Changing from Tier 2 General to Tier 2 Dependent. Please advise!!

[roophysio]

Hi all,

My situation: Currently on a Tier 2 General sponsored visa which is due to expire in November this year. I have been in the UK on this visa since January 2017. My girlfriend came over with me (originally on a Tier 5 visa) but has recently been sponsored as well. Her Tier 2 visa expires late 2020.

We don't know exactly how long we will be staying over here but it will most likely be until mid-late 2020. My current employer will most likely sponsor me again but I would ideally like the flexibility of working as a locum and therefore I'm exploring whether I can apply to go onto her visa as her dependent ASAP. I will have to pay the new visa fee + health surcharge etc anyway to stay.

We have been together since late 2014 and have evidence of 'cohabitation' in the form of joint tenancy agreements, council tax, utilities etc since arriving in the UK (i.e. >2 years). We also have a joint credit card and other joint bank account, photos, text messages etc. We will be able to get statements from friends and family. Funds are not an issue.

My questions are:
1. Is it possible to apply to go onto her visa as her dependent without leaving the UK?
2. Although I understand all cases are different, what are our chances of success considering we are not married / engaged?
3. Can I apply at any stage, or do I need to be closer to the end of my current visa?
4. Is there any particular evidence we require?

Thanks for any assistance.

[CR001]

1. Yes.

2. If you meet the requirements, including maintenance funds, there shouldn't be an issue.

3. Any stage.

4. Rock solid evidence of 2 years cohabitation in a relationship akin to marriage and maintenance funds held for minimum 90 days.

[roophysio]

Thanks for your advice CR001.

I'm interested in knowing if other people on here have gone down a similar path??... Especially the non-married/engaged dependent part. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Our greatest concern will be proving we are 'in a relationship akin to marriage'. We do plan on getting married down the track but have no such solidified plans at the moment. Actually proving this seems to be the biggest hurdle.

As I said we have photos and tenancy agreements and evidence of living together for >2 years and joint bank accounts. We don't have evidence of any great joint purchases like property. I presume statements from friends and family would be good supporting evidence but hardly infallible. Any other evidence / ideas that may help our case?

[CR001]

I'm interested in knowing if other people on here have gone down a similar path??... Especially the non-married/engaged dependent part. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Many have, within the UK and from abroad coming with their partners. The rules do not exclude you simply due to not being married.

Our greatest concern will be proving we are 'in a relationship akin to marriage'. We do plan on getting married down the track but have no such solidified plans at the moment. Actually proving this seems to be the biggest hurdle.

HO want to see evidence of joint financial commitments, responsibility and living together.

As I said we have photos and tenancy agreements and evidence of living together for >2 years and joint bank accounts.

Anything in joint names and individually addressed to each of you at the same address. Not photos. Tenancy, utilities, council tax, HMRC letters, NHS letters, TV Licence etc etc.

We don't have evidence of any great joint purchases like property.

There is no such requirement.

I presume statements from friends and family would be good supporting evidence but hardly infallible.

These would be disregarded and carry no weight as anyone could write a letter.

Any other evidence / ideas that may help our case?

See page 63/64 of the form below for information on what HO would expect to see as evidence of a committed relationship akin to marriage. Note the form is for the settlement route spouse or unmarried partner visa, so posted for information as it gives the clearest examples of what HO want.

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov ... -form-flrm

[roophysio]

Sorry this is a really stupid question..

But say I manage to get onto my girlfriend's visa, how does that work with my current employer??

I have a 3 month notice period. Am I able to keep working with them if I swap from my current Tier 2 visa to a dependent visa (i.e. they will no longer be sponsoring my stay)? Obviously I would want to wait and see whether I was successful before handing in my notice period.

Also, if I presume she has to have the 630 pounds in her account for the 90 days? There isn't any way that I can 'prove' that I would be able to support myself by sending my bank statements and payslips would there?

[CR001]

You would need to update your employer once have you have your new brp card.

You are free to carry on working for them or leave if you choose.

