Simple Step By Step Guide To Living In The Uk

[torrenova]

Years ago, I married a Japanese lady who was already in the UK ona student visa. We married in Japan, came back together, after 1 year she got indefinite leave to remain and could work from some date I could not remember.

So what has changed in the last couple of decades and specifically to women from Thailand ?

So you get married in Thailand and then want to go to the UK to live. What visa does she need ?

After arrival, what is the position. Can she just get a NI number and get a job ?

What is this UK test / britishness test ?

If by chance we go back and if she wants to work legally, just what does she have to do before she can do so ?

What about ILR these days ?

Thanks

[vinny]

See also How do I qualify to join my husband, wife or civil partner in the UK? and How do I show that I have the necessary knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom? and 13.5 Spouses/civil partners and how they qualify and Knowledge of life in the UK and form SET(M) (Section 9, Note 6)

At first, you will be allowed to stay and work in the UK for two years. Near the end of this time, if you are still married and intend to continue living together, you can apply to stay permanently in the UK.

Notes:

Probationary period for spouses increased from one to two years.

Visa/Entry clearance specifies leave to enter conditions and duration, not Immigration Officer. So, the visa's "effective" and "expiry" dates are very important.

A spouse may make an application for SET(M) no sooner than 28 days (4 weeks) prior to the 2nd anniversary of initial arrival date (see Chapter 8 - Family members, Section 1 - Spouses (4.3)) and before the visa's expiry date.

[mrbojangles]

So what has changed in the last couple of decades and specifically to women from Thailand ?

Vinny has quoted you links to everything you need i think. But i suppose one of the biggest changes is the extortionate costs now for the visas, compared to last time, which i imagine where free at the time.

[vinny]

See also New immigration fees from 2 April 2007.