Immigrationboards.com

Hi - I cannot find a definitive answer to this, so I'm hoping someone here can help me.

I am a Canadian citizen, my partner is a British citizen, he has permanent residency in Canada, through family sponsorship (common-law partner), we currently reside in Canada and have done so for 4+ years.

My question is;

1. Can I get British permanent residency (or equivalent) or Citizenship?
2. Can I apply from Canada, or will we need to live in the UK?
3. How does marriage or citizenship affect it? (We will be married soon, and he will be a Canadian citizen soon).

Thank you for any help you can provide!

If your plan is to move and settle in the UK, you need to apply for an Unmarried Partner Visa or if you are married a Spouse Visa

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... s-settled/

Your spouse will need to meet the new financial requirements of £18,600 income per annum and if you apply as an unmarried partner, you will also need to prove that you have 'lived in a relationship akin to marriage' for a minimum of two years - this is the first and a non-negotiable requirement for unmarried partner visa.

You need to apply from Canada unless you apply for a Fiance Visa, which is valid for 6 months, during which time you will not be allowed to work, and once you are married, you can switch to the Spouse Visa.

Once your visa (either) is granted, it will be valid for 2.5 years after which you need to extend it for a further 2.5 years and again meet all the requirements. After the 5 year 'probation period', you can then apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency) and only then can you apply for British Citizenship.

Unfortunately there is no easy way anymore. The link above will explain what you need to do.

raymond1 wrote:Hi - I cannot find a definitive answer to this, so I'm hoping someone here can help me.

I am a Canadian citizen, my partner is a British citizen, he has permanent residency in Canada, through family sponsorship (common-law partner), we currently reside in Canada and have done so for 4+ years.

My question is;

1. Can I get British permanent residency (or equivalent) or Citizenship?
2. Can I apply from Canada, or will we need to live in the UK?
3. How does marriage or citizenship affect it? (We will be married soon, and he will be a Canadian citizen soon).

Thank you for any help you can provide!

In order to be naturalised as a British Citizen ( for a person who is the spouse of a British Citizen) you must meet the requirements

You will more than likely need to come to the UK as a spouse or perhaps using an ancestry visa if applicable.

Thank you for the replies. From what I understand then, permanent residency (leave to remain) and citizenship both require you to live in the UK? There are no options that allow you to obtain them without moving and living in the UK?

Thanks again,

raymond1 wrote:Thank you for the replies. From what I understand then, permanent residency (leave to remain) and citizenship both require you to live in the UK? There are no options that allow you to obtain them without moving and living in the UK?

Thanks again,

Well you can obtain British Citizenship through descent if born abroad, but in your case, unless you had a British parent the answer is you need to be resident in the UK to be naturalised.

D4109125 wrote:

raymond1 wrote:Thank you for the replies. From what I understand then, permanent residency (leave to remain) and citizenship both require you to live in the UK? There are no options that allow you to obtain them without moving and living in the UK?

Thanks again,

Well you can obtain British Citizenship through descent if born abroad, but in your case, unless you had a British parent the answer is you need to be resident in the UK to be naturalised.

Thanks again for your fast reply and advice. That's unfortunate, I seem to remember some method that would allow you to obtain it whilst abroad, with a common-law period to 4 years. But, it seems to have all changed now, as most immigration policies do over time.