SPOUSE VISA (wife is from egypt)

[jonjon555]

Hello everyone, I have been visiting my partner in Egypt for almost 10 years now, we married last year in EGYPT and decided the back end of this year would be when we try to have her move here.

She has never been to the UK before and has never applied for a visa here, we are not sure what path would be the correct path, which is the first of my questions.

Would it be better to apply for a 6 month visa and if she is successful, attempt to extend it to a spouse visa whilst she is here? Or would it be better to just apply for the spouse visa from the off? I know its more expensive that way but I wouldnt want her to be here and not be accepted for the visa change/extension?

We are not worried about the actual documents needed for proof etc and all of the requirements, I have read through various posts and i believe we tick every box and can provide what is needed along the way.

But a little advice on that would be much appreciated.

I know this next part technically isnt UK related as its Ireland but its sort of entwined so I'm hoping its allowed.

The final question, assuming a visa is granted either way, we have 2 cats that we want to bring to the UK, neither of us want to have them on a plane as cargo but the UK doesnt allow you to fly with pets in the CABIN, so i have been looking at our options and I think going to Dublin first and then taking a ferry into Holyhead would be the easiest option but I'm just stuck on the process of visas from Dublin.

Lets say my wife has her UK visa, I'm assuming she would need an irish visitors visa (not a transit) to enter Dublin and leave via the ferry to the UK.

Would she be able to apply for the Irish visa, somehow showing that she would only be transiting on to the UK via the seaport? (do they care if she hasnt actually had the visa stamped into the passport at this point? I'm assuming that would be done at the ferry side of things?)

Any advice on this would be great! And yes i know just checking them in the hold would make more sense to the majority but its not an option for us so we are just trying to find an alternative for that whole headache, assuming we get past the first headache of being approved the UK VISA to begin with!

[Ticktack]

Hello everyone, I have been visiting my partner in Egypt for almost 10 years now, we married last year in EGYPT and decided the back end of this year would be when we try to have her move here.

She has never been to the UK before and has never applied for a visa here, we are not sure what path would be the correct path, which is the first of my questions. This vastly depends on your immigration status here in the UK.

Would it be better to apply for a 6 month visa and if she is successful, attempt to extend it to a spouse visa whilst she is here? Or would it be better to just apply for the spouse visa from the off? I know its more expensive that way but I wouldnt want her to be here and not be accepted for the visa change/extension? Your assumption is right. She cannot extend a visitors visa to a spouse visa. The expensive way is the only way. Others have been paying this for a long time as well. No shortcuts.

We are not worried about the actual documents needed for proof etc and all of the requirements, I have read through various posts and i believe we tick every box and can provide what is needed along the way.

But a little advice on that would be much appreciated.

I know this next part technically isnt UK related as its Ireland but its sort of entwined so I'm hoping its allowed.

The final question, assuming a visa is granted either way, we have 2 cats that we want to bring to the UK, neither of us want to have them on a plane as cargo but the UK doesnt allow you to fly with pets in the CABIN, so i have been looking at our options and I think going to Dublin first and then taking a ferry into Holyhead would be the easiest option but I'm just stuck on the process of visas from Dublin. It's pretty much the same way as applying for a visitors visa for any country. Show proof of funds, show hotel reservation.

Lets say my wife has her UK visa, I'm assuming she would need an irish visitors visa (not a transit) to enter Dublin and leave via the ferry to the UK. Correct, visitors visa required.

Would she be able to apply for the Irish visa, somehow showing that she would only be transiting on to the UK via the seaport? (do they care if she hasnt actually had the visa stamped into the passport at this point? I'm assuming that would be done at the ferry side of things?) Hard to explain what you don't have. Treat the Irish visa application as a holiday in Ireland for a day or 2.

Any advice on this would be great! And yes i know just checking them in the hold would make more sense to the majority but its not an option for us so we are just trying to find an alternative for that whole headache, assuming we get past the first headache of being approved the UK VISA to begin with!

[jonjon555]

Thank you for taking the time to post, I appreciate it.

I forgot to mention I'm a British Citizen, born here, lived here all my life.

