Getting a UK Visitor Visa for a Partner

[Notsowiseone]

I would appreciate advice from any TV poster who has recently gone through the process of getting a 6 month visitor visa to the UK for their partner,

I am told that previously one of the requirements was to prove that the relationship was genuine and had to be supported by as many photographs as possible. However I have failed to find this requirement in the current instructions and in fact a point is made that they do not want photographs unless requested by them:

Section 4: documents you should not send unless specifically requested

This page provides guidance on the types of documents that are not required to consider your application.

 if you are applying as a family/group you do not need to provide multiple copies of the same documents

 bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before the date of application

 driving licence

 photographs (other than passport photographs required in section 1)

 notarial certificates

 business cards

 hotel bookings

 flight bookings

 photocopies of bank cards

 credit card statements

 certificates relating to leisure activities

My partner and I have been living together for three years and I would like to take her to the UK for a period of about 6 weeks.

Helpful advice most welcomed

Many thanks

[theoldgit]

It has often been said that in order to sponsor a visitor, partner or spouse that it's a requirement to prove that a relationship is genuine and that needs to be backed up by a shed load of photographs, the avoidance of doubt there has never been a requirement to provide as many photos as possible.

That isn't strictly true, anyone can sponsor a visitor, they don't need to be in a relationship to do so they just need to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that it's appropriate for them to offer to sponsor the trip. They don't even need to have met, it could be parents of the applicants partner for instance.

Certainly photographs of a couple together can help build up a case of a subsisting relationship, but so can phone calls evidence of trips together, and seemingly in your case maybe joint ties here in Thailand.

The quote you have posted does, as you say, suggest that photos of the applicant and their sponsor/partner should not be submitted unless specifically requested, this apparent change has already been discussed on this forum.

Maybe the UKVI have been overwhelmed with applicants submitting "as many photos as possible" and have called a halt to them, I really don't know.

My partner has made a number of applications, a couple of six month applications and a two year one earlier this year. In all her applications she did provide photos of us together over the years, we actually provided one photo of us together during every trip abroad, these were printed on a sheet of paper, eight photos to a sheet.

My partner also supplied details of her employment and our joint lease as reasons to return, our joint lease certainly proved our life together and thus that it was reasonable for me to provide sponsorship.

In your case you live together here and you have done so for three years, you will have evidence to support that fact, your passports will prove that you are here and I'm sure that you will be able to provide other details of your life here, joint lease for instance, as well as her other ties to her home country.

[7by7]

I have never been a fan of supplying photos. I did provide about 20 for my wife's settlement visa application 15 years ago, but have never supplied any with a visit visa application.

Mind you, those have all been either for my wife's son or her sister; so proving the relationship has been easy!

You may find UK visit visa basics useful; though some of it needs updating the essentials are the same.

See also Standard visitor visa from UKVI.