How to bring a partner or girlfriend to the UK?

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
It is a common question from the British citizens working abroad. They are now coming back to the UK, they met their partner while abroad and would like him/her to relocate to the UK in the future.

1) Unmarried Partner visa: this is when you have lived together, as a couple, for at least 2 years, in any country or in several countries. This is for people who have lived together for at least 2 years in a relationship like a married couple but without a marriage certificate. It does NOT cover a situation where you have been dating for a while or seeing each other as often as possible, it only applies when you have lived together for at least 2 years.  

If you do not meet this requirement - and do not wish to get married yet - then you may consider other categories, such as a Student visa or Working Holiday, wit until you have these 2 years of living together and then apply as Unmarried Partners.

Visa would be for 2.5 years + 3 months and allows to work. Then extension for another 2.5 years and then permanent residency.

 
2) Spouse visa: you need to be married and then your husband/wife can apply for this visa. It is the same type as an unmarried partner, except you'd have a marriage certificate and not 'living together for 2 years'. In this case it does not matter when you get married, there is no 2 years rule (or similar rule).  

The above also applies to civil partners who have the same rights as spouses. Civil partnership is a registered partnership between the 2 people of the same gender, such as 2 men or 2 women. If you are a man and a woman but not married then you would be unmarried partners (subject to the above 2 year rule) and not civil partners. If you are 2 men or 2 women but have not registered a civil partnership then you would be same-sex partners, which is the same category as for unmarried partners and have the same conditions as in the option 1) above.


3) Fiancee visa: this is a 6 months visa, without a right to work, it gives your partner a chance to come to the UK and marry you within 6 months. Then he/she could apply for a Spouse visa after you get married and then a Spouse visa would be the same as above and would allow to work in the UK.

Then the same: 2.5 year visa, then extension for another 2.5 years and then permanent residency.

A Fiancee visa is an extra step, another fee, another application etc but if you want to get married in the UK, or to see first how it goes in your relationship, then this visa would be suitable. As long as you understand you only have 6 months and have to be reasonably confident you want to marry this person.

 
4) All of the above categories have the same requirements on other issues, such as English language or Financial Requirement (minimum £18,600), so those will be the same whichever category you choose.

5) If you do not meet the financial Requirement, yet, then your partner can come here as a visitor and stay for up to 6 months in each year with no right to work, study or use the NHS. Then apply for one of the above.

For more advice or to make an application please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com

If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our CDP training website: www.1st4immigration.com/training

Popular posts from this blog

Updated May 2020: UK visa work continues - latest update

By -
UK immigration authorities continue to process visa applications, albeit not as fast as they normally would. The visa centres are beginning to gradually re-opening from 1 June 2020 in the UK and abroad. Regardless of when your particular centre re-opens, it is still possible to submit your application online. If your visa expires soon, you can apply for your next visa "on-time", i.e. before your current visa expires, by making such an application online and then waiting for the further steps. This keeps you within the Rules and does not make you an overstayer.  Even better, the actual documents (supporting evidence) can be submitted later, thus giving you even more time to prepare while remaining within the Rule on visa expiry dates. We usually have 45 days to provide the documents (ie upload them online to the Government portal) after the online "submission" mentioned above. This is extended for as long as it will take to clear up the backlog.  If you...
Read more

🇬🇧 Spouse vs Fiancée visa: pros and cons

By -
Image
    How are they different? What are advantages of each of them? Our helpful table below gives you the visa options for partners of UK citizens. Spouse visa (including civil partners) Fiancée visa Marital status Have to be married (or get married) and apply for a UK visa as a Spouse. Can come to the UK, get married within 6 months and then apply for a Spouse visa. Where to apply? Can apply outside the UK, in a country where a foreign spouse lives or works (but not visiting). Can switch inside the UK from most categories. Only outside the UK This includes a situation where the current UK visa allows switching to a Spouse visa but the couple has to take the Fiancée route (such as if they need time to meet the Financial Requirement). Duration of the visa 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years. 6 months, then Spouse visa for 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years on Spouse visas only ...
Read more

UK Visas and Immigration plans to go paperless in 2018. If it works, family visas – for spouses, partners, children etc – will be submitted online instead of the current paper forms and supporting documents.

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
Image
How do we know? We, 1 st 4Immigration Ltd,   were chosen by the UKVI to take part in a survey to provide a feedback on the upcoming system. We are very honoured! As can be seen on the Home Office letter (pictured), we were selected as one of only approximately 50 firms in the whole country, following the request of the Home Office to the OISC. We had a visit from 2 Home Office officials in November 2017. What a great day and what a productive visit! The officials informed us they had been trying hard to promote the online application process for in-country applications, such as FLR(M) for spouses and partners of UK citizens. The online applications have existed for entry clearance (when applying outside the UK) for many years now. Yet the in-country online application process has so far been relatively unknown and unused. It can be found here: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/family-routes At the moment most FLR(M) and FLR(FP) applications ar...
Read more