Any thoughts

Hello,

I am a 28 year old British male, but just after some advice for my girlfriend of 5 years, who is Jamaican and 27. She currently is studying for her acca qualification, and I have sponsored her as a student for the last 4 years.

She applied for the visa to start the course last year and was only given 13 months, fair enough we thought, even though to complete all of the modules F1-9 P1-3 + 2 optional would take 2.5 years minimum if you passed all first time (extremely hard to do). We just assumed that the HO doesn’t really like issuing long visas for modular courses, and they make more money by having students renew their visas every few years.

She has worked her socks of this year and passed 3 exams so far, waiting for the results on the last 3 but she has a really good feeling about 2 of them, it’s now time for visa renewal (current one expires end of August).

So we started looking into the new tier 4 application and her college as of yet is not on the approved list. Had a quick look round for any others in our area that offer the same course and there are none. It seems to be only the big universities and a few select schools around here have been granted the award so far. So I guess now it’s a waiting game to see if the college gets on the list before her visa expires (I see no reason why it should not as it seems legitimate, it’s been authorised by acca, 60% of the students are international though)

If the college does make it onto the list in time, what is the deal about finances? We are outside of London, live separately (she lives with her aunt and cousin), she works 20 hours or less a week for spending money, and I provide the extra for rent, food and clothes for her and her 8 year old daughter, I also pay her tuition fees and visa fees. We don’t have a set agreement I just give her what she needs. Will she need a lump sum moved into her account (should not be a problem i've got a fair chunk of savings) or is this waved as she’s already in the country and settled for the course?

Lots of questions, maybe too many all at once but just thought I’d whack the information down to see if anyone had any thoughts. I’m guessing if the college does not make it into the list in time then she will have to leave even though she was allowed to start the course, and if we want to stay together then marriage would have to be on the cards.

Cheers

If she is eligible as your unmarried partner (section 9), then she may switch to FLR(M) (295E).

Wow thanks for the quick reply.

I've looked at that application a few times before but assumed we would always be rejected under the "The parties having been living together in a relationship akin to marriage/civil partnership which has subsisted for two years or more. " section.

Our fault for not moving in together really, it was just more convenient to live separately due to childcare, working hours, and distance from school for her daughter.

I'll give it all a good read though.
Many thanks

DaveSmith wrote:I've looked at that application a few times before but assumed we would always be rejected under the "The parties having been living together in a relationship akin to marriage/civil partnership which has subsisted for two years or more. " section.

Our fault for not moving in together really, it was just more convenient to live separately due to childcare, working hours, and distance from school for her daughter.

Unfortunately, you are right. That rules out the unmarried partners route.