Menu
Skip to content Congratulations on taking the next step in your relationship! If you’re currently on a fiancé visa UK and are ready to make your love official, switching to a spouse visa is your path to a lasting partnership.
We will make this process easy for you. This guide will cover the essential steps to switch fiance visa to spouse visa UK.
To get detailed information and expert guidance on spouse visa, fiance visa, or any other type of visa you can call our experienced solicitors at 02033844389.
"*" indicates required fields
Before your fiance visa expires, you can switch your fiance visa to spouse visa UK. The initial stay for holders of UK spouse visas is 33 months, and they are eligible for an additional 30 months of extension. Spouse visa holders are eligible to live, work, and study in the UK. Also, spouse visa holders are eligible to apply for settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain or ILR) after five years in the UK.
To apply for a spouse visa, you normally need to be outside of the UK. However, if you already have a fiancé visa, you can switch it to a spouse visa without leaving the nation.
Before your fiancé visa expires, you must apply to switch to a UK Spouse Visa. If you need more time to get married before your visa expires, you can request a six-month extension. However, you must provide proof that the wedding is scheduled within that period and a valid reason for the delay.
Once you are married and have obtained your marriage certificate, you can apply for a UK Spouse Visa at any time, provided you meet all other eligibility requirements. Under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, your fiancé visa status remains protected while your Spouse Visa application is being processed but only if you apply before your current visa expires. Applying late will result in being classified as an overstayer.
In order to switch from fiance visa to spouse visa UK, you need to meet certain eligibility requirements:
To sponsor you, a spouse or civil partner who lives in the UK must be:
To be clear, your portfolio of evidence may differ from that of other couples; after all, every relationship is unique.
Furthermore, keep in mind that it is your responsibility, not the immigration caseworker’s, to provide documentation. They will probably not do any further research to sway the immigration decision in your favour.
Get in contact with us right away if you need professional legal counsel for your spouse’s visa application case or if you are still confused about how to meet this portion of the requirement while switching to it. Get in touch with us online or give us a call at 02033844389.
You and your spouse were required to present proof of a minimum yearly income of £29,000 (or £18,600 if the application was submitted prior to April 11, 2024) in order to obtain a fiancé visa.
In accordance with immigration regulations, the Home Office will typically use the proof you provide in your first application when you switch fiance visa to spouse visa UK. However, proof of continuous work or self-employment may be required.
When you apply for your fiance visa, you will already have shown that you can speak and write English well. Therefore, the Home Office will probably assume that you already satisfy this criterion and won’t demand any additional proof.
To complete your application to switch your visa status from fiance to spouse, the Home Office may ask for certain pieces of paperwork. The Home Office will already have these documents, so you might not need as many as you did for your initial fiance visa. Maybe they’ll ask you for:
Keep in mind that the list provided is not complete. There may be needed additional documents from you depending on your specific situation.
Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a spouse visa instead of a fiancé visa:
Converting to a spouse visa requires an application cost of £1,048. Additionally, to access the NHS, you are required to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge: the National Health Service (NHS) costs £1035 annually.
Process times may vary. You can also pay extra for the super-priority service if you need a decision on your visa application quickly if you are applying from inside the UK. It costs £800.
If you apply outside the UK, the application process for a Spouse visa will usually take 24 weeks. You can apply for a Spouse visa from inside the UK, and it will generally be processed in 8 weeks.
After getting a Spouse visa, you can apply for indefinite leave to stay (ILR).
A fiancé visa, as indicated earlier, is only valid for a maximum of six months. Spouse visas, on the other hand, are valid for an extended period of time and can lead to permanent residency in the UK.
You can become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years in the UK on a Spouse visa, which is different from most other pathways to ILR. Being in the UK on a Fiancé visa does not count towards the 5-year minimum, so keep that in mind.
You must additionally meet the following criteria in addition to the 5-year requirement:
You will be able to remain in the UK permanently and escape immigration control once you obtain ILR status. After twelve months of legal permanent residence in the UK, you will also be able to apply for British citizenship.
