Unmarried Partner Visa

[lkpone]

Hi

I hope someone will be able to help me!

I'm due to apply for my Unmarried Partner Visa in January 2009 and I just want to confirm that I have everything in order. I am wanting to make the application in person at Croydon, so that we can get a same-day service.

1. I am currently on a student visa, valid until January 2010.

2. I am South African, my partner is English - am I right that I can apply in-country, since he is settled here (has been his whole life)?

3. The documents I have in MY NAME ONLY for the full two years (and slightly over) are: bank statements; pay slips. I have phone statements, but only from July 2007 and O2 aren't able to supply me with any duplicates for earlier statements, as they have deleted the records, but the O2 direct debits appear on my bank statements from December 2006. They may be willing to supply me with a letter confirming their inability to supply duplicates, because of the deletion of previous records, but I'm just waiting to see if they'll do this for me.

4. The documents he has in HIS NAME ONLY for the full two years (and slightly over) are: bank statements; previous tenancy agreement for the property; various utility bills since 2005 - at least 2 or 3.

5. The documents that we have in our JOINT NAMES are: tenancy agreements (for the full 2 years); home insurance (since July 2007); joint bank account (since July 2007).

6. I am sitting the Life In The UK test next weekend, so will have my confirmation letter for that.

I need advice as to whether this is enough. The application form states some 'examples' of accepted documents and all of these are on there, but I'm not sure if this is an exhaustive list and whether my pay slips with my address on them will be accepted as a document as proof of address as well as the required proof of income.

It also states that we must give reasons why any joint statements aren't for the full two years and I will confirm there that we only took out home insurance in July 2007 for the first time. We also only decided in June 2007 to open a joint bank account for bills.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks so much!!

[John]

I think all that looks fine .... sufficient evidence that the two of you will have lived together for at least two years.

Do appreciate that you do not need a pass certificate from the Life in the UK Citizenship test, for this particular application. That will only become relevant when you apply for ILR, and by then .... early 2011 ... the law may have changed.

[lkpone]

Do appreciate that you do not need a pass certificate from the Life in the UK Citizenship test, for this particular application. That will only become relevant when you apply for ILR, and by then .... early 2011 ... the law may have changed.

REALLY? On the form SET(M) it asks either for a Life in the UK Test pass or an ESOL Certificate (which I don't need) or both - it doesn't give any indication that this is not needed for settlement for unmarried partners. I've also read that any settlement visa requires this now. I guess there's no harm in doing it anyway just to be safe.

One more q if possible - on the tenancy agreements, is it better to show just my partner and I, or is it okay to show housemates on it too? We have a two bedroom place, the second room is rented out as well, but my landlord is prepared to do duplicate tenancy agreements with just our names on them if necessary. Which would be best?

Thanks so much for your help!

[jei2]

SET(M)?

You should be using form FLR(M). See the link below for more information.


http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukresi ... pe/flr(m)/

[lkpone]

Oh my gosh, thanks so much!!! I was wondering how my application was different to those who have to return home to apply for entry clearance.

Thanks so much, that's saved me a lot of hassle from turning up with the wrong form - it doesn't make it too obvious on the UKBA website cause I looked up 'unmarried partner visa' and that form came up as the one to use.

Just last q I have is the names on the tenancy agreements - any advice on whether to submit ones showing housemates or to rather have duplicate originals from the landlord with just our names on them, would be great!

Thanks!

[sakura]

Oh my gosh, thanks so much!!! I was wondering how my application was different to those who have to return home to apply for entry clearance.

Thanks so much, that's saved me a lot of hassle from turning up with the wrong form - it doesn't make it too obvious on the UKBA website cause I looked up 'unmarried partner visa' and that form came up as the one to use.

Just last q I have is the names on the tenancy agreements - any advice on whether to submit ones showing housemates or to rather have duplicate originals from the landlord with just our names on them, would be great!

Thanks!

How old are you both?

[lkpone]

I'll be 29 and my partner will be 36 by January when we apply. It's a privately tenanted property.

Thanks.

[lkpone]

Just last q I have is the names on the tenancy agreements - any advice on whether to submit ones showing housemates or to rather have duplicate originals from the landlord with just our names on them, would be great!

Thanks!

Anyone able to help me out with this one?

Thanks!