Thank you for all the advice on the Dublin situation, we will take your suggestion and treat it like a 2 day vacation!

[jonjon555]

Hello everyone, I have been visiting my partner in Egypt for almost 10 years now, we married last year in EGYPT and decided the back end of this year would be when we try to have her move here.

She has never been to the UK before and has never applied for a visa here, we are not sure what path would be the correct path, which is the first of my questions. This vastly depends on your immigration status here in the UK.

Would it be better to apply for a 6 month visa and if she is successful, attempt to extend it to a spouse visa whilst she is here? Or would it be better to just apply for the spouse visa from the off? I know its more expensive that way but I wouldnt want her to be here and not be accepted for the visa change/extension? Your assumption is right. She cannot extend a visitors visa to a spouse visa. The expensive way is the only way. Others have been paying this for a long time as well. No shortcuts.

We are not worried about the actual documents needed for proof etc and all of the requirements, I have read through various posts and i believe we tick every box and can provide what is needed along the way.

But a little advice on that would be much appreciated.

I know this next part technically isnt UK related as its Ireland but its sort of entwined so I'm hoping its allowed.

The final question, assuming a visa is granted either way, we have 2 cats that we want to bring to the UK, neither of us want to have them on a plane as cargo but the UK doesnt allow you to fly with pets in the CABIN, so i have been looking at our options and I think going to Dublin first and then taking a ferry into Holyhead would be the easiest option but I'm just stuck on the process of visas from Dublin. It's pretty much the same way as applying for a visitors visa for any country. Show proof of funds, show hotel reservation.

Lets say my wife has her UK visa, I'm assuming she would need an irish visitors visa (not a transit) to enter Dublin and leave via the ferry to the UK. Correct, visitors visa required.

Would she be able to apply for the Irish visa, somehow showing that she would only be transiting on to the UK via the seaport? (do they care if she hasnt actually had the visa stamped into the passport at this point? I'm assuming that would be done at the ferry side of things?) Hard to explain what you don't have. Treat the Irish visa application as a holiday in Ireland for a day or 2.

Any advice on this would be great! And yes i know just checking them in the hold would make more sense to the majority but its not an option for us so we are just trying to find an alternative for that whole headache, assuming we get past the first headache of being approved the UK VISA to begin with!

Thanks again for everything you have said, I just had another thought, if she was to apply for a visa for Ireland, what would we do about the parts where you have to provide proof of plans to return home, because she would be traveling on to the UK to stay there long term.

[Ticktack]

Thanks again for everything you have said, I just had another thought, if she was to apply for a visa for Ireland, what would we do about the parts where you have to provide proof of plans to return home, because she would be traveling on to the UK to stay there long term.

Correct me if I'm wrong
1. You plan to use the Irish route because of your pet? Correct?
2. You plan to apply for Irish visa before applying for UK spouse visa? Correct?

If the above are true, when applying for Irish visa, you don't need to show that you're going back to Egypt. Because the only way to do that is with a return ticket. Which you can't buy until you're granted the visa.

You might however need to prove at the POE that you're going to the UK from Ireland.
At that juncture, she would already have her UK visa and onward ticket to the UK. So no problems.

[jonjon555]

Thanks again for everything you have said, I just had another thought, if she was to apply for a visa for Ireland, what would we do about the parts where you have to provide proof of plans to return home, because she would be traveling on to the UK to stay there long term.

Correct me if I'm wrong
1. You plan to use the Irish route because of your pet? Correct?
2. You plan to apply for Irish visa before applying for UK spouse visa? Correct?

If the above are true, when applying for Irish visa, you don't need to show that you're going back to Egypt. Because the only way to do that is with a return ticket. Which you can't buy until you're granted the visa.

You might however need to prove at the POE that you're going to the UK from Ireland.
At that juncture, she would already have her UK visa and onward ticket to the UK. So no problems.

Yes exactly, Thank you, I was just a little unsure as I always thought you had to "prove" you were returning home and in this scenario Ireland is merely a detour for the pets scenario, but I understand your reply, thanks!