Appointing an Immigration Lawyer

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:22 pm

Hi Folks,

Can anyone advise me on choosing an Immigration Lawyer??

My wife and I have recently married in the UK. As I come under UK immigration law and wish to be resident in the UK, I have given up on trying to sort this out myself. Before marrying my wife (who is a British Citizen) I applied for a "Marriage Visa" on form VAF1F which is only good for six months, hence now I must apply for something else to live legally in the country.

Has anyone heard of Wolstenholmes for immigration Layers?? If so can anyone let me know if they are any good or if someone has had any bad expriences with Lawyers or anything that I should be weiry off when appointing a solicitor??

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Post by **John** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:28 pm

Who advised you to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa? Do you appreciate that you now need to return to your country to apply for a spouse visa?

Post by **Obie** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:39 pm

You seem to have been poorly advised.

Most people in your position would have applied for Fiancee Visa, which will enable you to get married and also afford you the ability to make an in-country Spousal visa application once your marriage is been conducted.

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:47 pm

Hi John,

I was going by the info from

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/visita ... nsitvisa13

I currently work in Dubai, hence I have had to leave the UK to resume work. Fortunatly I work a 35 days on and 35 days off as I work offshore. On my 35 days off I wish to live in the UK as a resident with my wife.

Can anyone please give me some advice..

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:59 pm

I understand...I have been poorly advised...but can someone please tell me what or where I need to go from here inorder to obtain residency in the UK..

Post by **Obie** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:09 pm

As John rightly stated, you will have to go back to Dubai after the wedding and apply for the spousal visa there.

The Guidance note and the Application Form

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:09 pm

Obie,

Thank you for give me a clear direction to move forward with.

When I aquire a Settlement visa.... will I still be able to leave the country??

My work requires me to travel every 35 days as I work offshore on an oil rig. After my 35 days offshore I have 35 days off which I can spend in the UK again with my wife.

Would you know if this will be possible?

Post by **John** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:20 pm

What sort of UK visa are you aiming to get? Are you going to go for a spouse visa, or alternatively a long-term visitor visa? I ask because if you don't plan to work in the UK the visitor visa might be a viable plan.

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:32 pm

I plan to go for a spouses visa.

On a visit visa I have no entitlements or cannot acquire...i.e...mortgage...drive....bank account...etc

I also have a long term multi entry visa which is valid until 2014...this was prior to applying for my marriage visa.

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:42 pm

Some of the pages on the UK Border Agency's website are a bit misleading...

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply ... espartners

I have attached the link above where it mentions about forms FLR(M) and also SET(M).

I would like to know in what case would one be legible for applying using these forms???

Can anyone tell me if I am missing something here or??

Post by **John** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:42 pm

I also have a long term multi entry visa which is valid until 2014...this was prior to applying for my marriage visa.

I stand to be corrected but I think the visa obtained recently supersedes the one obtained previously.

Going for a spouse visa? Makes total sense.

Post by **Obie** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:51 pm

In some ways yes, in some respect no.

The subsequent visa allows him to get married in the UK only. I don't think it gives multiple entry facilities. Whereas the previous one allows him to enter the UK for a period of 6 months on each entry for the duration of the visa. The previous visa forbids him to get married. I suspect they will refuse him a COA on that one.

In regard to your question on whether you will be allowed to work for 35 day and return to the UK for 35 whiles on this visa, please see Topic 4.5of this link which confirms you are allowed to do so whiles on the spousal visa, and that you are not required to be in the UK for the duration of the two years

You would have been able to apply for FLR for 2 year after you marriage, had you applied for the proper Fiancee Visa.

rigstud · Post by **rigstud** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:36 pm

Obie,

I much appreciate your advice.

I would like to let everyone know, prior to obtaining my Marriage visa I was advised by the British Consulate in Dubai that this was the catagory I would need to apply for to marry my wife in the UK.

Had I known different I would not have applied using this catagory of visa.

Again.. I want to thank you and John for clarifying alot of my queries. I will start application for Settlemet shortly.

Thanks Chaps!!

kira1 · Post by **kira1** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:42 am

hi
u could try global immigration solution. i used them for my pr app.they were absolutely perfect.

Post by **batleykhan** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:31 pm

Why not just ask on this forum, its the best and its free !!!

prettypolitical · Post by **prettypolitical** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:53 pm

Batley Khan is spot on!!!!!

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Appointing an Immigration Lawyer

Appointing an Immigration Lawyer