Questions about Standard Visitor Visa for my Chinese wife

[anthonyb123]

I have a few questions regarding the Standard Visitor Visa, specifically to do with a Chinese person applying for it which qualifies them for a 2-year multiple entry visa from my understanding of the following article:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-a ... sh-economy

The background information is that I am a British citizen and it would be my Chinese wife applying for the visa. She was living in the UK on a student visa between 2012 and 2015, we got married during this time in May 2015 and she graduated with a Master’s degree in the summer of 2015 and therefore had to return to China.

Ideally we would want to get a ‘Apply to join family living permanently in the UK’ visa however as I am currently a student and will be for the next few months, I do not meet the minimum income required to obtain this visa.

By the time I have obtained a job with sufficient salary and had this for the necessary period of 6 months we are looking at having to wait for roughly a year until we can apply for the joining family visa. Therefore we are hoping we could get this Standard Visitor Visa to allow her to live in the UK for approximately a year until we are ready to apply for the joining family visa.

I understand that with the Standard Visitor Visa each visit must not exceed 6 months and was therefore hoping to get around this by planning short visits to Europe when it is necessary.

My questions are:
1. Will this extended visa for Chinese tourists apply to our situation?
2. Is this the correct visa to apply for? (From my understanding the Standard Visitor Visa now covers visiting family members since the changes)
3. Would planning short trips to Europe be sufficient to ensure the 6 month maximum visit is adhered to?
4. Are there any apparent reasons from the information above as to why we would not be granted this visa? (I am happy to answer any questions you have to get more information)
5. Are there any relevant rules or restrictions? i.e Minimum amount of money in mine or her bank account. Necessary to provide certain documents to prove we will exit the country. Etc.

[Wanderer]

I have a few questions regarding the Standard Visitor Visa, specifically to do with a Chinese person applying for it which qualifies them for a 2-year multiple entry visa from my understanding of the following article:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-a ... sh-economy

The background information is that I am a British citizen and it would be my Chinese wife applying for the visa. She was living in the UK on a student visa between 2012 and 2015, we got married during this time in May 2015 and she graduated with a Master’s degree in the summer of 2015 and therefore had to return to China.

Ideally we would want to get a ‘Apply to join family living permanently in the UK’ visa however as I am currently a student and will be for the next few months, I do not meet the minimum income required to obtain this visa.

By the time I have obtained a job with sufficient salary and had this for the necessary period of 6 months we are looking at having to wait for roughly a year until we can apply for the joining family visa. Therefore we are hoping we could get this Standard Visitor Visa to allow her to live in the UK for approximately a year until we are ready to apply for the joining family visa.

I understand that with the Standard Visitor Visa each visit must not exceed 6 months and was therefore hoping to get around this by planning short visits to Europe when it is necessary.

My questions are:
1. Will this extended visa for Chinese tourists apply to our situation?
2. Is this the correct visa to apply for? (From my understanding the Standard Visitor Visa now covers visiting family members since the changes)
3. Would planning short trips to Europe be sufficient to ensure the 6 month maximum visit is adhered to?
4. Are there any apparent reasons from the information above as to why we would not be granted this visa? (I am happy to answer any questions you have to get more information)
5. Are there any relevant rules or restrictions? i.e Minimum amount of money in mine or her bank account. Necessary to provide certain documents to prove we will exit the country. Etc.

1, I don't know
2. There is only the std visit visa now
3. No.
4. Reason to return are always the key here.
5. She should be able to support herself or her sponsor able to support her.

Bear in mind visit visas are just that, 2/3 week short visits a couple of times a year, you cannot use them as residency visas. Whist not a rule as such, there is a maximum 6 months in every 12, but in the current climate even 4/5 months in one stretch is pushing it.

Additionally, it will be practically impossible for her to be granted a visit visa with a spouse in the UK, for obvious reasons.

[anthonyb123]

Thanks for your reply

Can you elaborate on what you mean by ‘Reason to return are always the key here’

Also I am confused as to why it would be so difficult to gain a visit visa with a spouse in the UK, is that not what they are for? It seems silly that it is almost impossible for my wife to come and see me for a while.

Also, I am getting desperate, do you have any ideas as to alternative visas we could apply for that would get the desired outcome of her being able to stay here for a while until I have a suitable job?

[Wanderer]

Thanks for your reply

Can you elaborate on what you mean by ‘Reason to return are always the key here’

Also I am confused as to why it would be so difficult to gain a visit visa with a spouse in the UK, is that not what they are for? It seems silly that it is almost impossible for my wife to come and see me for a while.

Also, I am getting desperate, do you have any ideas as to alternative visas we could apply for that would get the desired outcome of her being able to stay here for a while until I have a suitable job?

'Reasons to return'. The preclusion of the UKVI is that visitors will intend to stay and claim asylum or some other spurious claim, so they look for reasons to return, jobs, kids, property, etc. Having a husband in the UK tends to make them think 'no reason to return'. Not very nice thinking the worst in people but that's the way they operate. So it will be hard to convince the ECO that it is a visit and not an attempt to reside.

Also you can see it from their perspective, UK is desirable place to live to many do try it on from visit visas, and as usual it's the honest folks that end up paying for the abusers.

As i see it the only way is to wait till u can afford a fiancee or student visa, or try the EU SS route (search the site for that) but even that loophole is being closed now especially with Brexit looming.

There is no bf/gf visa, I'm afraid that UK (and World) visa policy is still stuck in the 50's.....

[CR001]

@Wanderer, the OP is married to the Chinese lady, not b/g.

[Wanderer]

@Wanderer, the OP is married to the Chinese lady, not b/g.

True, missed that. Sorry OP!