Hi,

I searched around the forum but couldn't find information specifically detailing the process so apologies if I have missed something.

I lived and worked in Thailand for 3 years, during that time I met my girlfriend. I recently returned to the UK to study a one year course at university after which I plan to work in the UK for a further year or so. I am very sure that I wish to spend my future with my girlfriend and we have been discussing our options. We would like for her to come to the UK next year to live, work and study while I get off the first few rungs of my career ladder.

If somebody could kindly provide me with an overview of our options it would be very much appreciated. We are not married but agreed that we would get married if it allowed us to be together.

Thanks

If the 2 of you have been living together for the 2 years immediately preceding a visa application, she could apply for a settlement visa. Failing that, study is always an option, but you/she would need to be in a position to pay for the intended course and it would have to be shown that there exists an adequacy of maintenance for her whilst in the UK studying.

If your girlfriend's English is at below B1 standard, she could possibly obtain a student visit visa, but this would proscribe employment. If she can demonstrate that her English is at B1 or above, she could apply under Tier 4, which would allow an element of work, but she'd still have to show 9 months' maintenance in the bank (plus any unpaid course fees) in order to hope to get the visa.

Scouse.

We haven't been together for 2 year although we did know each other that long ago.

Looks like we will need to consider getting married.

Thanks for the help.