I am just tagging my question to this thread as I have read at least 50% of this thread and couldn't really find examples.
I am currently on a Tier 2 visa and have been in the UK for 9 years (study + work). I am in a relationship with a EU national, we stayed together in the same flat for 3 years and have recently moved into our own apartment (joint owned by us).
I want to apply for settled status via the unmarried partner of EU citizen route. My girlfriend already has pre-settled status. I have already submitted my application but I should have thought this through a little better.
I have provided the Home Office with the following information in my application:
- HMRC tax returns showing same address for both of us for 3 years
- Title Deed of house in both our names
- Council tax statements in both our names for 3 years
- Bank statements in both our names for both of us for 3 years
They got back asking for a marriage certificate. I did not realise that I would have to do provide one as there was no where I could enter the conditions I wanted to apply under.
Is a residence card compulsory for applying under the unmarried partner route? Should I have applied for this soon-to-be redundant card first (i.e. if settled status approved the card is superseded right)?
Lastly, do people include photographs typically in their applications of the couple together during the 5 years (this appears typical of the Residence Card process). Also, if this is the case, when does my 5 years of settled status starts counting? From time we started being unmarried partners or from date we moved in together or from time of pre-settled status issuance?
