Renewal of Tier 1 (General) visa

[BeakersBuddy]

where are you getting the figure from? the figure to apply for leave as the spouse of a settled person is £561 if you apply by post or £867 if you apply in person

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... 020091.pdf

The £1500 is what I found as the charge for a Tier 1 - that's the only pricing I've looked at so far.....

The prices for a spouse are better; I should probably also check about price of 'unmarried partner'.....

i thought you had established that you didn't meet the points for tier 1 general. the price for unmarried partner is the same as for spouse however you don't meet the requirements for unmarried partner as you have not lived together for 2 years.

Right, but last night when I was looking at Tier 1 requirements (before realizing I didn't meet them), that's the price I looked at.....

I'm looking at all information available because, as stated earlier, at some point we will have lived together two years & will be able to apply for this.

BTW, how is it that you know so much about all of this? So much of it is confusing to me.

[Greenie]

yes but you won't be able to apply for it before your leave expires which is why leave as a spouse is the only realistic option if you don't score the points for tier 1 general and you can't get an employer to sponsor you.

[BeakersBuddy]

yes but you won't be able to apply for it before your leave expires which is why leave as a spouse is the only realistic option if you don't score the points for tier 1 general and you can't get an employer to sponsor you.

I would've thought the criteria for spouses would be stricter, considering how many people might do a 'quickie marriage' to a virtual stranger simply to stay in the country.

Thanks for your help with this. Guess I'm going to go on a 'hard target search' for an employer willing to hire & sponsor me.

[Greenie]

yes but you won't be able to apply for it before your leave expires which is why leave as a spouse is the only realistic option if you don't score the points for tier 1 general and you can't get an employer to sponsor you.

I would've thought the criteria for spouses would be stricter, considering how many people might do a 'quickie marriage' to a virtual stranger simply to stay in the country.

Thanks for your help with this. Guess I'm going to go on a 'hard target search' for an employer willing to hire & sponsor me.

again you are jumping to conclusions. You are not marrying a virtual stranger, you are marrying a person with whom you have been in a cohabiting relationship for almost two years. As long as you are married and can show you are in genuine relationship, intend to live together, and meet the accommodation and maintenance requirements, you will be able to make a successful application. It does appear that you don't want to do this despite the fact that your reason for wanting to remain her is to be with your partner. Tier 2 may well be a viable option but in most circumstances you would need to meet the residence labour market test. Good luck.

[BeakersBuddy]

I wasn't referring to my situation; it was just a general comment re: the guidelines....Movies like Paper Marriage and Green Card spring to mind.....

[Manka10]

The Proposal

[Greenie]

I wasn't referring to my situation; it was just a general comment re: the guidelines....Movies like Paper Marriage and Green Card spring to mind.....

ignore hollywood films and just stick to the information available - applying for leave as a spouse is generally quite straightforward if you are already here and both working. You seem to be looking for obstacles rather than solutions, I wish you luck.

[BeakersBuddy]

I wasn't referring to my situation; it was just a general comment re: the guidelines....Movies like Paper Marriage and Green Card spring to mind.....

ignore hollywood films and just stick to the information available - applying for leave as a spouse is generally quite straightforward if you are already here and both working. You seem to be looking for obstacles rather than solutions, I wish you luck.

That's the sort of person I am: 'Plan for the worst, but hope for the best.'

Thank you!