ILR + unmarried couple with less that 2 years evidence

Hi,

I come from Hong Kong, and I have been studying in the UK for almost 10 years (I have a BSc, MSc and currently working on my PhD). My girlfriend comes from Taiwan, she has been living in the UK for almost 4 years as a student and got herself a MA, she is now doing a accountant course. Her student visa will expire in Oct this year. We lived together for more than 2 years.

In September, I will be qualified to apply ILR under long residence category. When I apply my ILR, I would like to include my girlfriend as unmarried couple in my application. Now here comes THE PROBLEMS. Although we have lived together for more than 2 years, we only started to collect documentary evidence (my girlfriend's bank statement/phone bill) to prove our relationship since Jan 2006. (My girlfriend likes to throw things away )

Technically, we should wait until Jan 2008, but as I have mentioned earlier that my girlfriend's visa will expire by the end of Oct 2007. She has no intention to study another course, so pay for a course just to extend the visa for few more months is the last thing we want to do.

So my question is how strict is the 2 years rule for unmarried couple? We have some love letter to prove our long relationship, and a letter from girlfriend's university that send to the address where we lived together briefly in 2004. Would that help?

I understand that we could get married asap to solve the problem, but I am not sure will Home Office refuse our application because of our rush marriage?

I am also worry about the point that regarding sufficient funds to support my dependant. Well, my only income is a small scholarship and some money from my parents occasionally Am I too poor to be qualified?

One final question. I understand that my girlfriend will get a Limited Leave to Remain, if fortunately our application is successful. Can she work in the UK without work permit with her Limited Leave to Remain visa that obtained from my long residence ILR?

Please give me some advise.

Thanks in advance

Louis

From what I hear and what I've read, the two year rule is very strict, which worries me too also!

can you get duplicate copies of any bills from that first year that woudl show you were living together?

you can get her bank to give you duplicate bank statements
are there ANY letters that show that she lived at your same address-
perscription slips from doctor, P60, P45, letters from inland revenue, council tax, anything?!?!?

if not... i really don't think you shoudl chance it. 24 months is the rule.

24 months is the rule.

Absolutely right ..... and just to make it clear LouisTsui, 23 months 3 weeks is not enough!

We lived together in our first year of relationship (2003-2004) in London. My girlfriend don't even have a bank account during that time, no bank accept her because she was not doing a degree course. So no bill no bank statement for that year. However, she has some "enrollment letters" being sent to our London address from University of Sheffield to confirm her place of study for 2004-2005.

Would Home Office accept those "enrollment letters" from a recognisable University?

you can get her bank to give you duplicate bank statements

Home Office accept duplicate bank statements?? If thats the case, we might have a chance since we started to live together again since Sep 2005. Hope her bank can gives some help.

Forgot to mention, we find her earliest bank statement is Dec 2005 (rather than Jan 2006).

Just one bloody month short.....