Using Visitor Visa as Opposed to Settlement Visa

[Iman230]

Hi,

Just a question to ask everyone out there. Say for instance - a Spouse who is a foreign national of origin has not turned the age required to join the Spouse in the UK using the Settlement option, what's to stop the Spouse from applying as a Visitor and then entering the UK for the period required (Re-newing the Visa) and then going back to the original country and re-applying using the Settlement route.

Can this be done?

[MPH80]

It's a sort of plan - except for 3 flaws I can think of ...

1) The visitor visa is going to be looked at very closely because of the spouse in the UK - so you're going to have to have very strong ties to the home country.

2) Visitor visas only allow you to spend 6 months in any 12 (that's the guidance) in the UK

3) You can't renew the visitor visa from the UK.

So it's going to cost a lot of money flying the spouse back and forth.

M.

[Iman230]

May as well just wait until the spouse becomes eligible....

Was just a thought whilst the Settlement visa was being arranged.

[MPH80]

Depends how far away from the age the spouse is ... if we're talking 20 and 6 months - it makes some sense (although you still have to prove it that they would return).

At (for example) 18 - it's such an expensive option.

But - in theory - the rules should change at some point soon to sort the age restriction out.