Unmarried Partner Visa Advice

[hansn]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to apply for the Unmarried Partner route for my girlfriend but I'm not sure if we definitely qualify and what other options we may have.

I've recently got my ILR and have applied for Naturalisation. I have been with my girlfriend for 10 years and we've been staying temporary together for nearly 3 years (She studies in France and I study/work in UK - due to the nature of my work/studies, we've been going back and forth every month - staying over for weekends).

Given the situation, my questions are:
- Do we qualify for this route - even though we haven't been permanent in one place, I can show tenancy agreements (both France & UK), Bank statements in both names and intention to live together as well

- She's currently on a French student visa, what options do I have for the application? Can I use the premium service in UK?

- Lastly, what other evidences can I use to prove that we've been living together? I can definitely show that we have been together for 10 years (photos, correspondences, etc).

And additionally, what other options do we have as a couple as we're not planning to get married that soon due to work commitments/studies.

Thank you, any help would be appreciated.

[Wanderer]

No, pretty sure you'll be denied, UPV is strictly checked.

We considered the same when my partner lived in Germany and I flew in every weekend, cost me a fortune - in the end we where advised on here not to apply till we had the proper two years, which we did when she came back to live in UK.

That was 2006, and the rules are even tighter now.

Can you pass the financial tests?

[hansn]

Hi, thanks for the quick response.

Yes, the financial side is fine - I'm guessing it's £18,600 which my salary will cover. It's just the 2 years living together which seem to be the issue - do you know how they will verify this? Passport Ins & outs, visas?

Is there any discretionary consideration?

We meet all others requirements, 10 yrs together should be prove that it's indeed a genuine application and in regards to planning to live together (we can both get signed letters and validate them from a solicitor that we agree to live together)

In regards to making a premium application, as she holds a french student visa - can she make an application from within the UK? How did you go about with your application? Thanks.

[CR001]

t's just the 2 years living together which seem to be the issue - do you know how they will verify this? Passport Ins & outs, visas?

Yes, it will be an issue and it is one of the most important aspects to meet for an unmarried partner visa. Visiting each other in different countries is very clearly NOT cohabitation in a 'relationship akin to marriage'.

Is there any discretionary consideration?

No, there is no discretion on the minimum 2 year cohabitation requirement.

[Wanderer]

Hi, thanks for the quick response.

Yes, the financial side is fine - I'm guessing it's £18,600 which my salary will cover. It's just the 2 years living together which seem to be the issue - do you know how they will verify this? Passport Ins & outs, visas?

Is there any discretionary consideration?

We meet all others requirements, 10 yrs together should be prove that it's indeed a genuine application and in regards to planning to live together (we can both get signed letters and validate them from a solicitor that we agree to live together)

In regards to making a premium application, as she holds a french student visa - can she make an application from within the UK? How did you go about with your application? Thanks.

Our application was largely trouble free, I'd advise against a PEO application, a lot of people thing it's a nice way of pushing through a flawed application in the mistaken belief they can smooth-talk the operative or distract them over the less-plausable aspects of the application. the reality is if the application on the day is not 100% tick, tick, tick, it will go to the back office with all the postal applications.

They'll be looking for official documents (utility bills, leases etc, not spam letters or junk mail), especially joint names, spread evenly over the two years. Also jobs, uni etc, this is where you'll fall down as studying in a different country is not living together.

Letters from people even a solicitor won't mean a thing, the UKVI wont even look at them, it's hard evidence you need, like I said it's a tick-box application, no tick, no visa.

This visa is probably the most difficult to get, trust me!

[hansn]

Thanks for all the responses, they were really helpful. I think I'll just have to wait for the 2 years then. Thank you.

[CR001]

Or get married and apply for a spouse settlement visa, then the mandatory 2 years cohabitation (in the same country) requirement is not there or as strict.

What is the nationality of your girlfriend?