Apply for Settlement Visa for UK for Thai partner

[kermit the frog]

Hey there, 

 

I guess this question has been asked a thousand times but I thought it would be better to post again as each person has unique situation.

 

I'm wanting to bring my Thai girlfriend to the UK to live with me. We have been together for 3 years but I recently moved back to the UK with my son. The plan is to bring her later in the year once I get financially sound. Here is a summary of the situation:

 

• We've been together 3 years
• We're not married
• We want to get married
• She is not the mother of my child (I'm divorced)
• She has a good job and has been to the UK before
• I have a good job that I have only recently started
• My salary is currently £20k p/a
• It will hopefully go up after 6 months
• I rent my own house
• I live with my son as a single parent 
• I get child benefits and tax credits on top of my salary 

 

I have been told by one friend that I should marry her in Thailand, then apply for a settlement visa to bring her here. I was thinking maybe I can take a quick trip to Thailand in summer, get married, then come back and apply for the settlement visa. These are some questions I'd like to know more about:

 

• Can she apply from overseas or
• Does she already need to be in UK?
• If so, on what type of visa?
• How much is a settlement visa?
• How much do I need to be earning?
• Where can she take her English test?
• Is there anything else I need to know??

 

If anyone who has experience with this process could share their knowledge, that would be great.

 

Thanks for your help! 

[bobrussell]

Getting married might make the application a little more straight forward but not necessarily so. If you can demonstrate that you have been in a relationship akin to marriage for two years or more then there is little to be achieved unless you wish to marry.

 

For this you are likely to need to show you have been living with your partner typically in the same country, same house etc just as in 'traditional' marriage. If you live and work in the UK it is likely to be a non-starter!

 

If you choose to marry in the UK then an application is likely to be a 'marriage settlement visa' which is costly and the expectation is that you will marry and apply to extend the leave before the six months validity of the visa is up. Significantly more expensive!

 

Another option would be to apply for a marriage visit visa (much cheaper) that would allow the marriage to take place in the UK but would require a return to Thailand to sort out the standard settlement visa.

Least expensive option would probably be the marriage in Thailand and apply to settle after that.

[7by7]

Indeed, as you intend to marry anyway, then the cheapest option would be to do so in Thailand and then she applies as your spouse.

 

The  marriage visit visa Bob mentions is not really a viable option; as he says she would have to return to Thailand after the marriage and apply for settlement there. It is only suitable for couples who wish to marry in the UK, but not settle here.

 

A fiance would allow her to enter the UK, marry you within 6 months and then apply to remain in the UK as your spouse. But it costs the same as a spouse visa and requires an extra Further Leave to Remain application, so is an expensive option.

 

The pinned topic UK settlement visa basics is a little out of date, but it's information on fiances, spouses and unmarried partners is still valid.

 

The UKVI guide Apply to join family living permanently in the UK should answer most of your questions; including the financial requirement.  Having read that, if you have any further questions feel free to ask.

Edited March 14, 2017 by 7by7
Added link

[kermit the frog]

On 3/13/2017 at 11:11 AM, bobrussell said:

Getting married might make the application a little more straight forward but not necessarily so. If you can demonstrate that you have been in a relationship akin to marriage for two years or more then there is little to be achieved unless you wish to marry.

 

For this you are likely to need to show you have been living with your partner typically in the same country, same house etc just as in 'traditional' marriage. If you live and work in the UK it is likely to be a non-starter!

 

If you choose to marry in the UK then an application is likely to be a 'marriage settlement visa' which is costly and the expectation is that you will marry and apply to extend the leave before the six months validity of the visa is up. Significantly more expensive!

 

Another option would be to apply for a marriage visit visa (much cheaper) that would allow the marriage to take place in the UK but would require a return to Thailand to sort out the standard settlement visa.

Least expensive option would probably be the marriage in Thailand and apply to settle after that.

Thanks for all your suggestions fellas!