switching from Tier 2 general to spouse visa - concerns?

[dreddy]

Hi

I came in to the UK in 2007 on a student visa. I have been on a Tier 2 general visa since 2012, my latest Tier 2 visa has been renewed till 2018. I presume that I would be eligible for ILR in 2017 via the 5 years in one visa/ 10 years in the UK route.

I am however getting married to my partner in November this year, as she is a UK citizen, we are considering converting my visa to a spouse visa. I am consdering the implications of this. Would this mean, I will receive the ILR soon after, or would it take a certain period of time (I saw something about a 2yr /5yr/10 yr partner route) which is a bit confusing.

Also, are there any other complications for converting my visa, I am thinking it should be fairly straighforward.

Many thanks in advance for your advice

[CR001]

You can switch to spouse visa, but it is a new 5 year route to ILR. Previous time on Tier 2 will not be counted towards this new 5 year period.

Advantage is that you are free to work for any employer if you have a spouse visa.

You will still qualify for ILR via long residency in 2017, regardless of which visa you are on.

[dreddy]

Hi there

Thank you for your previous reply.

Me and my partner have decided to go and apply for a spouse visa for me via premium processing (simply because I wouldnt be limited within my employment).

My questions are

Can we look to apply for the visa on the same day we are getting married (November). My girlfriend is currently working overseas on a fixed term contract till December. She would be coming to the UK in November for the wedding and will look to go back in a couple of days (hence premium processing).

Also, between the two of us, we comfortably satisfy the financial requirements of the visa and both have payslips/bank statements to show for it. My concern however is to do with accomodation details. We havent lived together as such. We are getting married with the intention of living together from there on (as we come from conservative Indian families). We have been seeing each other for over a year and have loads of photographs etc to show for it. We both have properties owned by us separately and can show the required documents. Would you think this would be an issue when we apply for our visa that we have nothing under a joint account?

Thanks

[Casa]

Previous co-habitation or joint finances aren't a requirement for a first FLR(M) application following marriage.