Like us all Ivor your discovering that things don't get any easier once your beloved lands on British Soil.
My Wife came into Heathrow Airport, as we were on a small KLM plane which was full of mainly business people from the EU and only a few non EU passport holders were arriving at the time at T4. We just waited in the Non EU passport holders queue, we both went up together (advisable if your Wife is Jetlagged) The passport control man (forgotten the correct title) was ok about this.
From peoples experience with Wifes,Girlfriends entering the UK for the first time most Passport Control persons are ok about you coming to the desk with your other half. But as with all officialdom they can ask you to come seperately from others experience.
Anyway he checked my Wifes papers first and as he did i mentioned its my Wifes first trip over, he asked basic details like our address, confirmed we had a spouse VISA etc. Once he heard my Address he never mentioned the fact that he lived nearby but he opened up and became very helpful (we live 10 mintues from Heathrow where everyother person works at the Airport).
He said as my Wife was here for the first time on a Visa which lasted six months or longer as in our case, that she needed to have a TB scan. He pointed us both in the direction of the medical room. He mentioned that i could collect our Suitcases and come back down if i wished once Jenn was waiting for her test.
We walked over to the Medical room where the receptionist and two medical persons were waiting (warning at peak times it might be far busier as the waiting room was fairly big). We explained why we were here and my wife went with a female medic while i gave the receptionist my wifes details, they were very friendly and chatty (Medic and receptionist) after 5 mintues my wife came back. With some paperwork and we showed the paperwork to passport control and went off on our way to find our Suitcases were the only ones going round.
My Wife said that the medic asked some basic medical questions like do you have Tb or have had it in the past, any other condtions etc. She then had a quick scan and was nothing to worry about.
From others I have heard that Heathorw is normally the only Airport where the checks are done.
With regards to the councill tax, I informed the Council and they very quickly sent me my revised Bill. Which helped as it was proof of address which will come in very useful with regards to bank accounts etc.
I have been advised that it can be used as part of the edvidence you need to show to the visa people when my wife applies for ILR. You need to prove that your wife and you are living as a loving couple.
Joining your local Gp is fairly simple if your GP has space. My Wife joined and filled in some simple forms (no id was asked for but not sure if this is the norm) and about three weeks later my Wife recieved her NHS medical Card in the post.
One thing your wife does need to do is open a bank account, to do this at most high street banks you need a Passport ( A phill one is perfectly fine) and proof of address, the easiest we found was the electricty bill. I simply rang up the electricty firm and said i wanted to add my wife to our bill. Took a few attempts for them to get it right but and they needed to speak to my wife on the phone (how they knew it was her, i will never know but best to follow the companies rules for an easy life)
