We recently supported a Venezuelan national applying for a UK spouse visa from the United States in circumstances involving complex identity documentation.

The applicant held a Venezuelan passport that had expired, and due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Venezuelan government, Venezuelan nationals are often unable to renew or extend their passports while living abroad. In recognition of this issue, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) published specific guidance confirming that certain expired Venezuelan passports may be accepted for UK immigration purposes. The announcement is available on the UK government’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/announcement-by-uk-visas-and-immigration-regarding-the-validity-of-venezuelan-passports

To progress the spouse visa application, the expired passport needed to be accepted at multiple stages, including:

• Registration and attendance at an approved English language test in the United States, and
• Identity verification at the biometric appointment when submitting the visa application.

Our team carefully applied the relevant UKVI guidance and liaised with UK government contacts to confirm that the expired passport could be accepted in these contexts. As a result, the applicant was able to undertake the required English language test and complete the biometric appointment using the expired passport as valid identity documentation.

The spouse visa application was submitted without issue and approved within the 30 business days priority processing timeline.

If you are a Venezuelan national, or if you are facing difficulties with expired passports, unavailable travel documents, or other complex identity issues, it is important to seek advice based on the most up-to-date UK immigration guidance.

We regularly assist clients whose circumstances fall outside standard documentation requirements and can advise on whether policy exceptions or discretionary provisions may apply to your case.