People in love should always be together. They belong together. No, this is not a romantic novel. Instead, what we have here will be a legal and immigration subject. When two folks are in love they usually get married after a while or simply start living together. When you’re in your native country and both partners have citizenship of that country this is all a straightforward process. But, when you’re abroad, and especially in the UK, things get a little bit more complicated. For two people who are married, and only one is a citizen of the UK, there are certain procedures to be honored.
What we are speaking of is the UK Spouse Visa as one option and Partner Visa as another one. The United Kingdom laws are strict with immigration policies, and even if two people are in a committed relationship the path ahead of them is not going to be an easy one. These visas are seen as one of the hardest ones to attain. But, it’s not impossible. To get a better grasp of what you’ll either need to get one of these visas. We are going to talk a little bit about the legal requirements. Let’s see what lies ahead of you if your goal is to seek a Partner or a Spouse visa.
The Requirements
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As we mentioned these visas might just be the hardest ones to attain. The requirements are serious and many couples cannot meet them. This shouldn’t discourage you. Instead, you should find a focus and streamline everything that the family visa in UK requires. First of all, the relationship needs to be true and you’ll have to provide solid evidence as a testimony of it. Furthermore, there is a financial aspect to the matter. The sponsor needs to step up here. He or she will have to deliver the evidence of £18,600 annual income. The last thing is of course the housing.
The paragraph above gives you a general insight into the subject. For each couple, things might differ. Not everyone’s circumstances are identical. Regardless of your overall situation, the entire ordeal needs to start with a Spouse Visa application. Other options include standing in line for an Unmarried Partner and a Fiancée visa. To go with the first option, British citizenship is a must for one of the partners. As far as the Fiancée visa goes it is only handled for a time frame of six months. When meeting the requirements to attain one is done, all that remains to be done is to get married during those six months. The other options go up to 30 months. On expiration, you’re able to extend it for another 30. When the 5-year period passes you should focus on permanent residency through ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and after that, on Citizenship. In the mid-time let us see what are the true needs for either Spouse or Partner visas in the UK.
UK Spouse Visa Requirements
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First of all – marriage. To qualify for this visa a British citizen needs to be your spouse. Another scenario where this is a possibility is if either one of the partners is on an ILR. These are the primary requirements. But, the list goes beyond that. Proof of a true bond is necessary. Both of you will need to prove to the government that you are in love and that plan exists to spend your livelihood together. Beyond that, there is the monetary moment. We have listed the necessary minimum amount above.
In addition to earning that and above you must provide proof that your family will be supported by you and only by you without aid from public funds. The next point in line is the accommodation. The proof that you’ll be properly settled upon your partner’s arrival is needed. The big point is housing issues. Last but not least, you’ll have to provide evidence that you speak adequate English. To prove all of the above you’ll need a substantial amount of data and documents, so it is better to start preparing early if you’re serious about applying for this visa.
Partner Visa
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There are a lot of similarities between these two visas but they are not one of a kind. Talking about partner visas, the proof of the relationship will need to be much more detailed. You’ll have to have photos of you as a couple. That’s first. Beyond, various documentation that proves it is necessary. We’re talking of such things as calls and messages, banking accounts, and various other shared content. All of this combined should give enough evidence that testifies that the two of you have spent a serious amount of time as a couple. Once the part where you have proven an established relationship is done, your partner will have to undergo an English test.
It’s to prove fluency in the language. You can show an English-taught degree. If not, it will rely on an IELTS test. After you have handled the issues from above it is time to once again move on to the financial requirements and housing. Without a reliable financial structure for the partners residing in the UK the partner from abroad will have slim chances of attaining this visa. Even if you have everything from above covered, you should remain focused and compile a list of items that will be additional proof of your genuine relationship. You can never have too much evidence.
Conclusion
As you can see, both of these visas have a high level of requirements. UK takes the immigration process seriously and it offers no discounts even for partners. They insist heavily on the attempt not to allow these visas to be abused. That’s why it requires multiple proofs of a genuine relationship in addition to other formal and legal requirements. More than anything else you need to be able to prove that your love and relationship are for real and that you’ll be able to provide for your partner. On the other hand, the partner needs to do the same and show that it has the required language skills to start a path toward UK citizenship.
