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How to get Spouse Visa UK Complete Guide

Spouse Visa UK - UK Immigration Solicitors

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Overview of Spouse Visa UK

A UK spouse visa is also called a partner visa UK. It is a type of settlement visa that permits you to reside with your British partner in the UK. You can live up to 30 months on a partner visa. In this detailed blog, we will explain how to obtain a spouse visa UK and outline the requirements you need to fulfill.

How to apply as a partner or spouse for a spouse visa UK?

To apply as a spouse or partner your age must be 18 years old. It is also necessary that your partner:

  • must hold citizenship in the UK or Ireland
  • persons with permanent residence, settled status, indefinite leave to remain, or other legal presence in the UK
  • be EU, Swiss, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Iceland nationals having “pre-settled status,” meaning they moved to the UK before January 1, 2021.
  • already have a valid visa to work in Turkey or to do business in Turkey
  • have some sort of safety, such as humanitarian protection, refugee status, or approval to remain as a refugee.
  • remain in the country without having a valid passport

After applying, you and your spouse must have the intention of permanently residing in the UK.

What things do I have to prove for a Spouse Visa UK?

Please ensure that you have the necessary documentation in order to proceed further:

  • You are married or in a UK civil partnership.
  • You must be in a committed partnership for two years before applying.
  • For people engaged, married, or planning a civil partnership in the United Kingdom within six months after arrival,
  • you and your partner have been together for two years but cannot live together owing to distance, cultural conventions, work, or school.

Furthermore, you need to show that:

  • possess good English skills
  • you can sustain yourself and your dependents financially.

If you don’t fulfill these UK spouse visa requirements, you can still be allowed to submit an application for a visa or extend your stay:

  • Your child’s departure would be seen as unreasonable if they are citizens of the United Kingdom or Ireland or have been in the country for seven years.
  • To refuse entrance or deportation from the UK would violate your human rights.

You can apply as a fiancé, spouse, or civil partner. Moreover, you have to demonstrate:

  • If any of your prior marriages or relationships ended, you intend to get into a civil partnership or get married within six months of your arrival in the UK.

When you marry or form a civil partnership, you must request permission to stay in the UK. You can work or study in the UK after your application approval.

Ways to Prove Your Relationship

Provide proof that:

  • originates from a healthcare provider, government agency, financial institution, landlord, or utility company
  • verifies the nature of your relationship with your spouse, such as whether you are married, in a civil partnership, or simply share living expenses.
  • is hardly more than four years old

Examples of what you may use are:

  • legal documentation of a marriage or civil partnership
  • evidence that you reside at the same address or are joint bill payers, such as a rental agreement, energy bills, or council tax invoices
  • documents attesting to your shared residence or a bank statement from a joint account
  • a letter verifying your residency at the same address from your dentist or physician

If you don’t have any proof that meets these requirements, you can still offer other types of evidence, such as:

  • a one-time expense, such as veterinary fees or the cost of home repairs
  • declarations that both you and your spouse are listed as voters at the same address
  • documentation verifying your residence at the same address as your student loan application


If you don’t reside together

You will need to show that you’re still committed to each other even if you can’t live together because of things like work, school, or cultural obligations. That is possible if you can prove that you:

  • communicate frequently  
  • provide mutual financial support  
  • ensure the well-being of any children you might have  
  • spend quality time as a couple, whether it’s on vacation or attending an event.


How long you can stay

This UK visa allows 2 years and 9 months. You can stay for six months if you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner. If you want to prolong your stay after this, you will need to submit an application.

If you want to modify or extend this visa

You can increase your stay in the UK by two years and six months if you apply for a spouse visa extension or switch your family visa to this one.

How to apply for a UK Spouse Visa?

Before applying thoroughly check the UK spouse visa document checklist. Get all of the necessary documents and details ready to submit with your application. Your application process will differ based on whether you are in the UK or not. To apply for spouse visa UK, whether from outside or within the UK, you must complete the online spouse visa application UK.

If you can’t pay the UK spouse visa fee,

If the charge is too much for you to pay, you have the option to petition for a waiver:

  • do not own a home and are unable to purchase one
  • possess housing, but are unable to cover basic necessities like food and heating.
  • cannot afford the cost, and it would have a negative impact on your child’s health.


How much time UK Spouse Visa takes?

The typical processing time for spouse visa UK applications submitted from outside the UK is twenty-four weeks.

You can typically expect a decision within 8 weeks if you apply from within the UK and fulfil the income and language requirements. At present, it takes around twelve months to receive a decision for applications submitted within the UK that do not fulfil the English language and minimum income standards. 

You might be able to pay to get an answer faster.

How to Apply with Your Kids

To include a child as a dependent on your application, you must meet both of the following criteria:

  • they are younger than 18 when you apply or when they were first given leave.
  • They are unable to live independent lives.

If your child has left home, gotten married, and had kids, they are living on their own.

When Permanent Settlement Is Possible?

An individual can apply for permanent residency (sometimes known as “indefinite leave to remain“) in the United Kingdom as early as the fifth year after they have been a permanent resident of the country as a partner on a family visa. The following duration cannot be included:

  • on a different type of visa
  • as a future spouse, civil proposed partner, or fiancé

Disclaimer

This website and its articles are not meant to give legal advice, but rather to provide general information. We make every effort to ensure that the content is accurate, but we cannot guarantee that it is comprehensive or applicable to specific situations. If users have any particular legal issues or concerns, they should not rely solely on the information given and should instead consult a solicitor. We at UK Immigration Solicitors are not responsible for anything that people do or don’t do after reading our articles. For tailored advice or to discuss your specific situation, please contact our experienced UK immigration solicitors at 02033844389.

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