'Family' visa advice - long-distance relationship

[MarkLondonE2]

Dear members,

I'd like some advice on the likelihood that my partner could obtain a 'Family of a settled person’ visa to join me in the UK.

I am a UK citizen, living in the UK. He is an America citizen, living in America. We have been in a long-distance relationship for two and a half years. We have managed to see each other every 2 or 3 months, by travelling one way or another. The longest we have lived together is three months, when my partner came to visit me earlier this year.

The government website gives information on eligibility for 'Family of a settled person’ visas - which we can clearly satisfy, but with an important exception. The latter is the requirement that we should have been living together for two years. However, the guidance also says that periods apart for up to six months are acceptable for good reasons, such as work commitments, and where it was not possible for the other partner to accompany.

The later is relevant to us, as both of us have have work in our respective cities, while neither of us would legally have been able to settle in the other's country for such a period (we have used tourist visas to visit each other).

The online advice says that the applicant must show evidence that the relationship continued throughout the period of separation, for example, by visits, letters, logged phone calls. This we can certainly show.

I would like to hear from anyone who has had experience of qualifying for a 'Family of a settled person’ visa while in a long-distance relationship (I realise it is difficult!). Or anyone who can suggest where we might go for advice.

Many thanks,

Mark

[CR001]

There is no flexibility on the 2 year cohabitation in a "relationship akin to marriage" with documents to prove it, eg tenancy agreement a, utility bills, bank statements etc to joint responbilites as if you were married.

Visiting is not the same thing.

[Casa]

You've misunderstood the '6 months apart' concession. This is for a couple living together in a relationship 'akin to marriage'.

The Entry Clearance Officer would want to see evidence of joint commitments covering the 24 month period, such as joint finances, shared tenancy agreement or mortgage, both names on utility bills etc.

There is no 'boyfriend/girlfriend' visa visiting every few months, even if over a long period of time.

[MarkLondonE2]

Thank you both very much for your responses, which make a lot of sense.

Best, Mark