Understanding Your Options

The UK Spouse Visa, also known as a Partner Visa, allows you and your partner to live together in the UK. This includes options like FLR(M) and SET(M). Let’s break down what you need to know:

Eligibility Criteria

Partner’s Status: You and your partner both need to be 18 or over and your partner must be either:

 – A British or Irish citizen.
– Hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR), settled status, or proof of permanent residence in the UK.
– From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK before January 1, 2021.
– Hold a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa.
– Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
– Have permission to stay as a stateless person.

 Proving Your Relationship

You must demonstrate your relationship is genuine. This can be done through:
– Legal marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK.
– Living together for at least two years in a relationship before applying.
– Being engaged to marry within six months of arrival, though this option restricts employment and doesn’t count towards ILR.

Document Requirements
Provide documents such as marriage certificates, bank statements, or tenancy agreements to validate your relationship.

Language Proficiency
You must demonstrate English proficiency at Level A1. Upon extension (FLR(M)), this increases to Level A2, and for SET(M), you’ll need Level B1.

 Financial Requirements
You and your partner must show a combined income of £29,000 or meet specific financial thresholds if employed by the UK government. Exceptions apply for people receiving certain disability benefits or carer’s allowance. A lower income requirement of £18,600 still applies if you made your first application before 11 April 2024.

Visa Duration and Extension Pathway
– Initial Visa: Typically granted for 33 months.
– Extension (FLR(M)): you can extend your stay for a further 30 months, demonstrating ongoing commitment and meeting language and financial criteria.
– Path to ILR (SET(M)): Successful FLR(M) leads to SET(M), paving the way towards indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Including Family Members
You can bring dependent children under 18, provided you have sole parental responsibility. Those over 16 must show they are not leading an independent life.

Parent of a Child Visa

The UK Parent of a Child Visa allows parents to live in the UK to care for their children. If you’re eligible to apply as a partner or spouse, you must do so instead of applying under this category.

Everything You Need to Know

 How Do You Qualify?
To be eligible for the Parent of a Child Visa, you must meet the following criteria:
– Child’s Status: Your child or children must be under 18 at the time of application.

They must also be living in the UK and meet one of the following:
 – Be a British or Irish citizen.
– Have settled status (e.g., ILR).
– Hold pre-settled EU status.
– If applying from inside the UK, your child can have lived continuously in the UK for 7 years if it’s unreasonable for them to leave.
– Parental Responsibility: You must prove sole or shared parental responsibility. If responsibility is shared:
– The other parent cannot be your current partner.
– They must meet the same status requirements as listed above.
– Documents: Provide evidence of your active role in your child’s upbringing, such as school letters, medical records, local authority letters, or court orders.
– English Language Requirement: You must demonstrate a basic level (A1) of English proficiency.

How Long is the Visa Granted for?

The Parent of a Child Visa is initially granted for 2 years and 9 months. To extend the visa, you’ll need to meet the same eligibility criteria as your initial application, including improving your English proficiency. Successful extensions are typically granted for an additional 2 years and 6 months.

Can You Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
Yes, if you’ve:
– Applied for and received a visa extension.
– Spent 5 continuous years in the UK under this visa category.

You’ll also need to demonstrate English proficiency at Level B1 and pass the Life in the UK Test. However, if you don’t meet the financial or language requirements from the start (or have precarious status in the UK), you’ll be placed on a longer 10-year route to ILR instead of the standard 5-year path.

Can You Include Other Family Members?
Yes, you can include additional children as dependents if:
– You have sole parental responsibility.
– They’re under 18 at the time of application or when they were first granted leave.
– If over 16, they must not be leading an independent life.

By following these guidelines, you can apply for this visa and bring eligible family members to join you in the UK.

Marriage Visit Visa

The UK Marriage Visit Visa is specifically designed for individuals who wish to travel to the UK solely for the purpose of getting married or registering a civil partnership. It’s important to note that this visa does not allow you to remain in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

 Am I Eligible Without Applying for This Visa?
If you already have pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme or if you are an Irish citizen, you don’t need to apply for a Marriage Visit Visa. You’re permitted to travel to the UK to marry without applying for this visa.

 When Do I Need to Apply?
You must apply for a Marriage Visit Visa if:
– You plan to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK.
– You want to give notice of your marriage or civil partnership in the UK.
– You do not intend to stay in the UK after the ceremony.

Key Requirements

To qualify for this visa, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Genuine Relationship:

   – You must prove that you are in a genuine relationship and are at least 18 years old.

2. Proof of Marriage Intentions:
   – Provide evidence of your plans to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK.
   This could include:
   – Proof of payment for ceremony venues.
   – Booking confirmations with licensed venues.
   – Correspondence confirming arrangements.
   
   
3. Short Visit:
   – You must leave the UK within 6 months and have no intention of making the UK your permanent home.
   
   
4. Financial Support:
   – Demonstrate that you can financially support yourself during your stay in the UK.
   – Show that you can afford your return flight or onward journey from the UK.
   
   
5. Legal Right to Marry:
   – If previously married, provide evidence proving you are legally free to marry or enter a new civil partnership (e.g., divorce certificates or death certificates).
   
   

 How Long is the Visa Valid For?
A Marriage Visit Visa is granted for 6 months, as it is a specific type of visitor visa. The visa only covers your stay for the purpose of marriage and does not allow you to remain in the UK after the ceremony.

Does This Visa Lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
No, this visa does not lead to ILR or any further rights to live permanently in the UK. It is strictly for a short-term visit related to your marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

Can I Bring Family Members on This Visa?
No, the Marriage Visit Visa is only valid for the main applicant. If both individuals intend to marry in the UK, they must each make separate applications. Children who require visas must apply separately for a standard UK Visitor Visa, not under this specific visa category.

Additional Family Visa Routes

In addition to the main family visa routes, there are several other UK family visas designed for specific circumstances.

These include:

– Child Visas: Designed to help children join their parents in the UK, these visas can be applied for as part of a parent’s application or separately, depending on the parent’s current status.

– UK Ancestry Visas: Available to Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British nationals (overseas), or Zimbabwean citizens, this visa allows you to settle in the UK if one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands. You must also demonstrate the ability to financially support yourself and show intent to work in the UK. The visa is granted for 5 years and can lead to ILR after that period.

How We Can Help
At Ultimate Visas, we have expertise in supporting applications for UK family visas and subsequent ILR applications. We specialise in:
– Assessing your unique situation to determine the best visa option for you.
– Reviewing and advising on all required documentation, including evidence of genuine relationships and financial stability—key factors in a successful application.