UK Spouse Settlement VIsas: New Rules for FLR/ILR ?

[Rob180]

I understand that obtaining a spouse visa will avoid having to apply for Further Leave to Remain in the UK.

What are the new rules now for a spouse, can ILR be applied for after 2 years or has it now been changed to 5? If it is 5, is it still necessary to apply for an extension of the visa after 2 years and if so is there a fee for this?

Thanks for any advice if someone could clarify.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Rob180

[7by7]

Spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner:

Visa; valid 33 months, current fee £851, paid in local currency, currently 40848 baht (varies according to exchange rate used by embassy; check before submitting application).

After 30 months in UK, apply for Further Leave to Remain; valid 30 months, current fee £578 by post or £953 in person.

30 months after FLR. apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; valid indefinitely, current fee £1051 by post, £1426 in person.

Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner:

Visa; valid 6 months, current fee £851, paid in local currency, currently 40848 baht (varies according to exchange rate used by embassy; check before submitting application).

Within 6 months of issue, arrive in UK, marry or register civil partnership and apply for Further Leave to Remain; valid 30 months, current fee £578 by post or £953 in person.

30 months after first FLR, apply for second; valid 30 months, current fee £578 by post or £953 in person.

30 months after this, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; valid indefinitely, current fee £1051 by post, £1426 in person.

Fees are current at 1/9/13, but are subject to change.

For more details, see UK Settlement Visa Basics.

[Rob180]

Thanks 7, I thought if entering on a spouse visa it avoided the FLR to part? Or was that under the old rules?

Sorry maybe I should have said marry in Thailand then spouse visa to make what I meant clearer.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Rob180

[7by7]

That was under the old rules.

Under the new rules, entering as a spouse will require one FLR application, whereas entering as a fiancé(e) will require two.

[Rob180]

So now even on a Spouse Visa you have to apply for FLR and then ILR, more money extracted from people by the Government. The policy seems to now be to make things as difficult as possible, as far as they can get away with!

Thanks for clarifying.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Rob180