Bringing Non EEA Partner to Northern Ireland

[rdmt18]

Hi

I am looking for some advice on the possible ways I can bring my partner from Venezuela to either the UK, NI or ROI to live with me. I have done a lot of reading and I am familiar with the British Visa options & the Surinder Singh route (although I am not fully clear about the 'Center to Life' adjustments) but it is all very confusing. I would love to hear from people who been in my situation and their stories.

About Me
So I was born and live in Northern Ireland, and I have dual British/Irish citizenship although I consider myself an Irish citizen and hold an Irish passport however I previously held a British passport as a child at the choice of my parents. I am a full time student at University in Belfast, and only work part time. Because of my current situation and income status, it is not possible for my partner to enter UK using the British 'family of settled person' visa, due to the financial requirements.

About Us
I met my partner online a few years ago and after developing a strong online relationship he came to Dublin as a student where he studied English for a year and with a lot of travelling back and forward from Belfast to Dublin we had a great relationship. In March he returned to Venezuela, due to problems with the country where the government stopped all students oversees from exchanging any more money therefore they had to return home. We have maintained our relationship since and want to be together, we are planning for him to come back to Northern Ireland in Sept 2015 on a "marriage visitor visa" so we can become civil partners. My partner holds a graduate degree and is a qualified ICT teacher and intends to find a similar job here.

It is what we need to do after that step that I am unsure about. I assume the British visa options are out the windows as I can't meet the financial requirements at the moment. So I am looking towards the EEA Route and the Surinder Singh option. As I was born in N.I and have British/Irish citizenship it is all very confusing.

I have read about how people with similar circumstances as me have renounced their British citizenship to be recognised as Irish living in UK and exercising their EU rights to obtain a residence card and EEA family permit card for their partner. This seems to be my best option next to moving to another EU country, which would be a lot of hassle. Although I am aware we need to leave before his 6 month marriage visa expires, then re-enter another way.

I have also read about British citizens relocating to Ireland for 6 months to make use of the Surinder Singh option. But I am unsure if I can do this using my British citizenship as I hold Irish aswell. It seems a bit too easy that I can just cross the border for 6 months and come back with everything resolved.

Please if there is anyone who has been or is in the same situation can you give me any help or advice. Or recommend any solicitors in N.I who expertise in the immigration, also rough costs of using a solicitor as I have no idea about that.

Anything really.
Thanks

[jimmy110]

yes u can use surinder singh route in both UK and ROI but u have to make lots of docs for that as ur partner couple not a married couple. there is a solicitor in ROI whos deals with these type of cases. high rise services and co. +353 899436619.