More Uk Visa problems for Unmarried partner in OZ

[comper100]

Hi all

Me and my girlfreind met in England in Febuary this year, when she (Ozzie) was working here on a working Visa. After that her and I went travelling as part of her way back to Australia, a few months passed and i then went to Oz on a visitors visa for 3 months to trevel and of course see her. I came back in August and the plan now is for my girlfreind to come back to the Uk to live with me in october and work until we have enough money to do more travelling and hopefully buy a place in Oz this time next year sometime. As she has used her working Visa here she legally cannot work anymore in the Uk. I have looked into the De-facto visa option and it says you have to have been together 2 years. However we have not been together that long so how do i go about it, i need to work at home in the Uk as i have a good source of income there and obviously don't want to spend an eternity away from my partner...She doesn't mind coming over to see me but she would rather earn some money while she was here as well.

I've scoured forums and asked alorts of people, but most say oh "just get married", all very well but we don't want to do it just "because".

Unfortunatly she doesn't have any grandparents with UK passport nor does she want to come over to study (on student visa) as she is settled in her work as a childcare/nusery nurse.
Could she get a work permit at all, i'm not sure???

What are our options guys? Any help greatly appreciated.

[John]

I think you have correctly summed up the problems you face.

In the "clutching at straws" category, you don't actually post your nationality? British? Or another EEA nationality? If so, might you go and live and work in another EEA country, for example, Ireland, and your girlfriend might get a visitor visa to stay there for a few months?

Apart from that and the obvious "get married" comment! But you are absolutely right, no one should ever get married simply to ease a visa situation.

[comper100]

Sorry yeah i'm a UK Citizen, I suppose i could go to Ireland so that she could get a working Visa there but to be fair if i was going to leave to work elsewhere i'd rather go to Oz and use my working Visa there. The thing is at the moment the "sensible" thing to do is for me to work here for atleast a year to get some experience in engineering as i graduated from Uni last year. I know i already qualify to go to Oz, but i really need to stay in the Uk just for now.

I suppose she could just get a 6 month visitor visa again and just spend time with me that way for a short time, until either A: we get married, or B i go over there to live and work....

Its so tough...

Would there be any chance of her getting a work permit or some sort of sponsorship for being a childcare assistant?? Somehow i doubt it....

[John]

Would there be any chance of her getting a work permit or some sort of sponsorship for being a childcare assistant?? Somehow i doubt it....

So do I! In order to get a work permit the job type has to be on the occupational shortage list, that does not apply here, or advertise their vacancy on just in the UK but also elsewhere in the EEA, and failed to find a suitable applicant. So no, forget it, no chance of a WP for your girlfriend.

Sponsorship? I don't think that category exists.

[comper100]

Didn't think so, no worries. Thanks for your help.

[JAJ]

I think you have correctly summed up the problems you face.

In the "clutching at straws" category, you don't actually post your nationality? British? Or another EEA nationality? If so, might you go and live and work in another EEA country, for example, Ireland, and your girlfriend might get a visitor visa to stay there for a few months?

She could also visit the UK, I'm not sure what the OP going to another EEA country would achieve.

[comper100]

Yeah she might as well just come for a holiday on her 6 month visa thing...its the only way i think.