Thinking of making the UK your home with your partner? The UK Fiance Visa could be your ticket. This guide covers everything you need to know about it: who can apply, and the steps to apply.
What is the UK Fiance Visa
This visa lets non-EEA citizens reunite with their UK partners for marriage or civil partnership. It’s for couples planning to marry within six months. The partner in the UK must be a UK citizen or have settled status. This visa lasts six months and doesn’t lead to permanent residency. But it’s a step towards getting a Spouse Visa, which allows 30 months in the UK with work and study rights.
Conditions to getting your visa
You and your fiance must be at least 18 years of age
Must plan to marry within six months of getting the visa.
Partner must be a UK citizen or have settled status.
Must plan to live with your partner in the UK after marriage.
Show a combined annual income of at least £18,600.
Prove you have suitable housing for you, your partner, and any dependents.
If you’re from a non-English-speaking country, you must pass an approved English language test, usually at the A1 level.
Financial Requirements
You need to show that your annual income is over £18,600, and with children, there are extra considerations. You can prove your financial stability in different ways, like having a regular job, being self-employed, receiving statutory payments, having savings, stocks, pension payments, or rental income. Remember, Fiance Visa holders can’t use public funds while in the UK.
Fiance Visa Document Checklist
When applying for this Visa, you’ll need certain documents, like:
Your name, date of birth, and ID documents.
Copies of old passports and visas.
Evidence of your relationship like how long you’ve been together, how you met, and how often you see each other.
If you were married before, include divorce papers or proof of ending previous marriages.
Indicate on your form if you have any criminal convictions.
Write down where you’ve been and lived.
If you’re applying from outside the UK, give your parents’ birth dates and nationalities.
If you don’t speak English, pass an English test and include the certificate. Also, translate any documents not in English.
Applying for a Fiance Visa
Getting a UK Fiance Visa involves these steps:
Make sure you meet all the requirements before starting your application
Gather all the papers you need.
Fill out the application form on the Home Office website.
Pay the application fee, which changes based on where you are (inside or outside the UK).
Upload and submit all necessary documents.
Book an appointment for fingerprinting and photos.
Be ready for an interview if needed by the Home Office.
Receiving a Decision
Once your application is approved, you will be given six months in the UK to get married as per the visa’s rules. If you’re coming from outside the UK, report to border control when you arrive and bring copies of important documents.
After living in the UK for five years on a Spouse Visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, which can lead to becoming a British citizen.
Fiance Visa Appeal Process
If your visa application is rejected, you can appeal. Here’s how:
Check the refusal letter to understand why you were denied.
See if you’re allowed to appeal according to the letter.
Send your appeal within the given time (14 or 28 days).
Get ready to explain why the decision should be changed.
Go to the hearing at the First-tier Tribunal in UK immigration courts.
Wait to hear if your appeal is successful.
Fiance Visa appeal decisions can take different times, sometimes just a month, other times more than a year. Many immigration decisions get changed after appeals.
Additional Requirements and Prohibitions
Apart from the main rules, there are other things you need to know:
Who You Can’t Be Related To:
You and your partner can’t have certain relationships, like being:
Adopted child or adoptive parent
Biological child or parent
Formerly adopted child or former adoptive parent
Grandparent or grandchild
Aunt or uncle
Brother or sister
Niece or nephew
Half-sibling
Previous Relationships:
Neither you nor your partner can be married or in another relationship when you apply. If you were married before, you need official proof of divorce or widowhood.
Start your journey to love in the UK with the Fiance Visa UK. Learn about who can apply, the money you need, and how to apply. It’s your gateway to a life together and can lead to a Spouse Visa. Don’t worry about the process being tricky. Get help when you need it, make sure your application is perfect, and begin your shared future in the UK.