Settlement Visa

[MahomedJooma]

I am a South African with a South African passport. I have a settlement visa (as per my visa on my passport) which is due to expire in June 2007. My wife is my sponsor. we are still married. What do i need to do if i intend staying here on a permanant basis.

[JAJ]

I am a South African with a South African passport. I have a settlement visa (as per my visa on my passport) which is due to expire in June 2007. My wife is my sponsor. we are still married. What do i need to do if i intend staying here on a permanant basis.

Where are you now? (ie, where's "here")?

And is your visa an Indefinite Leave to Enter visa, or is it a 2 year spouse visa?

[MahomedJooma]

I am a South African with a South African passport. I have a settlement visa (as per my visa on my passport) which is due to expire in June 2007. My wife is my sponsor. we are still married. What do i need to do if i intend staying here on a permanant basis.

Where are you now? (ie, where's "here")?

And is your visa an Indefinite Leave to Enter visa, or is it a 2 year spouse visa?

"here" means U.K. Im sure its a 2 year spouse visa

[JAJ]

"here" means U.K. Im sure its a 2 year spouse visa

Then you will definitely need to make a new application around 28 days prior to your existing visa expiring. For Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you qualify, or Further Leave to Remain (FLR) if not.

Start at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

[John]

MahomedJooma, did you enter the UK using that 2-year spouse visa? If so, can you post the exact date you entered the UK?

Given that you will be applying for ILR May or June, do you appreciate that you need to pass the Citizenship Test before you can apply for ILR? Have you started studying for that test?

[MahomedJooma]

"here" means U.K. Im sure its a 2 year spouse visa

Then you will definitely need to make a new application around 28 days prior to your existing visa expiring. For Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you qualify, or Further Leave to Remain (FLR) if not.

Start at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Do i contact the home office? Can i have some details as to which department i need to contact?

[MahomedJooma]

MahomedJooma, did you enter the UK using that 2-year spouse visa? If so, can you post the exact date you entered the UK?

Given that you will be applying for ILR May or June, do you appreciate that you need to pass the Citizenship Test before you can apply for ILR? Have you started studying for that test?

I think i entered on 19th june 2005 using the 2 year spouse visa. I didnt know about the citizenship test. Nor have i started studying for it. Could you enlighten me about this test. How can i study for it?

[John]

If you first entered the UK using that spouse visa on 19.06.05, the earliest you can apply for ILR is 28 days before the 2nd anniversary of that date, namely 22.05.07 ... and the latest date is the actual expiry date of the visa.

Given that you will be applying for ILR after 01.04.07 it will be a requirement that you enclose a pass certificate from the Citizenship Test when you apply for your ILR. A Study Guide mentioned here is recommended. Buy it soon and then study, and take your test before the end of March. I say that because in April a new version of the test is being introduced, but details of that will not be released for another month.