UK Spouse Visa
A Partner Visa UK, also known as a UK Marriage Visa, is a settlement visa that allows you to live together with your British partner in the UK for up to 30 months. It can be extended for another 30 months if you meet certain eligibility conditions. Holding a Partner Visa is the first step towards Indefinite Leave to Remain and, eventually, British Citizenship.
To apply for a Marriage Visa and enter the UK, you must be married to, or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or UK settled person. The main eligibility criteria include providing proof that you are in a genuine relationship and that you meet specific financial conditions.
Get in touch with us today to receive professional advice on your Marriage Visa case and learn how you can enter the UK and get leave to remain with your partner if he or she is a UK citizen.
What is a UK Spouse Visa?
A UK Spouse Visa is for non-UK residents aged 18 or over who are engaged, married to, or has a proposed civil partner who is aged over 18 living in the UK. It is a type of settlement visa known as the UK partner visa.
The qualifying criteria vary depending on your partner’s situation. You need to apply for a UK Partner Visa if you are coming to the UK to join your partner or spouse from outside the European Economic Area.
If you hold a Spouse Visa in UK, you have the right to work like all British citizens. However, you cannot claim most benefits, such as public funds, housing allowance or tax credits.
Who can apply for a Spouse Visa?
You can apply for a UK Spouse Visa if you are:
- Ages 18 years or over
- Married or in a civil partnership that is recognised by the UK
- Married to a British citizen or UK settled person
- You have been living together in a relationship for the past 2 years and you can prove it
- You are engaged, or you hold a Fiancé Visa and will get married within 6 months of being in the UK
British citizens can send the leave to remain forms on their partner’s behalf as long as they are eligible. You must list their name and information as the applicant’s details.
What are the requirements for a Spouse Visa?
Before you submit your application for a UK Spouse Visa, you need to:
- Have all the required documents
- Pass the ‘Genuine Relationship Test’
- Meet the minimum income threshold and the financial requirement
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the English language
- Have proof of suitable accommodation for you, your partner and any dependents
- Get your biometrics taken to get leave to remain
- To remain in the UK, you may also need to pass a medical test to show you don’t have Tuberculosis (TB), depending on the applicant’s country of residence
What is the ‘Genuine Relationship Test’?
The UK Spouse Visa applicant needs to be able to prove they are in a genuine relationship, such as a civil partnership, with their British citizen partner.
There are lots of different types of evidence you can send to the Home Office, such as:
- A joint mortgage or tenancy agreement, either in the UK or outside the UK
- Evidence of any children you have together, such as a birth certificate
- Photographs that show you have spent time together frequently
- A shared bank account or savings
- Text messages or social media chat logs
- Travel documents that prove you’ve visited each other at least once before you got married
- Any documents which prove that you intend to live together in the UK
Can I renew or extend a UK Spouse Visa?
You can renew and extend or renew your Spouse visa for another 2 years and 6 months, as long as your current leave to remain hasn’t expired.
After you have lived in the UK for a total of 5 years, you can apply for settled status (ILR).
How long does the Partner Visa process take?
It usually takes between 2 to 12 weeks for a Spouse Visa case to be processed.
The Spouse Visa Processing time can vary depending on the documents provided and the country where the application is submitted from.
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