Applying for a Spouse Visa after a Tier 4 Student Visa

[Robstin2014]

Hi,
My girlfriend is on a Tier 4 (General) student visa which is due to expire in September 2019. We are looking ahead at what our options are in order for her to stay in the country after her studies finish and her visa expires. I'm a British citizen and I'm aware that as we are a couple, a spouse visa would be a sensible route and probably the most straight forward. I'm currently employed as an apprentice and I have been for a year, I'm due to finish my apprenticeship in June 2018, which then leads to a promotion to full time, permanent employment and an £18,000 salary (exactly £18,000). I'm aware that the financial requirement is £18,600 annual income however it looks like I will possibly fall short of that by £600.

I was briefly talking to a lawyer who told me that as my girlfriend is on a Tier 4 Student Visa she is allowed to work 20 hours a week during term time and the amount that she earns in her income can be used in combination with my salary of £18,000.

I have heard of this being possible in cases of renewing a spouse visa after 2.5 years where the salaries can be combined to reach the requirement but can the salaries be combined when on a Tier 4 Student visa?

[CR001]

Salaries can only be combined in applying WITHIN the UK, provided she is not breaching her visa conditions.

[Robstin2014]

The conditions of her visa state that she can work 20 hours per week in term time. She has never violated these rules, assuming this continues to run smoothly and she never breaks the conditions and we apply to switch from her Tier 4 Student Visa to the Spouse Visa from within the UK. Would her income be combinable with mine?

[CR001]

Salaries can only be combined in applying WITHIN the UK, provided she is not breaching her visa conditions.