UK Spouse Visa Interview Guidance

The UK spouse visa interview is part of the process of applying for a partner/spouse visa under the family immigration scheme. Your interview will be with a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) case officer and they will ask you questions to check that your relationship is genuine and continuing (i.e., you are still in the relationship). The spouse visa interview is an important stage of your UK spouse visa application and will ultimately determine if it is granted or refused.

It is important to emphasise that not everyone will be asked to attend a spouse visa interview. You may need to attend a spouse visa interview with UKVI if they have concerns that your relationship with your UK-based partner is not genuine.

If you are invited to a spouse visa interview, it may be held over the phone, as a video call, or face-to-face at a visa application centre (VAC) or UKVCAS office (if in the UK).

Traditional processing times for a spouse visa are within 3 months or 6 weeks (priority service). However, a spouse visa decision can take longer if the Home Office needs to carry out additional checks like a spouse visa interview.

Avoid delays to your application or a spouse visa refusal by engaging the help of one of our immigration solicitors. Contact us for a free telephone consultation on 020 3744 2797 or complete our enquiry form.

UK Spouse visa interview questions and answers

During your spouse visa interview, the UKVI ECO will ask you a range of marriage interview questions about:

• The background to your relationship – i.e. how and when you met, how often you meet
• Your general background, family and immigration history
• Your partner’s general background, family and immigration history
• Your living arrangements
• The arrangements you have made for your marriage or civil partnership, and
• You and your partner’s future plans

Some of the most common UK spouse visa interview questions are as follows:

• Is this your first application for a UK visa?
• Where and when did you meet your partner?
• What does your partner do for a job?
• How much time have you spent with your partner?
• What language do you speak together?
• How do you keep in contact with your partner?
• What does your partner do in their spare time?
• Have you met your spouse’s friends and family?
• What are your spouse’s family like?
• What are the names of your spouse’s family members?
• What religion are you and your spouse?
• What do you like 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?
• Have you ever been refused a visa in the UK or another country?

This is only a small selection of UK spouse visa interview questions that you may be asked. It is important to note that the questions you will be asked will depend on your personal circumstances and those of your partner.

What to bring to a UK Spouse visa interview

We recommend bringing as many supporting documents as possible to your interview. This will allow you to check any facts to ensure they are accurate. It is advisable to take with you:

• A copy of your spouse visa application
• The original of or a copy of any documents supplied with your spouse visa application, including:
  • Passport
  • Your partner’s passport or their proof of permanent settlement
  • Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
  • Evidence you have lived together for at least 2 years – e.g. tenancy agreement and bills
  • Details of any criminal convictions
  • Details of your UK accommodation which meets the spouse accommodation requirement
  • Bank statements, payslips, or any other form of evidence showing that you meet the spouse visa financial requirements
  • Details of any children who are also coming to the UK
  • Details of the countries outside the UK you have lived in and visited
  • 6 months of bank statements
• Evidence that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, including:
  • Photos of you with your partner
  • Your messaging history with your partner
  • Evidence of your travel together – e.g. flight or train tickets, hotel bookings, and photos
  • Letters from your friends and family vouching for the genuineness of your relationship

Please note that the above list of documents you should take to your spouse visa interview is not exhaustive. We recommend organising each document into a folder and indexed to ensure that you can quickly find any item when needed.

Not attending a UK Spouse visa interview

If you miss your UK spouse visa interview, there is a high chance that your application will be refused. If you know you will not be able to attend your interview, you should take action as soon as possible to let UKVI know and arrange a new date. However, UKVI does state in its guidance that it will not normally agree to rearrange an interview more than once.

The best way to avoid a spouse visa interview is to engage the services of an experienced immigration solicitor to prepare and submit your spouse visa application. They understand what UKVI are looking for when assessing if your relationship is genuine and ongoing. They will compile all of the evidence necessary and prepare a covering letter to explain any factors which may draw attention.

By investing in legal advice, you can be confident that an immigration lawyer will have reviewed your submission and alerted you to any inconsistencies which may cause a caseworker to question your marriage.