Have partner of a settled person living abroad...

[olro]

I am natural British Citizen, living and working in China. My wife is Chinese, we married in the UK on a marriage visa, she also has US permanent resident status. We are both financially above average when it comes to income thresholds for UK etc. We don't want to move to the UK just yet, but do want to get the cogs in motion for her to become a British Citizen.

Without both living in the UK, we would visit around 5 times a year, is it possible to obtain the "partner of a settled person" visa, so then at least we can get closer to applying for the ILR visa in 5 years?

If not - what other options towards expediting citizenship would I have?

[Casa]

Visiting won't clock up any time for permanent residence (ILR) or British citizenship. The only way your wife would be able to qualify for either is to apply for a spouse settlement visa and reside in the UK for 5 years. Once ILR is granted she could apply for British Citizenship as the spouse of a BC, assuming she meets all the standard conditions.

[Wanderer]

I am natural British Citizen, living and working in China. My wife is Chinese, we married in the UK on a marriage visa, she also has US permanent resident status. We are both financially above average when it comes to income thresholds for UK etc. We don't want to move to the UK just yet, but do want to get the cogs in motion for her to become a British Citizen.

Without both living in the UK, we would visit around 5 times a year, is it possible to obtain the "partner of a settled person" visa, so then at least we can get closer to applying for the ILR visa in 5 years?

If not - what other options towards expediting citizenship would I have?

No shortcuts I'm afraid, one of the tenets is to intention to reside in the UK and you can't do that on visits.

[olro]

Okay - thank you both for the quick replies.