentions in the UK.

Below are some sample questions that may be asked in your Spouse visa interview:

• When and how did you two first meet?
• How do you stay in touch with your spouse?
• What are their hobbies/what do they do in their spare time?
• Have you met your spouse’s friends and family?
  • What are they like?
  • What are their names?
• What religion are you and your spouse?
• What do you like most about your spouse?
• What do you have in common with your spouse?
• Why did you marry your spouse?
• What was the proposal like and when did it happen?
• Is this your first application for a UK visa?
• Have you ever been refused a visa in the UK or another country?
• What do you think about the differences in your cultures?

What Documents Should I Bring to My Spouse Visa Interview?

The ECO who conducts your interview will likely have a copy of all of the supporting documentation you initially submitted with your Spouse visa application.

However, it’s very much recommended that you bring copies of these documents with you to your interview, as well as more recent documentation from after your application date that might help support your case.

Documents you may wish to bring include the following:

• Your current valid passport or travel document
• Proof of your spouse’s right of abode in the UK, such as their passport or indefinite leave to remain documents
• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Details of your accommodation in the UK
• Proof that you meet the minimum income threshold for the Spouse visa, such as bank statements or details of your salary
• Details of any dependents who will be accompanying you to the UK
• Details of your travel history, such as the countries you’ve visited and lived in
• Details of any previous criminal convictions, if you have any
• Evidence that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. This may include:
  • Photographs
  • Details and evidence of travel together
  • Evidence of written or digital communication between you and your spouse
  • Evidence from your wedding
  • Letters from you and your spouse’s family or friends confirming that your relationship is genuine

Note that this is not an exhaustive list. It’s best to ensure that you have as many supporting documents with you in the interview as possible so that you’re prepared for every eventuality and the case for your application is as strong as possible.

How Can I Prepare for the Spouse Visa Interview?

There are a number of things you can do to help prepare for the interview and ensure that you make a good first impression on the ECO.

Research the Questions and Prepare Your Answers in Advance

One of the best things you can do to take the stress out of the interview process is having a good idea of what you will be asked, and what your responses will be.

This way, you’ll be more confident about what you’re going to say and reduce the chances of you being caught out by a question you may struggle to answer on the spot.

Make sure you know what the common Spouse visa interview questions are, and practice your responses. Your responses should be concise, to the point, and not give the interviewer any unnecessary information. You may find it helpful to have a practice interview session with your spouse, a friend or family member.

Prepare Your Documents

As previously mentioned, your supporting documents will be an important part of your Spouse visa interview.

However, you should take care that when assembling your documents, they are organised and ordered logically and neatly.

This is because if the interviewer asks you for a document, it may reflect badly on you if you take a long time to try and find it. You can prevent this by making sure that you know how your documents are organised and being certain that you’ll be able to find and organise them as needed.

Ensure You Arrive at Your Appointment on Time

As with any other interview, first impressions count for a great deal.

If you’re called to a face-to-face interview, one way to make a good impression and demonstrate that you’re serious about the process will be by arriving at your appointment on time, or early.

You can prepare for this by researching the route you’ll take to the appointment, finding out how long it will take to get there, and also ensuring that you leave to allow enough time for any possible delays, such as traffic or public transport closures.

It may also help to have a backup method of transport to hand if your primary method of transport becomes unavailable. For example, if you’re planning to drive to the appointment, it may be reassuring to know that you have an alternative way of getting there should an issue with your car arise at the last minute.

Dress Appropriately

Another important factor to consider is your dress and appearance in the interview.

The ECO may develop a negative impression of you from the start if you arrive in casual or scruffy clothes. Therefore, it may be a good idea to dress formally to ensure that the ECO knows that you’re taking the process seriously.

Remember that the ECO will be assessing you on more than just the strength of your documents and your application. Your manner, punctuality and appearance will all play a factor when they review your visa application.

Tips for the Spouse Visa Interview

In addition to the tips already mentioned, there are also a few things you may wish to keep in mind for the Spouse visa interview itself.

Firstly, it’s perfectly understandable and expected that you will be feeling nervous about your interview.

However, it’s important to remember that feelings of nervousness can often make us babble or ramble when talking, which won’t help to make a good impression.

If you feel nervous or anxious before or during the interview, remember to take a few deep breaths. This will help to calm yourself and focus your mind. If you feel particularly nervous or anxious, the interviewer will likely understand if you need to take a few breaths before you’re able to answer a question.

However, keep in mind that taking too long to answer a question may also give the wrong impression to the ECO. It’s recommended to take the time to practice answering questions in a clear, prompt manner before the actual interview.

When answering questions during the interview, remember to be as concise and confident as possible. Try not to babble, or give the interviewer unnecessary information that they haven’t asked for. Researching the interview questions and your responses will go a long way in helping to prevent this.

It may also help to maintain clear speech, eye contact and a good posture throughout the interview. Not only will this help to make you more confident, but will also convey a more positive impression of you to the ECO. You will be unlikely to make a good impression if you sit in a slouched position and mumble answers while staring at the floor or your lap.

How Can IAS Help?

Thousands of people apply for Family visas such as the Spouse visa or UK marriage visa every single year. While the majority of these applications are successful, there are many that fall short of the requirements and eligibility criteria, which can lead to undue stress, difficulty and anxiety for the applicants.

If you’re called to a Spouse visa interview, it’s important to recognise how serious the situation is before you start preparing for it. If you’ve been called for an interview, it means that the Home Office has moderate or significant doubts about the authenticity of your visa application.

You will need to persuade them through your supporting documentation and your responses to the questions that their doubts are unfounded and that you are eligible for a visa after all.

As difficult as this may sound, you don’t have to go it alone. IAS can help.

We are professional, experienced and sympathetic immigration advisers with a long history of working with people to help them obtain Spouse visas for UK immigration.

If you’ve been called to a Spouse visa interview, we can work with you to help prepare for it and ensure that you have the best chance of being granted your visa as possible. We can help you prepare your responses, assemble your supporting documents, and assist with formatting and drafting letters of recommendation to help with your case.

We can also brief you on the most common pitfalls that people fall into, as well as things to look out for in the interview so you can go into it feeling confident, well-prepared and reassured.

For more information about the services we offer, and how we can help you with your Spouse visa interview or with the UK visa application process, reach out to us on 0333 4149244, or contact us online today.