You need to meet the 90 days maintenance fund with either of your bank accounts or a joint account.

[roophysio]

I’m just looking at the process of applying online.

I presume I use the visas-immigration.service.gov.uk site as I am applying from inside the UK?

The only thing is that when I get to the section that asks ‘Which visa or permission to stay has **partner’s name** applied for or been granted?’ the drop down menu has:
Tier 2 general leave to remain
Tier 2 sportsperson
Tier 2 minister of religion, and
A heap of Tier 2 intra-company transfer options.

I presume as she has been granted a tier 2 sponsorship PBS visa it would be the first option??

[roophysio]

Sorry another question.

Does my GF need to have a certain number of months left on her passport when I apply?

Her passport expires in June next year.

[CR001]

No.

[roophysio]

Cheers CR001. I read somewhere that she needed at least 6 months on it to apply.

Any advice regarding my previous question?

Many thanks for your help so far.

[CR001]

Cheers CR001. I read somewhere that she needed at least 6 months on it to apply.

There is no such requirement for passport validity. It is your passport that must be valid at the date of application.

Previous question, if she is tier 2 general then that is what you select. If she is shortage occupation, you select that if not you dont and select the non shortage option.

[roophysio]

Thank you.

It’s just the wording of the question.

She has a sponsored Tier 2 visa (not shortage occupation) so she has been granted ‘leave to remain’ on that basis but obviously not ILR. Her visa expires late next year so it’s only temporary. Most of the advice out there relates to dependents of those with ILR, or are British residents / ancestor passport holders etc.

I hope the fact that we are only looking to stay for a short time more in the UK won’t count against our application.

[CR001]

I hope the fact that we are only looking to stay for a short time more in the UK won’t count against our application.

It won't. You are perhaps overthinking a bit. You simply need to meet the requirements.

[roophysio]

Does anyone know / have any problems supplying proof of address documents that have been printed from various official sites?

For instance a lot of our bills - Thames Water, British Gas, TV licence etc are paperless. The statements are online with our names and address. I was hoping we could print them off to use as evidence.

[CR001]

You upload/scan onto the UKCVAS Sopra Steria site. You don't post documents.

[roophysio]

Hi again,

Is there a link somewhere on this forum with rough timelines for this particular visa? I would like to have a general idea how many weeks to expect I will be unable to travel outside the UK while waiting for a new visa/BRP.

Also, obviously I will need to make an appointment to have my biometrics taken again after applying online. Will I need to make an appointment at a special visa centre (like the one in Croydon) or can this be done at certain post offices?

Thanks again

[CR001]

How long it takes depends on what service you choose and pay for, ie £800 for super priority service or much less for standard.

The standard service is within 8 weeks. Super priority can be within 24 hours to 5 days.

You need to book an appointment at the ukcvas sopra steria Centre wherever you are located.

[roophysio]

Thanks.

Is my start date for my existing visa the date of issue on my BRP?

[CR001]

The date it was approved and issued, which might be different to the brp date.

[roophysio]

I’ve completely forgotten where to find that.

I have an issued date on my BRP, a date on my vignette, and a starting work date on my CoS.

[CR001]

Date on your visa vignette is the one.

[roophysio]

Cheers, thanks for that. I found my original letter where it said my UK visa had been successful - the date it mentioned was the same as on the vignette.

In terms of maintenance funds, I am going to prove that I have had the required amount for at least 90 days. Is it OK to scan the last online statements from my Lloyd’s bank account as evidence, or do you think I should get an official statement from the bank itself?

[CR001]

Official statement is likely better than a home printed online one.

[roophysio]

Can you book a UKVCAS appointment in advance or do you have to do it after you submit your application?

And all the evidence you upload to the electronic system - does this have to be notarised or signed by anyone? As I said most of my bills etc will be PDFs straight from the source (NHS, British gas etc)

[CR001]

Can you book a UKVCAS appointment in advance

No.

do you have to do it after you submit your application?

Yes.

And all the evidence you upload to the electronic system - does this have to be notarised or signed by anyone?

No.