Hi,

I am currently in the UK with my Thai partner (who I call my husband in Thailand, otherwise everyone thinks I am on a 2 week holiday and just picked him up in a bar!) who has come on his 2nd Tourist visa. We have been together for 3 years and we have lived together in Thailand for the entire time.

Since I have been back here I have got a really good new job, I wasn't expecting anything as we were planning to return to Thailand after 3 months, I just wanted something to tide me over until we went back. The company have agreed to employ me and offer me a 2 month sabatical to return to Thailand in the hope of getting Ton his un-married partner visa at the end of the year. He is going to return to Thailand in Nov at the end of his 6 month visa with me going back after new year.

The problem I have is that I don't have any proof of us having any shared bills etc in Thailand. We built a house together but that is all in his name, which was great when applying for a tourist visa but does not prove that this was all done together. I was not working when in Thailand, we had a Horse Trekking business but again that was in his name. (All gone now thanks to the airport closures!)

I can show my passports with all my visas, last year I had a non-immigrant o year visa.

I don't want to get married just to make his visa easier to get! I've never really been the marrying type!

At present my house in the UK is rented and brings me an income, we are currently staying at my mum and Dads house and we will move into my house but I don't know if it will be better to apply for the visa saying we are staying at my house or my mums.

How do you think they will look at things because I am a woman supporting a man? I can't imagine it will be seen any differently but I know its not really the norm! He doesn't have to worry about supporting himself when he comes as my wage will be good and we will get him travel insurance again so he doesn't use the NHS but he cannot show any other funds of his own. We have the house in Thailand but no available cash as such, (lack of tourists this year the real problem again!) I know that he can work when he comes but i suppose it is best to show that he will not need to work as I can support him?

What I was planning to do was apply for his visa online and then set a date for his interview for when I returned to Thailand. Does that seem like the best idea? It looks like visas are taking 2 months at least to come.

It is all so stressful, every year I get in a panic and worry about visas! This one is even more of a worry!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Kate

You will need to show that:-

You can support and accommodate yourselves in the UK without recourse to public funds.

You have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the last 2 years.

Have a look through:-

Immigration Rules; Unmarried and same-sex partners

SET05 - Unmarried and same sex partners

Maintenance and accommodation

Remember that as he will be applying to come to the UK for longer than 6 months he will have to submit a TB certificate with his application. See Requirement for Tuberculosis testing for applicants visiting the UK for longer than 6 months

I dont think he can work unless you are married,i dont think he would get a national insurance number,what would he be classed as , Boyfriend, I may be wrong , hope every thing goes ok for you.

I dont think he can work unless you are married,i dont think he would get a national insurance number,what would he be classed as , Boyfriend, I may be wrong , hope every thing goes ok for you.

From what I understand he can work as it is a visa for same-sex partners also and they cannot get married. I think that if he was to come on a fiance visa then he would not be able to work for the 1st 6 months until we got married. I haven't looked into national insurance no. yet so that is something to think about also.

If he comes on an unmarried partner's visa then he can work, and of course if he is working he will need a NI number.

You are correct about fiance visa; if entering on a fiance visa then one cannot work until the marriage has taken place and one has FLR.