Umarried partner's visa

I have a question about the unmarried partner visa. From what I understand, you have to be living together for 2 years before you can get this visa. So my question is, if you are in different countries to begin with how do they expect you to live together for 2 years? Does one of you just get up and go to the other country so you can live together? I assume you can't work during these initial 2 years till you get the unmarried partner's visa? Is this right? Also, can one year of living together be in one country and the second year in the other country?

I've emailed the Home Office with these questions but they have yet to reply to me so thought I'd post here and see what you guys might have to say! I'd appreciate any other information you can give me about this type of visa.

Hi Nadia,

Most people who apply for Unmarried Partner visa have been living in the UK with their partner for 2 years on a different visa. For example, I have moved to Scotland on a Working Holidaymaker visa. I can live in the UK for 2 years with this visa, so at the end of the 2 years I will apply for Unmarried Partner visa to stay here for another 2 years with my boyfriend. The only problem is that I can only work for 1 year out of the 2 years.
You cannot go to the UK and stay 2 years without a visa - you can only stay for up to 6 months in the UK if you don't have a visa, and you can't work. So you have to get a visa for 2 years and come over here, and then apply for Unmarried partner. It's a hassle, I know.
I am not exactly sure about living one year in one country and living another year in a different country. That would probably work as long as you provide them with proper documentation to prove that you've lived in the other country together for a year.

I hope this helps

Yes, you can have lived the 2 years together in more than one country. The point you need to prove to them is that you have had a "Marraige-like relationship" for at least 2 years; also that your relationship IS "akin to marraige" and intends to be lasting, as opposed to "just" a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

The Home Office has no concern for WHERE this relationship has been, only that it meets the above criteria.

My partner and I lived together in 4 different countries, none of them mine or his, prior to our application. As long as you have official documentation of your relationship, they will accept it.

Good luck!

I have gone through this with my boyfriend who I met traveling. I came over to the UK on a working holiday maker visa which allowed me to work in the UK for 2 years (I got in right before they changed the rules) I then was going to apply for the unmarried partner visa.

Unfortunately, after getting some advise and hearing others stories, my boyfriend and I got married. (well not really unfortunately although we would have liked to have waited)

They are very strict and you need the FULL 2 years proof, not a day less. My visa started about 2 weeks before I arrived, and when I got here we didn't get my name put on any bills for another few weeks, so basically we weren't couldn't prove that we had been living together for the full 2 years. I was told that they had every right to turn me down, and then I would have to go back to Canada, then the only way we could be together would be if we got married anyhow.

We had been living together when we had been traveling in Australia and SE Asia, but since we didn't have any bills in both our names or any real proof they wouldn't accept this.

If you are going to apply for this visa I would suggest making sure you have a full 2 years at the same address and lots of official proof, no matter what country.

Let me know if you have more questions, I have done loads of research!