Youth Mobility Scheme Visa and Unmarried Partner Visa

[bitterSTAR]

Hi,

I'm British, and also currently living in the UK. I met my girlfriend who is Canadian in the summer, when she was on holiday for 2 months here. I've been to Toronto to see her a couple of months ago, and she is coming here for xmas.

She is planning to come here to live with me for 2 years on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. That way she can work all the hours she wants.

Our plan then was for her to apply for an unmarried partner visa - because by then we would've been living together for 2 years when she was on a YMS visa.

I have noticed though, that the YMS visa terms state the following:
Switching into another route: Not permitted
Extension of stay: Not permitted

Does this mean that once she's had a YMS visa she can not apply for an unmarried partner visa? Or does it just mean that she would have to return to Canada (leaving the country) to then apply for an unmarried parthner visa?

[nicsunshine]

It means that she will have to return to Canada to apply for her UPV. Luckily, settlement visas are processed relatively quickly.