Getting a working visa for my Argentinian girlfriend

[MrSandwich]

Hello,

I am French, my girlfriend is Argentinian, and we would both like to come and work in London. It is quite easy for me as I'm a member of the EEA, and I have already worked there a few times so I am confident I could find work easily again. The problem is for my girlfriend, and we were wondering what would be the best solution for her to have a chance to come and work in UK.

Here are the options I am considering:

1) Getting a PACS (french civil union) and asking for that kind of visa. But I'm not sure it works for heterosexual couples, and I'm not sure either it works if I'm not settled in UK first. Which brings me to: what does "settled" mean, do I need a visa for that or is it just me working and living in UK for a few months?

2) Ask for a working visa as a "Dependant of current work permit holder" for her. But I never had to have a working visa as I'm from the EEA, so I don't know if that can work for me?

3) Ask for a Family of settled people visa as an unmarried couple. But same thing, I don't know what settled means, and it seems to easy. Well maybe because it costs £1500 to apply... which could be a problem too

Please let me know what would seem the best option for you. The option doesn't have to be in my list by the way, I probably missed a lot of things. I am trying to get the maximum of informations I can get on our possibilities, and I have to admit that I am quite lost at the moment.

Thank you so much if you can help us a little bit!

Cheers,
Camille

[Casa]

Hello,

I am French, my girlfriend is Argentinian, and we would both like to come and work in London. It is quite easy for me as I'm a member of the EEA, and I have already worked there a few times so I am confident I could find work easily again. The problem is for my girlfriend, and we were wondering what would be the best solution for her to have a chance to come and work in UK.

Here are the options I am considering:

1) Getting a PACS (french civil union) and asking for that kind of visa. But I'm not sure it works for heterosexual couples, and I'm not sure either it works if I'm not settled in UK first. Which brings me to: what does "settled" mean, do I need a visa for that or is it just me working and living in UK for a few months? Are you are French national, resident in France? Settled in your case means having acquired Permanent Residence after 5 years of 'exercising your Treaty rights in the UK'.

2) Ask for a working visa as a "Dependant of current work permit holder" for her. But I never had to have a working visa as I'm from the EEA, so I don't know if that can work for me? Not relevant.

3) Ask for a Family of settled people visa as an unmarried couple. But same thing, I don't know what settled means, and it seems to easy. Well maybe because it costs £1500 to apply... which could be a problem too Assuming you don't have Permanent Residence in the UK, not possible under EEA Regulations, so not relevant. This is for those applying under UK Immigration Rules.

Please let me know what would seem the best option for you. The option doesn't have to be in my list by the way, I probably missed a lot of things. I am trying to get the maximum of informations I can get on our possibilities, and I have to admit that I am quite lost at the moment.

Thank you so much if you can help us a little bit!

Cheers,
Camille

[MrSandwich]

Hi, thanks for the answer!

Yes I am resident in France. Does that mean there is no way she could get a working visa except finding a company that sponsors her?

2) Ask for a working visa as a "Dependant of current work permit holder" for her. But I never had to have a working visa as I'm from the EEA, so I don't know if that can work for me? Not relevant.

Is the visa "not relevant", or the fact that I'm from the EEA so I can't ask for a working visa?

[CR001]

2) Ask for a working visa as a "Dependant of current work permit holder" for her. But I never had to have a working visa as I'm from the EEA, so I don't know if that can work for me? Not relevant.

Is the visa "not relevant", or the fact that I'm from the EEA so I can't ask for a working visa?[/quote]
The visa category is not relevant because you do not require or hold a work permit.

[MrSandwich]

Isn't it weird that if I were Brazilian I would need a working visa and therefore would be able to bring someone with me, but as I am french I just can't? Isn't there an equivalent of that "dependant" thing for EEA citizens?

And if not, are there any solutions for us beside getting married or finding a company to sponsor her?

Thanks

[CR001]

Isn't it weird that if I were Brazilian I would need a working visa and therefore would be able to bring someone with me, but as I am french I just can't? Isn't there an equivalent of that "dependant" thing for EEA citizens?

And if not, are there any solutions for us beside getting married or finding a company to sponsor her?

Thanks

There is but you have to prove durable relationship and if you live in France and she lives in Argentina, it is difficult.

If you marry, it is simple to apply for an EEA family permit to come to the UK.

[noajthan]

Isn't it weird that if I were Brazilian I would need a working visa and therefore would be able to bring someone with me, but as I am french I just can't? Isn't there an equivalent of that "dependant" thing for EEA citizens?

And if not, are there any solutions for us beside getting married or finding a company to sponsor her?

Thanks

There is no boyfriend/girlfriend path under EU rules. If you were married or in a durable relationship 'akin to marriage' it would be very straightforward.

Edit: beaten to it by CR001

[MrSandwich]

There is but you have to prove durable relationship and if you live in France and she lives in Argentina, it is difficult.

She's living with me in France since January, before that I lived one year with her in Buenos Aires and we also consider getting a civil union. Do you think this is not enough to prove a durable relationship? And just to be sure, which visa would that be? Thank you so much.

I also read on another topic that she could be able to work 20 hours a week with a student visa. The topic was about an American girl though, so I don't know if the same visa works for Argentinian people. Do you think that could be an option?

Thanks again

[noajthan]

There is but you have to prove durable relationship and if you live in France and she lives in Argentina, it is difficult.

She's living with me in France since January, before that I lived one year with her in Buenos Aires and we also consider getting a civil union. Do you think this is not enough to prove a durable relationship? And just to be sure, which visa would that be? Thank you so much.

I also read on another topic that she could be able to work 20 hours a week with a student visa. The topic was about an American girl though, so I don't know if the same visa works for Argentinian people. Do you think that could be an option?

Thanks again

UK student visas (tier 4) work for Argentinians just the same as for Americans.

I'm not referring to a 'visa' - its free movement rights under the Directive as applied to an unmarried partner;
ie an extended family member in EU terms.

Note HO tends to play hardball and will want to see two years or more of evidence of a durable relationship (although this is not actually required as per the purer, cleaner EU law). 18 months or so as boyfriend/girlfriend may not fly.

You can dig into this vital question in HO guidance here to see how a caseworker will assess your case:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _clean.pdf
- see page 13+

[noajthan]

@adgyt, English only - thanks.

Suggest open own topic with own question - in English.