Clarification on visit visa to perform a civil partnership

[mdc00sh]

Hello All,

I am a UK national and would like some clarification about the routes that I can take to sponsor my partner to join me in the UK. My partner is permanent resident of Singapore (Myanmar national).

Is it possible to apply for a visit visa to perform a civil partnership and then at a later date, after my partner has returned to Singapore, to apply to come back to the UK on a visa as a spouse/partner of a British citizen to remain in the UK?

I notice that the guidelines for the visa to visit for civil partnership state:

You must also be able to show that, during your visit, you do not intend to:

live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;

What is the interpretation of this?


Or if my partner is planning to eventually settle in the UK, do we need to apply for the 'fiance or proposed civil partner of a British citizen' visa?

Ideally my partner would like to visit to conduct the civil partnership then return to Singapore to work whilst waiting for the spouse visa to be granted.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[CR001]

See the quoted text from the UKBA website :

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... uirements/

You must also be able to show that, during your visit, you do not intend to:
* live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;
* take paid or unpaid employment, produce goods or provide services, including the selling of goods or services directly to members of the public;
* do a course of study;
* marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership;
* carry out the activities of a business visitor, a sports visitor or an entertainer visitor; or
* receive private medical treatment.

[mdc00sh]

Thanks for your reply, sorry if I've caused confusion.

I am talking about specifically applying for the visa that allows you to visit with the condition that it is for marriage/civil partnership:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... uirements/

With this visa you can stay for a maximum of 6 months to get married and must then return home.

My question is, after entering into civil partnership and then returning home, is my partner eligible to apply for a spouse visa. The guidelines on the link above say:

You must also be able to show that, during your visit, you do not intend to:

live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;

Thanks for your advice.

[CR001]

This visa will be better for you/your partner to apply for as then you can switch in country to spouse/CP visa

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... oposed-cp/

[CR001]

You must also be able to show that, during your visit, you do not intend to:

live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits

This quote applies to people who keep coming here and staying or long periods on a visit visa. It does not apply to spouses/CP who are settling.

I personally think the link I posted above is the best route to go for, if that is what your ultimate goal is.

[mdc00sh]

Thanks for your advice CR001.

The main advantage to my partner coming for a visit to conduct a civil partnership and then returning home to apply for a spouse visa is that he'll be able to continue working whilst waiting.

If he comes to UK as a proposed civil partner and then switches to a spouse/CP visa he will face months of waiting for the spouse visa without being able to work or study. Financially that isn't a problem as I earn enough to support him. We're more worried about his sanity, sitting around for months....

[Casa]

If he applies for FLR(M) after the ceremony in person at one of the PEOs, assuming all documentation is in order he should be granted the visa on the same day. Although the application fee is higher, he would be able to work straight away without restriction.