Comparing UK Spouse Visa Options: Which Path is Right for You?

If you are planning to join with your partner who is already settled in the UK, you need to select the right visa. According to the future plan and the relationship status, the visa requirements are different for each category. Whatever you are maintaining a long-distance relationship, engaged, or married, if you can select the right visa route, the visa-getting possibility for you will be high.
In this article, I will try to explain all the categories that will assist you in selecting the right visa category.
Civil partner/ Spouse Visa UK
When a partner is a British citizen or settles in the UK, the UK spouse visa category offers to take their partner to the UK and live together. If you can prove that you maintain a genuine and official relationship, then you can apply for this visa category. For the spouse visa category, you need to show evidence to prove you are legally married to your partner.
If you want to successfully get your spouse visa, you need to show that your combine income is annually at least £29,000. In the beginning, you must have passed at least A1 level of English Language. Otherwise, your visa will be rejected, that’s why I will suggest you prepare yourself so that you can pass at least level A1.
Usually, the spouse visa duration is 2.5 years, and when you pass 2.5 years in the UK. You can apply to extend your visa for another 2.5 years. When you complete your 5 years of journey in this category, you will be able to apply the ILR, which stands for the indefinite leave to remain. You will be happy to know that the ILR is offering a path of permanent residency.
UK Fiancé(e) Visa
If you are planning to marry or be engaged with a person who is a British citizen, then the Fiancé Visa is the best route for you. This visa route is one kind of temporary visa route because, in this route, you will be allowed in the UK for only 6 months for your marriage. In the below I have tried to explain some of the requirements for UK Fiancé(e) Visa:
- As an applicant you need to prove that you have enough funds to maintain yourself in the UK without taking any financial help from others.
- The UK Fiancé(e) Visa financial requirements are similar to those of the Spouse Visa UK
- You also need to meet the English language requirement Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level 1.
- You must prove that you are able to maintain a standard life in the UK.
If you have a UK Fiancé(e) Visa, you will not get approval to work in the UK during your stay. So, you cannot work. But you can apply to switch your visa category from UK Fiancé(e) Visa to UK Spouse Visa, and when you successfully change your category. You can work in the UK without any kind of restriction. Not only that, in the future you can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Unmarried Partner Visa UK
When you are not tied to your partner, but you have been living with your partner in a relationship, like a married partner, for at least two years then you can apply for the UK unmarried partner visa. This visa category is designed for those partners who don’t want to marriage or do not want to civil partnership, but they are committed to each other. To qualify for this visa category, you need to provide some evidence and meet some requirements.
You need to prove that you are staying with your partner like a couple, and in the future, you will maintain your relationship status. As proof you can show your bank statement, utility bills, and the tenancy agreement that is joint. Both partners need to meet the financial requirements; the unmarried partner’s financial requirements are like a Spouse Visa UK. When your visa expires, you can expand your visa, and if you successfully stay in the UK for five years in the UK. You will be allowed to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK, then the British residency.
UK Dependant Partner Visa
The UK Dependent partner visa is designed for those people who came to the UK as a worker or as a student. If you are in the UK as a worker or as a student, your partner can join you in this UK-dependent partner visa category. The main criteria for this visa category are you must have to come in the mentioned visa types. Otherwise, your partner is not able to apply for a dependent visa.
The requirement of finance depends on the sponsor’s visa for the dependent partner visa. You will be happy to know that the visa cost for this visa category is much lower than other partner visas, and the dependent partner does not have any English language requirements. The dependent partner visa holder is free to work, study, and live in the UK, but if the main visa changes the visa route, it will also impact the depend-on visa holder.
UK Marriage Visitor Visa
This visa is designed for those non-residents who want to come to the UK for marriage, and after a period, they will leave the UK. This visa is appropriate for those people who don’t have any intension to stay and settle in the UK. If you want to be eligible for this visa, you need to prove that you will register or marry a UK-settled person or British citizen within your arrival in the UK-registered venue. On the other hand, you need to also demonstrate that you will leave the UK and meet the requirements for a standard visitor visa. You need to submit the application for this visitor visa at least before 3 months of travel. You cannot apply for this visa within the UK and stay more than 6 months in the UK.
How can an immigration lawyer help?
If you to overcome the issues that is related to UK Visa Refusal. You need to put in a lot of effort and time. That’s why as a well-wisher, I would like to suggest that you talk to an immigration solicitor firm who has a lot of experience in the legal sector. If you want, you can contact ICS Legal because they have 19 years of working experience as an immigration lawyer.