Hi

IS there a difference do you think in how the application is looked at if you are married or not or do they simply look for the length of the relationship?

Unmarried partner, 6 years, two kids should be fine i would hope for the application but would it be held against us that we have not got married?

Anyone know...........

Thanks

The problem is proving your relationship, living together.

For your partner to apply as your civil partner you must have been living together for at least 2 years so if you can prove you have been living together for the last 6 years all the better.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/partners/unmarriedsamesexpartners/

If you meet the requirements under the rules, then the visa will be issued.

The only difference between applying as a spouse and applying as an unmarried partner is that for a spouse you need to show that you are married and for an unmarried partner you need to show that you have been living together outside the UK in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the last two years.

Other than that the requirements are the same, and the ECO is not going to judge you for not marrying.

Basil, for Smartecosse's partner to apply as a civil partner they need to be the same sex and have contracted a legally recognised same sex marriage.

A civil partner is not the same as an unmarried partner. Civil partners are same sex couples, unmarried partners can be same sex or different sex, spouses are different sex.

Thailand does not legally recognise same sex marriages, but the UK does. If a couple have contracted one in a country that does then they can apply for a UK visa as a civil partners.

thanks for the advice........... so it would seem that my g/f and I would not need to go down the maariage route, been together six years, plenty of photos to prove it, both names on the birth certs of the two kids who are now 4 1/2 and 3 (uk birth certs & thai ones) which have had the same address listed on both

thanks for the help!