Spouse visa

Hi,

My friend arrived in UK May 2004 on work permit holder. She applied for FLR and received FLR valid till May 2010. In May 2006 she married to British Citizen. She wants to know which form she needs to fill to get spouse visa and after how much time she will become British Citizen.

Thanks,

Mansawant

1. SET FLR(M) - she will get a 2 year spouse visa. She will be able to work without needing a WP but will have no recourse to public funds.

2. 28 days before the expiry of the 2 year visa she needs to apply for Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) on Form SET (M). She will need to submit evidence that the relationship has subsisted in the 2 years and will continue to do so. The form has details of what this would be.

In all cases you need to submit evidence that you can maintain and accomodate yourselves.

3. After grant of ILR and subject to meeting the residence criteria an application for naturalisation can be made. The life in the UK test is a pre-requisite - current wisdom is do it at some point near to ILR application.

4. Naturalisation process times can be several days if you use the Nationality Checking Service.

Assuming you submitted your FLR (M) application in person in the next few days (you need an appointment) and was granted the 2 year visa by 1 Dec 2006 then you may be a British Citizen by the same date in 2008. These assumes legislation stays as current and you meet all the relevant qualifying criteria.