Applying for a UK spouse visa? Here’s what you need to knowImmigration & Naturalization ConsultantsUpdated on Jan 23, 2018 View more like this | Visit United Kingdom, UN | Contact Kadmos Consultants |
If you’re the spouse of a British citizen or of someone who has indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, but you yourself are neither of those latter two things, what are your options for gaining a visa for entry into the UK?
Well, what you ought to be looking to try and obtain is a ‘UK spouse visa’ (otherwise known as a ‘UK partner’s visa’), which will gain you right to entry and residence – so long as you are a spouse, a civil partner or an unmarried partner (and have been in a stable, secure relationship with your spouse/ partner for a minimum two years.) Such a visa will last for a maximum 30 months before you’ll need to renew it – renewal before expiry is necessary.
Further requirements
You should note, however, there are further, specific requirements you’ll need to fulfil in order to qualify for a spouse visa. First, both you and your spouse/ partner must be at least 18-years-old; second, you must pass an English language test (A1 level or above); third, your sponsor must be either a UK citizen, have ILR status or refugee status/ humanitarian protection in the UK; fourth, should you be a spouse, your marriage must be valid and you must be prepared to live with your spouse permanently (and be able to demonstrate this).
Fifth, if you’re legally defined as a ‘visitor’ to the UK, you won’t able to successfully apply for a spouse visa (but if you hold a six-months-old fiancé visa, an e-visa, a student visa or any work-permitting visa you can change to a spouse visa, if appropriate); sixth, your sponsoring spouse must satisfy a minimum income threshold of £18,600 annually (should there be a dependant child too, that threshold rises to £22,400 and then by another £2,400 for each additionally sponsored child) and, finally seventh, should your sponsoring spouse not be able to meet the annual income threshold, this requirement can be met via additional savings (£16,000 and then 2.5 times the shortfall amount)
Living arrangements
If you are seeking a spouse visa UK, but are unmarried to your partner then, as well as fulfilling all the above relevant requirements, you’ll also have to able to demonstrate you’ve lived with your partner in an equivalent relationship to marriage for two years or more prior to making the visa application. But, away from such talk about requirements; once you secure a ‘spouse visa’ as an unmarried partner, you’ll be entitled to ILR after five years in the UK – unless you’re subject to transitional arrangements, in which case you’re open to apply for ILR after just two years.
Extending a spouse visa
But what happens if, on a spouse visa, you don’t eventually secure ILR? Well, in that scenario your best bet is to apply to extend the visa. You’ll find you’ll need to satisfy the same requirements you did in order to qualify for the visa in the first place – except, this time, not being able to meet the means test (temporarily speaking) is unlikely to result in an instant refusal. Naturally, should you be looking to apply for a spouse/ unmarried partner visa for the first time or looking to extend it, we strongly advise you to see out sound legal advice.
To Know more about spouse visa visit http://www.kadmosimmigration.com/
Well, what you ought to be looking to try and obtain is a ‘UK spouse visa’ (otherwise known as a ‘UK partner’s visa’), which will gain you right to entry and residence – so long as you are a spouse, a civil partner or an unmarried partner (and have been in a stable, secure relationship with your spouse/ partner for a minimum two years.) Such a visa will last for a maximum 30 months before you’ll need to renew it – renewal before expiry is necessary.
Further requirements
You should note, however, there are further, specific requirements you’ll need to fulfil in order to qualify for a spouse visa. First, both you and your spouse/ partner must be at least 18-years-old; second, you must pass an English language test (A1 level or above); third, your sponsor must be either a UK citizen, have ILR status or refugee status/ humanitarian protection in the UK; fourth, should you be a spouse, your marriage must be valid and you must be prepared to live with your spouse permanently (and be able to demonstrate this).
Fifth, if you’re legally defined as a ‘visitor’ to the UK, you won’t able to successfully apply for a spouse visa (but if you hold a six-months-old fiancé visa, an e-visa, a student visa or any work-permitting visa you can change to a spouse visa, if appropriate); sixth, your sponsoring spouse must satisfy a minimum income threshold of £18,600 annually (should there be a dependant child too, that threshold rises to £22,400 and then by another £2,400 for each additionally sponsored child) and, finally seventh, should your sponsoring spouse not be able to meet the annual income threshold, this requirement can be met via additional savings (£16,000 and then 2.5 times the shortfall amount)
Living arrangements
If you are seeking a spouse visa UK, but are unmarried to your partner then, as well as fulfilling all the above relevant requirements, you’ll also have to able to demonstrate you’ve lived with your partner in an equivalent relationship to marriage for two years or more prior to making the visa application. But, away from such talk about requirements; once you secure a ‘spouse visa’ as an unmarried partner, you’ll be entitled to ILR after five years in the UK – unless you’re subject to transitional arrangements, in which case you’re open to apply for ILR after just two years.
Extending a spouse visa
But what happens if, on a spouse visa, you don’t eventually secure ILR? Well, in that scenario your best bet is to apply to extend the visa. You’ll find you’ll need to satisfy the same requirements you did in order to qualify for the visa in the first place – except, this time, not being able to meet the means test (temporarily speaking) is unlikely to result in an instant refusal. Naturally, should you be looking to apply for a spouse/ unmarried partner visa for the first time or looking to extend it, we strongly advise you to see out sound legal advice.
To Know more about spouse visa visit http://www.kadmosimmigration.com/
