FLR

[violet26]

Hello everyone, just wondered if i could get some idea of how successful our application would be, my partner is from algeria and is and overstayer of 15 years, never been in any trouble with the law, and we met over two years ago, i didnt know about his status to begin with but as we got to know each other more and realised we wanted to be together, he told me. It didnt change how i felt about him but he told me we would have a long journey before we could marry, i decided i wanted to make that journey. We have been to see an immigration solicitor and we are going to go for the FLR appliction based on our relationship. we were told that we need to show evidence of our cohabition which we didnt have, so we have started to set out our journey, changed all bills to both names, explained to most members of the family the situation. I am self employed and only just, so we are hoping to put in the application at the end of the year, which would give our evidence back 8 or 9 months, we have been together over 2 years, been living togethter 18 months but we didnt have any evidence so this is why we have now changed it all. The immigration solicitor told us that 70% of applications are rejected, can any of you tell us what our chances are, what other advice to help our application, time scales success stories, warnings etc, all we want to do is both work have holidays and get married and as the saying goes live happily ever after...lol....thanks in advance for any replies x

[Casa]

Without documented evidence of 2 year co-habitation even if your partner had legal status the application for an unmarried partner visa would stand little chance of success. I'm guessing that you intend to apply for a FLR(FP) visa, but without children together the application will be very weak. If you are able to meet the financial condition of £18,600 per annum you would stand a better chance if your partner returned to Algeria, you marry there and then apply for a spouse settlement visa.
Alternatively, Google Surinder Singh for the EEA route which doesn't set a minimum income level but does require you to re-locate to an EU state and take employment there, ideally for 12 months before returning together to the UK under EU regulations.

[violet26]

Yes the FLR(FP) we wont have 2 years documents, and we cant go back to his country cos i have commitments here, i have a business here and older children who need me, and i really dont want him to go back as it could take over a year to get him back here, and i have suffered with deppression in the past and dont want to get ill again. Now then you have mentioned children, i am actually pregnant with our first child together, would it be better to apply when the baby is born or can we apply beforehand and would it make much difference to his application, we are engaged and want to get married. Thanks for your reply x

[Casa]

You'll have a far stronger application once your baby is born. If I were in your position I would wait until then before applying for FLR(FP).

[violet26]

Thank you CASA for your replies, just to give you an update, we have lost our baby, just a few weeks after my last post. However we are now thinking about the SS route and joining my partners family in Paris were i can work and we can stay there for a while and also get married while we are there, although there is a couple of things we are not sure about, can you please help us with a few questions, as we dont know were else to get this sort of information:

If we go through this route can my partner renew his passport?
once we are there can we travel back to the UK for short family visit, or can we visit Algeria, or does he have to stay in Paris?
would i have to have a minimum salary requirement or savings?
Would we deffinately be able to marry in Paris (subject to living in france for the required time according to french marriage laws)?
Can my partner apply for a work permit of any sort or would he still not be able to work while in Paris?

Any replies would be helpful and anyone wanting to give there contact details who may be able to give us more advice would be very much appreciated.

Thank you