Partner/Spouse Visa

If your partner is a British national or settled in the UK, you may be eligible for a visa that allows you to live in the UK for up to 2 and a half years. You can apply for an extension of a further 2 and a half years at the end of the initial visa if you still meet the visa requirements. Thereafter, once you have completed 5 years of residence and you still meet the requirements, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. ‘Partner’ includes: husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner.

To meet the visa requirements you must show that:

• both parties aged 18 of age or over when the application is made

• your relationship is ‘genuine and subsisting’ and you intend to live permanently in the UK with your partner 

• your marriage or civil partnership is recognised by UK law 

• you meet the financial requirement 

• you can support yourselves and any dependents you may have without claiming government benefits

• your grasp of the English language is satisfactory

Proving a ‘genuine and subsisting’ relationship: To show that you satisfy this requirement, you and your partner will have to demonstrate: 

• you are currently in a long-term relationship with one another 

• the two of you are living together, and have plans to do so in the UK if you are not already 

• you share the responsibility for your finances and your children, if you have any

What we can do for you;

• Advise on the procedure for making a spouse or civil partner entry clearance application/leave to remain application
• Assess the merits of your application and advise as to how to improve your application to maximise the prospects of success
• Advise on an extension of leave in the UK as a spouse or an application for indefinite leave to remain after the ‘probationary period’
• Advise as to the procedure involved for including children as dependants
• Represent you in any applications for Entry Clearance, Leave to Remain, Indefinite Leave to Remain as a spouse or civil partner
• Advise as to the merits of an appeal should your entry clearance/leave to remain application be refused