Immigrationboards.com

Hey everyone!

I have been reading around the boards, trying to gather as much information as I can but I finally decided to ask directly as everyone's situation varies. I am sorry if this question has been asked before, I couldn't find the answers that's why I have decided to ask myself.

I am a 32 year old guy living in Pakistan who was in UK on student visa (Tier 4) since from 2014 to January 2019. I managed to get a higher diploma, an undergrad degree and a postgraduate degree from University of Stirling in Scotland. In June 2016, I met this Italian girl in UK and we instantly fell in love. It felt as if she was the right one I had been waiting all my life for. I used to live in a student flat off campus and she moved into that flat as well to live for 4 months (she was also a student at the same university doing her postgraduate). The student flat had 9 bedrooms so she had her own room as well.

Anyways, we started dating and soon were in a serious relation, time moves on, my lease ended in September 2016 and I moved out to another 4 bedroom flat with my mates and my partner moved into my room. Anyways, in June 2017 she got herself a 1 bedroom flat and I officially moved in with her and we lived in that flat together from June 2017 till 8th January 2019. She was doing a full time job and I was doing my postgraduate. Since as a student I didn't have to pay council tax, I never asked her to put my name on the flat she had rented. But my university correspondence address was changed and also my bank address.

We have a lot of mutual friends from our university as well as locals who knew about our relation and that we were living together as partners. So now we have finally decided to apply for EEA settlement unmarried partner visa. My question is what piece of evidence is essential to make a stronger case? We have been in a genuine relation since 2016, started living together from 2017 to January 2019. Even though my name was not on the flat rent but the property agency was informed her partner moved in with her. Like I said I got my university mailing address changed as well as my bank address. We both have worked part time at a place together legally and I am sure our boss can vouch for us as well. We have lots of mutual friends who used to come over and even stay over at our place at the weekends. We have got lots of chats on Whatsapp, Facebook as a proof and we have tons of pictures we have taken since we met.

By presenting our social media chats, providing my mailing address, my bank address, pictures and some testimonies from our mutual friends is it going to be enough to make a strong case in front of the immigration officer? Is there any other piece of evidence you guys recommend we should gather?

I hope I have put in as much detail as I could think of, if there is something still missing I would happy answer back. We are confident about this visa as we are certain we have a genuine relation and we are not hiding anything. But is this enough to convince the immigration officer?

Oh and a week ago, my partner has also been confirmed 'Pre-settled status' as a qualified person to remain in UK till 2024 (even after Brexit). She will have done her 5 years stay in September 2020 and will apply for citizenship afterwards.

Looking forward to your precious comments and feedbacks, thanks a lot for taking out the time to read all this.

Bless yous!

Bahadarali wrote: ↑

Sun May 12, 2019 7:12 pm

My question is what piece of evidence is essential to make a stronger case?

The better question is, do you actually qualify for the unmarried partner route (either EEA or Settled Status)?

If you have not shared any joint financial commitments with your girlfriend, it doesn't look like your application will be successful. Note that it is not only a matter of your relationship being genuine, it also has to be 'akin to marriage'.

You might be interested in reading this other member's experience of unmarried partner application rejected precisely on that basis here, where feedback from the caseworker read:

You have failed to provide any evidence of cohabitation in joint names. Although you have provided some documents in separate names as evidence of you and your sponsor residing at the same address, these are deemed insufficient and while they may indicate that you and your sponsor share the same address, they don't demonstrate that the relationship is genuine.

You have failed to provide any evidence of joint finances, commitments, responsibilities the form of joint tenancy agreement or mortgage statements, joint bank statements, council tax Bill's naming you both as residents and utility Bill's in joint names.

So looks like even living together for a very long time, but never sharing any financial responsibilities might likely not be regraded as 'aking to mariage', even if providing proof or common address.

Also, note that unmarried partners who do not already have a EEA Residence Card do not qualify for the Settlement Scheme.

If you’re their unmarried (durable) partner
You must hold a relevant document issued to you under the EEA Regulations on the basis that you’re the durable partner of an EU citizen.

If you sort out the joint financial commitment requirement above, you would need to go for the old EEA Family Permit route.