Partner Visas / Extenstions
Under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain (ILR), a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection can sponsor thier spouse, civi partner, unmarried partner to the UK.
To make a successful spouse / partner visa application, the applicant must meet the very strict requirements under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.
The Immigration Rules state that, in order to satisfy the Spouse Visa/Marriage Visa rules you must meet the following criteria:
- that you meet the suitability requirements;
- that you and your partner are both over the age of 18 at the time of submitting the application;
- that you are not in a forbidden relationship with your partner (i.e. too closely related);
- that you have met your partner in person;
- that you are in a genuine and subsisting marriage;
- that you were free to marry (i.e. any previous marriages have been legally ended);
- that you intend to live together with your partner permanently;
- that your UK partner is able to meet the relevant financial criteria (£18,600 per annum) by way of employed income, self-employment or savings.Please note that the financial criteria to be met increases if there are any children to be included as part of the application, rising to £22,400 for one child and £2400 per additional child.
- Proof of English Language
- Adequate accommodation
-
Once you have satisfied the criteria for the relevant visa under the Immigration Rules you will then be issued with a 30 month visa which will allow you to work without restriction in the UK.
Spouse extension application:
Before the end of the 30 months visa (28 days before), you must file a further leave to remain application (extension). The purpose of this extension application is to evidence that you are the spouse of a British / settled person and that your relationship is subsisting. You must continue to meet all the requirements as pe the initial application above with an English language test at Level A2.
Indefinite leave to remain on the basis of marriage:
Once you have acquired 5 years as the spouse/partner you will be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. You must satisfy the English language requirement at level B1 and pass the Life in the UK test. You must also satisfy the financial requirement of £18,600 and you must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the last years and you 180 days in any consecutive 12 month period.
Once you have been granted indefinite leave to remain on the basis of marriage you will be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
