Tier 5 (YMS) to Partner Visa

Hello,

I am a Canadian on a Tier 5 (YMS) visa and my partner is an EU citizen but with ILR.

As my visa expires in one year, we want to form a civial partnership and switch from Tier 5 to partner visa so we can stay together in the UK.

I know all about the process of giving notice with the council and waiting 70 days for Home Office to 'investigate'. Everything I've read on these forums sounds like it's pretty straight forward, after the 70 days you can form a civil partnership and then apply for the spouse visa.

However, UK immigration has informed me that because the Tier 5 (YMS) visa is not extendable or switchable, I will have to leave the country to apply. Can anybody confirm this? I was under the impression this visa is switchable from inside the UK.

Thanks

You don't have to leave. The call centre is outsourced to a third party agent.

A lot depends on whether you are applying for a UK spouse visa under appendix FM or an application for pre settled status under appendix EU, on where your topic will need to be moved to.

Thank you very much for your response CR001!

I was thinking of calling them a few more times to see if the responses varied...

I was originally thinking to apply through FLR (M) track but am wondering if I would qualify to apply through EU Settlement Scheme? Seems like the latter would be easier?

EU settlement scheme for pre settled status would be appropriate if your partner is an EU citizen and non British.