Unmarried Partners

[Sue]

Hi there,

Yet another unmarried partners question, but I promise it's slightly different than those previously discussed. I'm a Canadian citizen with a Working Holidaymaker visa valid until March 2007. I live in UK with my Canadian boyfriend who has the enviable British passport, and we both have fulltime permanent jobs. I moved here January 2005 and he joined me in May. We have been together for almost 6 years, however we have only been living together since May 2005 with official documentation starting July 2005. Marriage isn't an option for the near future, although it is inevitable, and my work will not sponsor me, so my questions are:

- How strict are the rules for living together for 2 years? As mentioned, we have only have documentation starting July 2005 but my visa expires March 2007.
- If there is leniancy, what type of evidence will be necessary to prove that we have been together for 5+ years, ie - photos, affidavits from both our parents, etc?

Any advice and suggestions are most welcome. Thank you.

[Wanderer]

I'm sure it's a strict requirement for 24 months.


My gf and I consider ourselves as 'together' from March 2004 but we know it won't wash with UPV since half of the ensuing months were not continuous. Only since Jul 2005 have we lived together in an 'official' documented manner, same as you.

I suppose you can return to UK on visitors visa after your WHM expires to make up the 2 years? I know this happens and it seem even illegal stay can count toward the 24 months period for UPV. I must admit this irked us somewhat as we strive to do this legally...

Steve

[ppron747]

You might like to have a look at para 13.14 of the Visas "Diplomatic Service Procedures" (=staff instructions) on the UKVisas website which goes into rather more detail than the public-facing guidance.