Bit Of Help With Regards A Partner Visa To The Uk

[XCom]

I'm looking at moving back the UK this April with my Thai girlfriend. She has already been to the UK twice with me on a general tourist VISA for both visits.

I was looking at the different options as ideally this time we want to stay longer than 6 months.

We have been together 4 years but are not married. I had a read up on here and the UKBA website about the partner VISA.

Am I correct in thinking that I need to have a job already in the UK with 18k a year salary to apply for this? Also we need to prove we have been together for over 2 years.

Would she be able to enter on a tourist VISA and then change to the partner VISA? I looked at the settlement VISA but think maybe try this later down the line. The problem is that I have been working over in Thailand the past 4 years so my salary is quite some way off what they expect!

Also upon my return to the UK I won't have a job to start with, but have a good sponsor. Do I even need the 18k a year job, or can the sponsor just vouch for us?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[XCom]

Just been reading a bit more on this. Is an "un-married partner" VISA the same thing as the settlement VISA?

[ThaiVisaExpress]

An umarried partner visa is a settlement visa.

Your partner can apply for an unmarried partner visa if you have lived together for two years, and can show evidence of this.

If you want to take your partner to the UK for settlement then basically you must meet the financial threshold of an income of 18,600 GBP a year. This is normally done by showing that you are in salaried employment in the UK earning 18,600 GBP a year. You can sponsor the visa if you have been working abroad but you still have to meet the 18,600 GBP a year income threshold for at least 6 months ( and prove it, of course). There are other ways to meet the requirement, from pensions, rental income from property, or even by showing savings (you will need a minimum of 62,500 GBP in savings ).

From what you say, you do not meet the income requirement at the moment, and a visa will not be issued. You may have to return to UK alone and find a job which will give you an income of at least 18,600 GBP a year. You will have to provide at least 6 months evidence of salary, bank statements, etc before your partner can apply for the visa.

If you return alone to UK to find work, then your partner might qualify for a visit visa to be there with you for some, or all, of the time. She cannot change from visitor to settlement while in the UK, so she will have to return to Thailand to apply for a settlement visa.

You cannot use a "sponsor" to vouch for you. They could provide accommodation for you, but not financial support.

If we can help you further, then please give us a call.

Edited February 6, 2013 by ThaiVisaExpress

[XCom]

Thanks very much for the prompt reply Thai Visa Express.

So basically we have the option of the 6 month tourist VISA (that cannot be extended unless extreme circumstances) or Settlement / unmarried partner VISA?

Is there anything in the middle we could apply for? Ideally we wanted maybe a year VISA but that's looking harder than I first thought.

I was under the impression that a un-married or married partner VISA was different from a Settlement VISA?! - To much reading im getting myself confused now!

Maybe education VISA might be another option for a longer trip?

EDIT - Just had another look and there is a "Fiance" VISA. Does anyone know what this involves? Do I just need to pop the question or something?!

Edited February 6, 2013 by XCom

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Thanks very much for the prompt reply Thai Visa Express.

So basically we have the option of the 6 month tourist VISA (that cannot be extended unless extreme circumstances) or Settlement / unmarried partner VISA?

Is there anything in the middle we could apply for? Ideally we wanted maybe a year VISA but that's looking harder than I first thought.

I was under the impression that a un-married or married partner VISA was different from a Settlement VISA?! - To much reading im getting myself confused now!

Maybe education VISA might be another option for a longer trip?

EDIT - Just had another look and there is a "Fiance" VISA. Does anyone know what this involves? Do I just need to pop the question or something?!

A Fiancee visa is also a settlement visa. However, your fiancee will only be granted 6 months Leave to Enter on arrival, and you must marry within that 6 months. She can then apply for Further Leave to Remain ( 30 months). But, you still have to meet the financial requirement to get the Fiancee visa. It also works out more expensive than an unmarried partner visa as you will have to pay for the fiancee visa ( 826 GBP), and then further Leave to Remain after you marry ( I thnk that's about 500 GBP ).

[7by7]

As TVE says, spouse, fiance and unmarried partner are all types of settlement visa, and so you will need to meet the financial requirement for all of them.

A visit visa may be possible, but you, or rather your partner, will need to convince the Entry Clearance Officer that she will leave the UK at the end of the visa and not remain in the UK illegally to be with you.

Maybe education VISA might be another option for a longer trip?

Maybe, but due to massive abuse of the student visa system in the past, these are not as simple to obtain as many think.

Their are two types of student visa which may suit.

Student visitor. This is valid for 6 months, 11 if undertaking an English language course. Like an ordinary visit I suspect that, in your circumstances, she may have difficulty convincing the ECO that she will leave the UK at the end of her course.

Tier 4

As a Tier 4 (General) student, you must have 40 points in our points assessment. You can score:

• 30 points for having a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies, which you get for studying a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (also known as a 'Tier 4 sponsor'), and for having acceptable English language skills; and
  
• 10 points for having enough money (also known as maintenance or funds) to cover your course fees and living costs
  

[XCom]

If we can help you further, then please give us a call.

Thank you. I will do that. I'm going insane reading up all about this! Could you PM me your number or something. I'd be most grateful.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

If we can help you further, then please give us a call.

Thank you. I will do that. I'm going insane reading up all about this! Could you PM me your number or something. I'd be most grateful.

Just click on the Thai Visa Express avatar on the left. Then click on our website link.

[XCom]

Big thanks to Paul @ Thai Visa Express for calling me back in his free time today to answer my ton of questions about this! Really appreciate the help mate. Fantastic and friendly help and advice.