Tier 5 and pregnant

[Jtmurray]

Hi everyone,
Just a quick back story here.. been in the uk since sept 2017,(I am Canadian) been with my British partner for almost 5 years this sept, lived together for almost 3) and I am due in dec 2018...
I have a gp but haven’t been able to confirm if I can get coverage for my delivery.. am I correct to say I need to be here for 12 months for pregnancy care ?
My partner and I both work full time, am I entitled to maternity leave ?
What visa would I need to change to for me to be allowed to stay with my partner in the uk?
Does anyone know the rough cost to expedite visas ? I don’t want to travel in and out of the uk.
Any help really appreciated !

[CR001]

am I correct to say I need to be here for 12 months for pregnancy care ?

No. You need to have a valid visa and you get NHS for free. If your question is about Statutory Maternity Pay, there are different rules.

My partner and I both work full time, am I entitled to maternity leave ?

You would need to speak to your employer.

What visa would I need to change to for me to be allowed to stay with my partner in the uk?

If not married, you can apply for an Unmarried Partner visa if you have substantial rock solid evidence that you have lived together 'in a relationship akin to marriage' for 2 years.

Does anyone know the rough cost to expedite visas ? I don’t want to travel in and out of the uk.

Partner of British Citizen visa is £1,033 for postal application or £1,643 for premium in person same day decision application PLUS £500 Immigration health surcharge.

You also need to meet the financial requirement of £18,600pa.

[Jtmurray]

am I correct to say I need to be here for 12 months for pregnancy care ?

No. You need to have a valid visa and you get NHS for free. If your question is about Statutory Maternity Pay, there are different rules.

My partner and I both work full time, am I entitled to maternity leave ?

You would need to speak to your employer.

What visa would I need to change to for me to be allowed to stay with my partner in the uk?

If not married, you can apply for an Unmarried Partner visa if you have substantial rock solid evidence that you have lived together 'in a relationship akin to marriage' for 2 years.

Does anyone know the rough cost to expedite visas ? I don’t want to travel in and out of the uk.

Partner of British Citizen visa is £1,033 for postal application or £1,643 for premium in person same day decision application PLUS £500 Immigration health surcharge.

You also need to meet the financial requirement of £18,600pa.

Thank you for such a prompt response ! Greatly appreciate it !

How long does the postal application take? I want to change visas ASAP, don’t want to be fussed once I’m further along.

As for evidence we live together? Can our tax returns from Canada be sufficent? We filed as common law in Canada with the same address, in London I’ve only lived with him since sept 2017 and only have the same mailing address with no bills together..

[CR001]

Postal can take up to 8 weeks, sometimes longer.

Tax returns and no docs you have in the UK won't be sufficient unfortunately. HO expect to see a papertrail of various joint commitments or of living together.

Note that this would not be required if you were married.

Page 64 of the FLR(M) form tells you what HO expect to see.

[Jtmurray]

Thank again, so our time in Canada doesn’t count towards or living time together?

[CR001]

It would count towards living together but you will need substantial evidence of this and any gap of 6 months of more (i.e. if your partner returned to the UK before you for example), starts the clock again from zero.

Note that this 2 year mandatory cohabitation evidence is ONLY required for an unmarried partner visa. It is NOT required if you are married.