HELP!! Girlfriend wants to move from Australia to UK

[choice DJ]

Hi all, first post here

My girlfriend is from Sydney, Australia. I am British, was born, have lived and worked in the UK all my life. Basically she wants to look into moving here permanently and id like to get some advice or storys from other readers who have also done this.

She is 35 and has a full time job in Australia, the company she works for actually does have a branch in the UK, i wasnt sure if this would be of help to us as far as a possible transfer might be concerned, this is something we havnt looked into internally at this stage.

As exciting as this process is, its also emotional and there are issues that we understand will be hard to overcome, we dont expect the process to be easy but just need a clear idea of a timeframe and what to expect.

One of our major hurdles is the fact that she is very close to her family and on my side i have children at a young age. We both realise that if we want to spend the rest of our life together then this is something we have to try to overcome or at least accomodate into the structure of our new life. My feelings are that in order for us to have a life together rather than a long distance relationship is that she would need to relocate here with a view to taking extended holidays in Aus several times a year because of the age of my children initially. This would probably need to be the case for around 15 years until both children are at an adult age. My girlfriends concern at that is that she will miss her family which is totally understandable and over a period of 15 years her parents will then be in their mid 70s.

Our other concerns are how long a visa would take to be granted. The problems that could arise from obtaining a visa, things that we hadnt considered that could cause a problem for her to get a visa..although i dont know of any. I dont know on what basis a visa to live and work in the uk is granted or denied!

We have been together for quite a while now and have been talking about this for about a year but are now sure we want to proceed to the next stage. We are really at the outset so would appreciate any advice that anybody could give us really. It is also our intention to get married one day but I doubt in the current climate that this would have any effect due to the scams that have arisen in the past.


Thanks in advance

Phil & Fiona

[Casa]

Unless you decide you want to marry and apply for a fiance visa (6 months in which to marry in the UK), or marry in Australia and apply for a spouse visa to settle here, her only other options are to apply for a work or student visa.

[andyb123]

she can come to the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, although she wouldn't be able to work legally

it would at least give you a chance to explore the relationship and decide if you want to get married - for other nationalities you can't apply for a spouse visa if you have a visit visa... but australians don't need a visa so I'm not sure if she would be able to apply for a spouse visa when already here...

her other option would be to transfer inside the company if that was even possible, although the company would need to show that they couldn't find a british national to fill the post

[Casa]

If she enters initially on a visitor visa and decides to marry and apply for a spouse visa she has 3 options:
1. Apply for a Certificate of Approval from the Home Office, once granted, marry and then return to Australia to apply for a Spouse visa (£585).
2. Return to Australia, marry there and apply for a spouse visa to re-enter (£585)
3. Return to Australia, apply for a fiancee visa (fee applicable) and then re-enter the UK, marry within 6 months, apply for Further Leave to Remain as spouse (£665 in person, £445 by post).
She would be unable to switch from visitor to spouse from within the UK.

[choice DJ]

If she enters initially on a visitor visa and decides to marry and apply for a spouse visa she has 3 options:
1. Apply for a Certificate of Approval from the Home Office, once granted, marry and then return to Australia to apply for a Spouse visa (£585).
2. Return to Australia, marry there and apply for a spouse visa to re-enter (£585)
3. Return to Australia, apply for a fiancee visa (fee applicable) and then re-enter the UK, marry within 6 months, apply for Further Leave to Remain as spouse (£665 in person, £445 by post).
She would be unable to switch from visitor to spouse from within the UK.

Cheers for that info. Is the main reason for all this re-entering etc an opportunity to make money or is there a more structured reason for it?

[djb123]

If she enters initially on a visitor visa and decides to marry and apply for a spouse visa she has 3 options:
1. Apply for a Certificate of Approval from the Home Office, once granted, marry and then return to Australia to apply for a Spouse visa (£585).
2. Return to Australia, marry there and apply for a spouse visa to re-enter (£585)
3. Return to Australia, apply for a fiancee visa (fee applicable) and then re-enter the UK, marry within 6 months, apply for Further Leave to Remain as spouse (£665 in person, £445 by post).
She would be unable to switch from visitor to spouse from within the UK.

Cheers for that info. Is the main reason for all this re-entering etc an opportunity to make money or is there a more structured reason for it?

As already mentioned by Casa it is impossible to switch as a visitor to a settlement visa whilst in the UK. Part of the conditions of entering as a visitor is that you will the leave the UK within 6 months.

[Wanderer]

If she enters initially on a visitor visa and decides to marry and apply for a spouse visa she has 3 options:
1. Apply for a Certificate of Approval from the Home Office, once granted, marry and then return to Australia to apply for a Spouse visa (£585).
2. Return to Australia, marry there and apply for a spouse visa to re-enter (£585)
3. Return to Australia, apply for a fiancee visa (fee applicable) and then re-enter the UK, marry within 6 months, apply for Further Leave to Remain as spouse (£665 in person, £445 by post).
She would be unable to switch from visitor to spouse from within the UK.

Cheers for that info. Is the main reason for all this re-entering etc an opportunity to make money or is there a more structured reason for it?

There is the money aspect - unfortunately we have to pay for all the abusers- the UKBA is no mickey-mouse outfit now, it costs a lot of money.

Plus re-entering was introduced to stop people jumping the queue as it where, a tactic common in the past as it's been traditionally easier to get a visa in country rather than out.