
Originally Posted by
JandM
A support officer is, in effect, a clerk. A clerk will look over an application when it is first lodged, checking to see that it looks as though there is enough evidence (taken at face value - not making an judgement about the validity of the evidence) to back up what the applicant has said about themself, and asking for more if there seem to be gaps. When in due course the CO is assigned, this person is a trained and experienced official, whose job is to check that the details of the application match with the regulations, and to verify all the evidence (normally by asking other people and organizations if what has been supplied is true).
In cases like yours, where the partner (and family, if appropriate)'s visa depends on the main applicant's, one CO deals with the whole thing.