2 year rule for unmarried partners

[theos]

Hi all, and happy new year!

My partner and I will be living together for just short of two years when her current visa runs out. We'll be around 4 months short actually, and my question is how likely are they to grant the unmarried partner visa given the short time we have left? Unfortunately I suspect they are going to apply this rule strictly, and it would mean me quitting my job, going abroad with my partner for 4 months, apply there and later have to come back and piece our lives back together here. Also, I'm unsure how long it would take to have the visa granted from abroad.. could it mean us having to live abroad for a long time, potentially a year or more?

I don't think it'll even be possible for her to go home for 16 weeks while I remain here working, since we have to 'live' together for 2 years without a break in order to apply. Is there an option I'm not considering? What do you think about this?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[PaperPusher]

My partner and I will be living together for just short of two years when her current visa runs out. We'll be around 4 months short actually, and my question is how likely are they to grant the unmarried partner visa given the short time we have left?

Not a chance if you are using UK immigration rules.

What you need to do is look at the UK Border Agency website and apply when you do meet the requirements.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

The option you are missing is staying together on visit visas for now or getting married.

[ElenaW]

The two year cohabition rule is pretty much set in stone for the unmarried partner visa. Why not get married like paperpusher said?

[theos]

I thought that might be the case and we would need to wait till the two years are up.

We wouldn't want to have a 'marriage of convenience'. Maybe we'll have to go back to her country for 4 months wait it out then apply. Do you have any idea how long it would take to get an unmarried partner visa applying from abroad?

Regarding family visit visas... could we get one of those while she is still in country, to cover the 4 months before we could apply for the unmarried partner visa?

Thanks!

[ElenaW]

I thought that might be the case and we would need to wait till the two years are up.

We wouldn't want to have a 'marriage of convenience'. Maybe we'll have to go back to her country for 4 months wait it out then apply. Do you have any idea how long it would take to get an unmarried partner visa applying from abroad?

Regarding family visit visas... could we get one of those while she is still in country, to cover the 4 months before we could apply for the unmarried partner visa?

Thanks!

which country will you be applying from?

If you love each other and are going to get married anyways, I doubt this would be a marriage of convenience.