Advice regarding

[Tiiron]

My Colombian girlfriend and I want to be together and I would appreciate some advice as we are a bit stuck.

We met in the USA years ago and eventually I went to live with her in Bogota. However, we had some issues and I didn't enjoy Colombia that much (and was very home sick). We split up, I lived there alone for a bit, working, then came home to Britain.

We've been missing each other since then and have decided that we really do want to be together again. I'm not willing to go back to Colombia, however, but we would both love it if she could be with me here.

I spoke to the embassy about her coming over to visit me (to see if she likes the UK enough to stay and to make sure we'll be okay again etc). Apparently, Colombians have to jump through a lot of hoops to come here: paying the visa, the tickets, saving a lot of money and finally having a very difficult interview, before they will be granted a visiting visa and permitted to travel. Quite a bit of a headache and by no means certain, though I'd be willing to pay for her visa and tickets to come over (as Pesos don't exchange well with Pounds).

The other option is a fiance visa. We would like to live together again, but of course with that it's an "all in" move (if you forgive the poker expression). Having looked at the official gov visa site, but there is not a lot of information there and doesn't suggest how much money I'd need to earn for them to agree that I can support us both while she goes through the visa process. Of course, if everything goes well, we'd get married.

Any tips? Anything I haven't thought of? Not quite sure where to go from here.

Thanks.

[CR001]

but there is not a lot of information there and doesn't suggest how much money I'd need to earn for them to agree that I can support us both while she goes through the visa process. Of course, if everything goes well, we'd get married.

You can't have looked very hard as it is all there on the website. You need to earn a minimum of £18,600pa and prove you can accommodate her and submit evidence.

A fiance visa is for 6 months and she can switch to a spouse visa once married and before the visa expires. She cannot work on a fiance visa.

Cost of the visa is £1464 and you have to submit evidence of your relationship and plans for a wedding.

[Casa]

My Colombian girlfriend and I want to be together and I would appreciate some advice as we are a bit stuck.

We met in the USA years ago and eventually I went to live with her in Bogota. However, we had some issues and I didn't enjoy Colombia that much (and was very home sick). We split up, I lived there alone for a bit, working, then came home to Britain.

We've been missing each other since then and have decided that we really do want to be together again. I'm not willing to go back to Colombia, however, but we would both love it if she could be with me here.

I spoke to the embassy about her coming over to visit me (to see if she likes the UK enough to stay and to make sure we'll be okay again etc). Apparently, Colombians have to jump through a lot of hoops to come here: paying the visa, the tickets, saving a lot of money and finally having a very difficult interview, before they will be granted a visiting visa and permitted to travel. Quite a bit of a headache and by no means certain, though I'd be willing to pay for her visa and tickets to come over (as Pesos don't exchange well with Pounds).

The other option is a fiance visa. We would like to live together again, but of course with that it's an "all in" move (if you forgive the poker expression). Having looked at the official gov visa site, but there is not a lot of information there and doesn't suggest how much money I'd need to earn for them to agree that I can support us both while she goes through the visa process. Of course, if everything goes well, we'd get married.

Any tips? Anything I haven't thought of? Not quite sure where to go from here.

Thanks.

I'm not sure why you've posted this in the Tier 1 General sub-forum, but I've moved it for you.

If your girlfriend successfully applies for a fiance visa you will have to marry in the UK and apply for a FLR(M) visa within 6 months. As this will involve two visa applications ...fiance + FLR(M) you will also have to pay two visa fees.
Fiance visa £1424
FLR(M) visa £993 + £600 NHS surcharge.
This would be for a period of 2.5 years, after which she would have to submit a further application for the next 2.5 year extension, before qualifying for ILR. Visa fees apply for each application submitted.

In order to sponsor her fiance and spouse visa you will have to show that you meet the minimum income level of £18,600 p.a or without earnings, have £62,500 in savings held in an accessible account for at least 6 months.

Edit: Beaten by CR001

[Tiiron]

I'm not sure why you've posted this in the Tier 1 General sub-forum, but I've moved it for you.

Because I don't know anything about visas, hence why I'm here.

You can't have looked very hard as it is all there on the website.

I just saw a short list of requirements. I'll try to find where you got that information. Snark aside, thank you for the advice, both of you. I'll look into that as a possibility.

I wonder if it would be worth just her coming over on a visitor visa for 90 days, getting married and then applying for a spouse visa. Would cut out the extra cost for a fiance visa.

[CR001]

You can't have looked very hard as it is all there on the website.

I just saw a short list of requirements. I'll try to find where you got that information. Snark aside, thank you for the advice, both of you. I'll look into that as a possibility.

See Apply to join family in the UKI (click) and Guide to supporting documents (click)

I wonder if it would be worth just her coming over on a visitor visa for 90 days, getting married and then applying for a spouse visa. Would cut out the extra cost for a fiance visa.

She cannot apply for a spouse visa within the UK as a visitor. She would have to return to Colombia and apply from there. She will also need to be on the correct visit visa (marriage visitor) to marry. As a non-EU citizen, you and her are required to give 28 days notice to an HO approved Registry office to marry, after which the Register will inform HO of your notice. This notice period can be extended to 70 days for HO to investigate and / or interview each of you separately before you get a decision of yes or no from HO to proceed or not.

[secret.simon]

An alternate non-UK route would be if you marry and move to Spain.

If you are married (perhaps, in Columbia), then you can move with her to Spain as an EEA citizen (before Brexit). That can not be refused and there are no salary requirements, etc.

Also, I understand (I could be wrong) that Spain has expedited citizenship procedures for citizens of the Ibero-American countries. So, she would be able to get Spanish citizenship within a few years. Also, she may find it easier to adapt to the culture and the language there.