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Are you dreaming of building a life with your partner in the UK? If you’re on a different visa and looking to switch to a UK Spouse Visa, this guide will walk you through the process step by step making your transition smooth and stress-free!
To learn more about the Spouse Visa UK, including how to apply for it and eligibility criteria, call one of our immigration solicitors at 02033844389 or send an email.
Switching to a Spouse Visa UK
Those from other countries who want to live in the UK with their British spouses or partners can apply for a Spouse visa UK.
All applicants have to fulfil certain qualifying requirements, such as those relating to language, finances, and accommodations. Also, applicants must provide evidence of a real and continuing marriage.
To get a spouse visa, you can do it in one of two methods. As a first option, you can apply from outside the UK and enter the UK with an accepted Spouse visa.
The second option is for applicants who are currently in the UK and would like to change their visa to a spouse.
If you are currently in the UK on a long-term visa and match the criteria, you can switch to the Spouse visa.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to convert your current visa to a spouse visa if your current one only permits short-term visits to the UK.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
Switch From a Fiance Visa to a Spouse Visa
Switching from a Fiance visa to a Spouse visa (or a Proposed Civil Partner visa to a Civil Partnership visa) is one of the most common ways to come to the UK.
People from other countries can get a short-term visa called a “Fiance visa” to come to the UK to marry their British or Irish partner. As a condition of your visa, you are required to marry your spouse during your six months of leave in the UK.
You can apply for the Spouse visa without leaving the UK after you get married there.
If you want to stay in the UK for longer as a spouse, you’ll need to prove that you qualify for a Spouse visa. If you accomplish that, the UK will extend your stay permit for another 30 months.
It is important to remember that a Fiance visa does not grant indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
How to Switch From a Work or Student Visa to a Spouse Visa?
You may change your work or student visa to a spouse visa with the majority of UK visas.
In most cases, you can change your current visa to a spouse visa if:
- Has granted you permission to remain in the UK for an additional six months
- Has not authorised your stay based on a visitor’s visa.
Remember that the 6-month restriction only applies to certain short-term UK visas, such as the Fiance and Proposed Civil Partner visas, which are the only ones that allow you to change your visa to a Spouse or Civil Partnership.
Here are some of the most popular visa types that you can switch to a Spouse Visa:
- Skilled worker visas, often known as Tier 2 work visas
- Student visa
- Graduate visa
- Temporary work visas
No matter the type of visa, the application process for a Spouse visa is often the same. Before applying for a Spouse visa, check the remaining validity of your current visa. You won’t be able to apply if your current visa has already expired.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
Marriage Visitor Visa to Spouse Visa
The main thing that both the Marriage Visitor visa and the Fiance visa have in common is that they let people come to the UK to get married.
But there are a few important ways in which the Fiance visa and the Marriage Visitor visa are different. For instance, the Marriage Visitor visa does not permit an extension of stay beyond the original six months nor the transfer to another type of visa.
The Marriage Visitor visa applies only to people who want to marry in the UK without planning to live or settle there.
This is why it is not possible to change your visa status from Marriage Visitor to Spouse.
Instead of applying for a Marriage Visitor visa, you will need to apply for a Fiance visa if you intend to get married in the UK and then settle there.
Changing From a Visitor’s Visa
Visitor visas are for foreign nationals who wish to visit the United Kingdom for a brief duration, much like the Marriage Visitor visa.
You cannot change your Visitor visa to a Spouse visa since the Spouse visa is not meant to be a method to permanently live in the UK.
While in the UK on a visitor’s visa, you must exit the country before you can apply for a spouse visa. After that, if you meet all the necessary requirements, you can apply for a Spouse visa to return to the UK under UK immigration rules.
How to Apply for a Spouse Visa Switch in the UK?
To apply for a Spouse Visa Switch from within the United Kingdom, you need to visit the Gov.uk website.
You will need to submit your personal details together with other pieces of supporting documentation, just like when you first applied for your visa.
The application process is slightly different for applicants from outside the UK, so be sure to indicate that you are applying from within the UK.
Keep in mind that you can continue to stay in the UK even if your present visa expires during the processing of your UK Spouse visa application. If the UK government rejects your Spouse visa application, you have 14 days to either appeal the decision or depart the country.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
What is the Cost of Switching to a Spouse Visa UK?
Changing your UK visa to a spouse visa will cost £1,048.
To maintain your access to NHS services, you must also pay the immigration health fee, if you haven’t already. This will set you back £1,035 each year spent in the UK.
Keep in mind that your Spouse Visa application may include additional expenses, such as:
- A test to show your English proficiency.
- Official document translations.
- If you need to get your academic credentials validated to fulfil the English language requirement, you can receive them through Ecctis.
- If you require a prompt decision regarding your visa application, you may use the Home Office’s super-priority service.
Am I Eligible to Switch to a Spouse Visa if my Partner is on a Visitor Visa?
Your spouse must be a citizen of the UK, or Ireland, or have established status in the UK in order to sponsor you for a Spouse visa.
This means that if your spouse is currently in the UK on a temporary visa, for example, a visitor’s visa or a work visa you will not be able to change their visa status to a spouse’s or apply for a spouse’s visa.
You must apply as your spouse’s dependent in order to join them in the UK or remain in the UK in this case.
The steps to apply as your spouse’s dependent will differ according to the type of UK visa they have.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
How Do UK Immigration Solicitors Simplify the Visa Process?
As you switch to the UK Spouse visa, you’ll need to manage the terms of both your existing and new visas, which can add an extra layer of complexity to the process.
This is particularly true for the Spouse visa, which imposes rather stringent and comprehensive requirements on all applicants.
You can rely on UK Immigration Solicitors for all of your immigration needs, including assistance with changing your UK visa to a spouse visa or any other type of visa.
We are the best Spouse visa solicitors and immigration attorneys in the business, and we help people all around the world immigrate to the UK and beyond. When it comes to Spouse visas, we know the ins and outs of the application process, the UK visa requirements, and the most typical issues that applicants face.
We can help you with any aspect of your Spouse visa application, from making sure it is thorough and properly formatted to answering any questions you may have about the application process and UK immigration requirements.
Call us at 02033844389 or send us an email to learn more about our offerings and how we can help you in switching to a spouse visa UK.
