Urgent help needed... emergency extension of visitor visa

[Bronwyn]

Hi,

I am a NZ citizen and my partner of 14 years is a UK citizen. We originally met in the UK while I was on a working holiday in 2000/2001 but have been living together in Australia/NZ since Oct 2001. I am pregnant with my first child and expecting to give birth in early July. I entered the UK approx 1 month ago (my partner arrived shortly before me) on a 6 month visitor visa with the intention of spending some time with my partner and his family before returning to NZ with my partner in early March to have the baby.

While we have been in the UK my partner has been taken in to hospital diagnosed with a serious heart condition which will require ongoing treatment and the doctors have recommended that he does not leave the country for the next 3-6 months minimum. I do not want to go back to NZ alone but staying for 3 months will take me to within 2 months of the due date for the baby and beyond the date Stupid will allow me to travel. The baby is due at about the same time as my visitor visa expires. I have been told I do not qualify for NHS treatment on a visitor visa but can pay privately if required and I have the funds to do this if needs be.

Due to the situation we have decided to have the baby in the UK and stay here for at least a year while my partner receives treatment. In the future if my partner fully recovers we see ourselves as splitting our time between the UK and NZ but would like the rights to live and work in both countries.

I have spent a lot of time looking at the UKBA website but there appears no way of applying for a partner or spouse visa while already in the UK on a visitor visa. I have never overstayed a visa in any country. We are not current;y married but can easily prove we have been in a long term relationship. Any help anyone can give me on what route I should take to extend my stay in the UK would be hugely appreciated. I really don't want to leave while my partner is ill and have the baby alone in NZ. Ideally if there is a way to extend my visitor visa it would give me rights to work as we will need the income.

Thanks,
Bronwyn

[vinny]

There may be compassionate grounds (carer) for you to extend shortly before your leave expires, outside the rules. However, working is still prohibited.

See also Healthcare.

[Wanderer]

AIUI, as a visitor to UK you will have to pay for the baby's birth.