The partner visa is designed for individuals seeking entry or continued residence in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a British citizen or someone who has settled status (also known as indefinite leave to remain).
If your marriage has been cancelled due to outside factors, you may be able to extend your Fiancé Visa. However, if your relationship has ended within the 6-month stay granted, you will have to find another way into the UK. See our full list of Visa Routes to see if you could be eligible for alternative routes.
If your application is rejected, you have the right to appeal against the Home Office’s decision. This is a challenging and time-consuming process that is best assisted by an immigration adviser.
Contact us on 0203 647 8633 or info@qc-immigration.com for expert advice and assistance in relation to your Partner Visa Application or Appeal.
It usually takes between 2-12 weeks for a Spouse Visa case to be processed by the Home Office.
The Visa processing time can vary depending on the documents provided and the country where the paperwork is submitted from. In addition, applicants have the option to choose the Priority Processing Service which puts their application ahead of the queue.
For those applying in the UK, there is a 24-hour service available
To qualify, the property needs enough rooms to accommodate the couple and any dependents. Each person requires an individual room, however:
Continuous residence can be defined as time spent lawfully in the UK without any excessive periods of absences or overstaying
If your application is successful, you will be issued a permit which allows you to enter the UK within a 30-day period. Upon arrival in the UK, you will have a 10-day period in which you must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
If you fail to enter the UK within this timeframe, you can apply for another 30-day entry permit. However, you will be charged an additional fee for this.
As part of your application, you will need to present proof of accommodation that meets UK living standards.
Your UK national partner, who acts as your sponsor will need to show that he or she can provide adequate accommodation for themselves, the applicant and any dependents.
For proof of accommodation, the Home Office will ask you to provide:
Applicants who are eligible for UK Spouse Visa are required to follow the process below:
Applicants seeking to extend their stay in the UK as spouses of British citizens or persons settled in the UK are required to demonstrate that their relationship is still subsisting, in addition, they are required to show that they continue to meet the financial eligibility requirement and English language requirement.
If your visa is rejected, you may appeal the Home Office decision, but to do so you will need a strong case. Having legal assistance will ensure that your appeal has the best chances.
To meet the minimum income requirement, you can use:
If you are applying from outside the UK, you can use your savings to contribute towards the total income amount – however not your earnings. If you are working in the UK, your earnings can count towards the total amount.
In addition, you can also use a combination of savings and earnings to assist you with meeting the minimum income threshold – you will need to prove that you have enough financial support for the entire time of the Visa.
We can analyse your financial circumstances and advise further on the acceptable resources.
Applicants who wish to live in the UK need to be able to prove that they can speak English. Once you have passed the English Language Test, it will be valid for 2 years.
You must sit an English Test in speaking and listening. Your qualification will only be valid if you take the assessment through an approved Secure English Testing (SELT) provider.
Currently, SELT tests for immigration purposes are available through Trinity College London or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Consortium.
However, you do not need an English test if you:
You can renew and/or extend your visa for another 2 years and 6 months – if your current status has not expired. After you have lived in the UK for a total of 5 years, you can apply for settled status (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
The applicant needs to be able to prove that they are in a genuine and subsisting relationship, cohabitation, marriage or civil partnership. There are various types of communication and relationship evidence that you may provide to the Home Office. We can advise you on the relevant documentation that should be submitted, tailored according to your unique circumstances.
The UK Partner Visa enables applicants to join their partner and live in the UK and qualify for settlement after a minimum of 5 years. Whilst the you are eligible to work on this Visa, you cannot claim most of the benefits that are available including tax credits, or housing allowance.
If you are looking to get married or enter a civil partnership in the UK, but are not planning to stay or settle, you would need a Marriage Visitor Visa. This would let you stay in the UK for 6 months to get married, but cannot be extended, and you cannot switch to another visa. Contact us if you would like to know more.
The current fee is £1,523 for applications submitted from abroad as outlined by the Home Office.
If you are submitted your application form from within the UK, the cost is reduced to £1,033. The charge will vary depending on whether you are applying with dependents.
Note: you can only apply from inside the UK if you are not trying to enter the country as a visitor or have been given leave to stay in the UK for more than 6 months.
There are additional costs related to your application that you should consider when you send your forms/documentation.
The current Immigration rules that ought to be met:
QC Immigration can help Increase your chances of your UK visa application being accepted with the help of our experienced immigration lawyers.