When you have a UK Spouse/Partner visa, can you leave to stay abroad for a while, without losing a visa?
We are asked this
question quite a lot. Some applicants find the (wrong) rules which say you can’t
be away from the country for more than 90 days. Others think it is 6 months in
each year, which is wrong again.
With Spouse/Partner visas there are still no rules
apart from one paragraph on the Guidance saying each case is assessed on its
merit and particular attention should be paid if the couple spent apart more
than 50% of the visa duration. A visa in this category is issued for the
purpose of residing in the UK. There is no limit on absences but also there is
no rule of spending every single day in the UK.
There is another thing you need to bear in mind: meeting
the Financial Requirement for a next application, ie for an extension or an
ILR.
Financial Requirement:
you need to remember that the same will be applicable at the next stages, ie at
the extension and ILR. Since the Financial Requirement is often based on the
last 6 or more often 12 months, the couple needs to bear it in mind and plan in
advance. For example, it would work if the couple returns to the UK and starts
a new job 6 months before the next visa application and use that job as long as
it pays £18,600 (unless children are added, then the couple need more income).
For an individual 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
immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training