Unmarried Partner visa

Thanks Susie for the earlier information. I haven't been on to thank you because I have been looking into the situation a bit more but I do apperiate all the advice people leave on this site. I think I read that you applied for an unmarried visa and are currently awaiting the results. If so when did you apply? as I think I will be going through the same route in March as you suggested. Also I don't know anyone who has applied for this visa nd have started getting my bills together any guidance on how many items of evidence you gave and any tips?Please let me know the outcome. It would just be good to hear from someone who has been through it.

Saara G: I sympathise with your situation but really I have exhausted all avenue on how to extend my working holiday maker visa. I work as as an Executive Assistant for the director of Specail Needs in the London Borough of Bromley( fancy title for a personal assistant) and my boss would like to keep me working in April when my visa expires. He has been told that(by HR) as my job is admin and not part of the shortage occupation list there is no way to keep me on like that. They are hoping that my unmarried visa will go through and I will be back the first of May. I wish I could help you out more but as someone who works in a similair industry it does not look good. If an unmarried visa wasn't an option I pretty much would be looking at marriage. I know it's not what you want to hear. Best of Luck and good luck with the IND site.

Any chance of an ancestory visa?

Sam

I applied the first week of November by post. The form says it could take 7-14 weeks and I'm currently sitting at 10. However, it takes 24 hours (and about £130 more) if you apply in person at one of the offices listed on the form. I applied by post specifically because it takes longer. I did this because my 2 years was up a couple of weeks AFTER my visa expired. I was hoping they'd sit on it until 2 years had elapsed, then have no excuse to deny me. Like I said, I'm still waiting to hear.

As for evidence, I think you need 10 pieces in both of your names, or an item in each of your names for each one of those (20 in total), or any combination of the two. I used credit card bills, bank statements, council tax statements and the like. I think you need 5 different sources total. They also like letters/bills from a doctor or dentist. Basically, anything official with your name and address on it, and something to prove your partner was at the same address.

Best of luck to you - provided your evidence is good, I don't think this process is very complicated or difficult. The £335 hurts a bit, though.

Sounds like we are in the same boat, Sam!

My boyfriend heard me stressing about all this (and it's not the first time...it seems every few months I have to start worrying about another visa. I have already been on student, then working holiday maker, now another!)and he has proposed!!

So now I have to look into how to get married. I have the forms for Certificate of Approval. Does anyone know whether you can switch from Working Holiday Maker to spouse visa? Any advice would be helpful!

An update on the Unmarried Partner visa situation - I've been approved! I can now work here until January 2008. Just before that runs out, I'm eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, but only if I'm still with my partner, or if I qualify under some other context.

Of course, I'm still going back to Canada in a few months' time, but at least now I know I won't be booted out of the country before my boyfriend gets approved for his immigration.

Which brings me to my next update: I've now been approved as eligible to sponsor! The immigration application has gone through to London now, and once that's approved, we're clear to go home.

It's been a good week for news. Here's hoping the news continues to be good!

While we're doing quick updates:

All is going well with wedding preps! Looks like my family is going to come over and we're going to do a big do with all our friends and family here!

Have sent off my application for a Certificate of Approval. They say 70% of applications are processed within 4 weeks, so I'm on countdown! I just hope it happens quickly, because our ideal date is the 31st of March. Getting excited! I'll post the moment it arrives!

Susie I just wanted to say a quick congratulations. I had such a terrible day at work and it made me feel better to know that it can all work out.

Work is giving me a hard time did you need to show your work anything to say that your visa will continue even though your are making an application. I think it is because I work for the Council why this become a problem....
I am sure it will all get sorted. Few quick questions though

1) Did it take the whole 14 weeks?
2) I assume you continued to work and they had no problem with this?
3)Any problems at all in the process?

You are always full of helpful advice and I just wanted you to know I have apperiated talking to someone also going through what I am.

SaaraG: Wow congratulations I hope everything works out for you. Spring wedding sounds nice. Just playing the waiting game.

Take Care

Sam

Sam,

My application took 13 weeks. However, if you pay £500 and apply in person, it takes 24 hours. My company had no issues with my visa status. They simply trusted that what I was saying was correct. I'm guessing they didn't really care - they just wanted to have plausible deniability, and leave the responsibility up to me. However, if your employer needs some proof, I'm providing a link below to the part of the website that states explicitly that you're still legal to work until the application is either approved or denied.

Here is the form you need to use for the Unmarried Partner extension:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en ... .tmp/FLR(M).pdf

The rest of the Leave to Remain forms are here:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en ... _form.html?

Proof that your status is automatically extended while your application is being considered (scroll down a bit):

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en ... ation.html

I really hope it works out for you! I know the whole process is incredibly frustrating, and I had to do an unbelievable amount of research and asking around to find a way to make my situation work. Of course, I have the luxury of a very forgiving employer and extra time on my computer at work to do the research.

Hello everyone! Reading this forum it's nice to know that I'm not the only Canuck that's having issues trying to wade through all the info and redtape for a civil partner visa.

I'm wondering tho, as a civil partner, is one able to pay UK home fees if they would like to study at university?

hi Angie,

If you and your partner are not british (or if you are not british with a british partner) you will have to pay the full fees (international student fees)until you have been living here for 3 years.
It's really annoying (I had to pay about £1000 for a photography course while everybody else (british students) only paid £90!!) but it's how it works !!!

Awww...MAN. There goes 10 grand (pounds) on education. ouch...

But thanks anyhow Joanne!