Subject to Immigration Control - UK

[ayyykc]

Hi, I am from the USA and have a girlfriend of 2 and half years that resides in the UK on a permanent resident status.

We are wanting to move in the UK together and are working our way towards obtaining the visa for that.
However, at the moment I can only stay in the UK up to 6 months. Naturally, I am subject to immigration control. I do not work currently, nor do I claim benefits, but I do have savings from when I worked in the USA to support myself until then.

She is currently claiming UC (universal credit) along with other benefits in place. From what I understand, she is to continue claiming as a single person and must to do so.

Question is - Can I live with her at her flat and it will not affect my immigration here in the UK (NRPF)? Or is it best to stay separately until we have my visa sorted just to be safe? I understand that she can't have her benefits increased due to my stay and that is what we are trying to avoid as to not affect my immigration in UK.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[alterhase58]

Being a visitor you are not meant to live in the UK. Using the visitor visa system specifically excludes residing in the UK through frequent visits. Even as a non visa national you are still required to abide by the visitor visa rules.
Your girlfriends UC is not relevant to your status.

[ayyykc]

So best to arrange it while not being in the UK?

Is there any way to arrange this while in the UK such as getting married and being able to stay with my girlfriend at her place while visa is in process?

[AmazonianX]

For visa national, you can not switch to fiancee or spouse visa while on a visit. Presume same will apply in your circumstances.
Either apply for fiancee visa, enter UK with it and get married or get married abroad and apply for spouse visa directly.
I stand to be corrected of error in the above.

[Ticktack]

Further to what has been stated above, you can stay at her place when you come visiting.
You cannot get married in the UK.
You cannot apply for visa whilst in the UK as a visitor.

However, you can apply for a Spouse visa from your country, request to hold on to passport (optional), possibly fly to the UK to see her (questions might be asked at the border based on this).
"But" you'd be required to exit the UK to go back to home country, submit passport and re-enter the UK. Hereby officially activating UK residency.