£18600 threshold for Spouse Visa - Help!

[irish0704]

Hello all.
I need some help and advice regarding the £18,600 rule for a UK citizen who wants to bring a non-EEA spouse to the UK.

I am in my final year of law and will hopefully be securing a 2 year solicitors traineeship as soon as I graduate. The problem is that the average first year salary is £17-18,000, short of the required 18,600. (and frustrating as in 2nd year it will go up to 20k). I have been with my partner for nearly 2 years (mostly long-distance) and eventually want to marry and begin our life together here.

My questions:
- If I secure a job for £17,000 and then take a weekend part time job to bring it up to 18,600, how long do I have to wait before I can apply? Some people say 6 months, others say 12 months.
- And what is it I am then applying for? A spouse visa? Are we able to marry prior to this (outside the UK?) How long does this usually take to clear after application?
- Finally, the other option with a 17,000 is to have 16,000 cash in your bank account for 6 months prior to applying? Is this correct? Is it acceptable for this to be a gift from a parent?

Any help would be much appreciated. I get more confused the more I look into this.

[secret.simon]

I am in my final year of law and will hopefully be securing a 2 year solicitors traineeship as soon as I graduate.

One of my former flatmates was a trainee solicitor and was earning £24,000. Once he completed his training phase, he jumped straight to a salary of £51,000 with guarenteed annual salary increases of £5000 till he reaches £71000. At 25, he has already purchased his own flat in a very nice area in London. You likely underestimate how much you will be earning.

Finally, the other option with a 17,000 is to have 16,000 cash in your bank account for 6 months prior to applying? Is this correct? Is it acceptable for this to be a gift from a parent?

You need more than £16,000 in your bank account. You will need to show a balance of £(16,000+((18600-your annual salary*2.5))). So, for instance, if you were earning £17,000, you would need £(16,000+(1,600*2.5)), i.e. £20,000 in your bank account for a minimum of six months.

I believe that a gift from your parents for that amount would be acceptable.

The course of true love never did run smooth.

[irish0704]

Thank you for the help

Sadly, I'm no so hopeful about the salary - however one never knows! Law Society of Scotlands recommended 1st year salary is £17,000. I know London pays a good few grand above. I will stay hopeful!

[secret.simon]

I did not realise that Scotland had solicitors. I thought it was advocates over there.

[Obie]

I did not realise that Scotland had solicitors. I thought it was advocates over there.

Advocates as the word indicates are the ones that speak on client's behalf.

Unfortunately solicitors in UK jurisdictions don't do that unless they hold the title of solicitors advocate.