Navigating the system for UK visas for partners and spouses can seem overwhelming but there’s support available
In a globalised world where so many people travel or work abroad, it’s not uncommon to date or marry someone from another country.
If that happens to you (or a family member), you may assume there’s a right to bring your partner to the UK – especially if you have lived with them abroad in a long-term settled relationship and now want to return home. In fact, it’s not so simple.
A legal labyrinth
The complexities around UK Partner visas are multiple, including:
- which sources of income will be accepted for the minimum income requirement
- what evidence is needed to show your relationship is ‘genuine and subsisting’
- the difference between various visa types, such as Fiancé visas, Unmarried Partner visas, and Spouse / Civil Partner visas , and what they allow you to do
A small slip in a visa application can lead to delays and refusals, even where you have a strong and genuine case. As a result, many couples find themselves living in limbo – or apart – as they try to navigate the system. In any visa application, experienced advice on which route to take, whether you can apply in the UK or abroad, and the information and documents you need to gather, can be game-changing.
