Unmarried Partner visa

I'm amazed you had an interview! I kept waiting for one with my Certificate of Approval for Marriage and then with my Spouse Visa but NEVER had an interview. Almost seemed too easy (but definitely NOT cheap!) Anyway, all approved now, so I have a "Further Leave to Remain" visa for 2 years.but it actually says "Residency Permit" at the top. Finally I can go longer than a year without worrying about my visa! YAY!

Just want to say thanks to Susie D and Saara G for keeping a log of your progress, really good reference for those of us looking to go through this process.

One quick query, did you apply through an agency or did you fill out the forms yourself? We have spoken to solicitors and two agencies, frankly i got more useful information reading this forum!Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Go Oilers Go! June 19th Channel 5 1am!

I did it on my own. I'm too much of a control freak, and I don't think an agency would have been of much use. Very handy if you're English isn't the best, but I was able to read all the information I could find and I seemed to do ok. Best of luck to everyone trying to do it! It's worth it in the end!

I filled out all my own forms and did all my own research as well. I found it the best way to just get the thing done. An agency isn't really necessary as all of the forms are available online and it's not an overly complicated process.

Of course, I'm also a control freak - I did all the forms for my divorce (some years back), and all the forms for my boyfriend's immigration to Canada. Those two make the Unmarried Partner visa look like a Grade 4 multiple choice test. Perhaps the Canadian government is just more thorough (read: "exhaustively complex").

Oh, Susie D I'm going to need your help in a few years! We are staying in the UK long enough to get my citizenship (in case we ever want to move back) but then my husband and I are going over to Canada and I'm not looking forward to doing all his forms (I KNOW he'll make me fill all of them out!) The only thing I worry about is that it seems I will have to sponsor him, and I don't have the money in the bank I need to in order to do that. Time to ask the parents for yet another favour!

SaaraG, don't worry. You don't actually need anything in your account to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner. You don't even have to prove you have a job! The only time you need to prove funds is if your spouse has dependents, or if you're sponsoring a dependent. So rejoice!

Also, I think your application might be a bit smaller than mine, because you would only have to include your marriage certificate as proof of the relationship. As common-law partners, we had to include love letters, photos from holidays, birthday cards, e-mails. it was a bit embarrassing.

Good luck with that when it comes time to do it! My advice is start filling out the application months earlier than you think you need to. There's loads of stuff to get together, and it's best to know what they are before you start in earnest. Our application took the full 6 months once we submitted it, and it can take longer if you're missing information and such. Also, it may take a bit to get appointments for his medical and all the rest of it. Just plan well (WELL) ahead.

I am rejoicing! That's great news! Especially because there is no guarantee I will have a job when we go back. He is hoping to transfer from the British Navy to the Canadian Navy, so he might be supporting me!

I know what you mean about getting stuff done early. Luckily, that is the way I work anyway. I have 2 years until I can go for citizenship, but I already have the book to study from, etc. I will do the same with his application form. But to be honest, having just done all my forms and been granted my FLR, I can't be bothered to even think about doing it again just yet. I need a break from the forms!

Thanks for the help SusieD! I just wish I'd found this forum when I'd first moved here! It's been so helpful!

Hi everyone,

I have just found about this site and it feels really reassuring! It's nice to see that were not the only people (me and my british boyfriend) going through all of this. I must say we've been through a lot already, met in cancun in 2002, used a working holiday maker straight away, went to live in england, then back in canada to finish college, then back in england, then mexico again for a few months, then canada again for uni! now im almost finished uni, ive successfully applied for my boyfriends permanent residence and he's got everything now, it took about 7 months for the answer and then another month to get the card, the national insurance number and the bank account. And im not even talking about all the extensions of stay we've sent in the past! this stuff is so annoying!

Well, now my new issue is that we want to try to live in England, even though Ross has his permanent residence card for Canada! I'm up for it but im not sure which form i should use and whether or not i should do it from canada or england? we're in the same position as many of you, we dont want to get married on the cheap, even though were fiancés and we've been together for almost 6 years now! I suppose I could try the unmarried partner visa because i could easily prove the 2 years together but could i do it from england? and the 24 hours one that you pay 500 pounds, could i do that too?

I hope that some of you still look at those posts!

thanks if you do!

Myriam

Hi guys! Does it have to be 2 CONSECUTIVE years? I was a student in Canada so the longest consecutive time together was 1 year with bursts of 3 months, 1 month, 4 months, etc. Also, while I was away we still had mail in both our names going to the flat.hmmmm.would they catch onto that? I don't want to lie but I am desperate as don't want to get a fiancee visa and then 2 months later pay for the FLR(M) - $$$$$$$

Can one who has come across on WHM change their Visa to Unmarried partner after 1 year (NOT 2 YEARS) and immediately have it roled over to that Visa to continue working?
Long story short.I'm coming over on Ancestry Visa and want me Girlfriend to join me at the same time.It makes sense for us to come across on those 2 Visas for now as we won't hit 2 years (of cohabitation) until November of this year.