UPV Question

[Wanderer]

Been reading the rules on this subject, wondering if my thinking is straight!

GF has a student visa till 2008, by which time we'll have lived together 'in a relationship akin to marriage' for three years but for a period apart explained below.

But I wonder if it's possible or wise to apply for UPV now based on the caseworker guidance notes which state that it's accepted that use of the visitor visa category can count toward the two year quailifying period.

Our dates are:

She came here on STS (not VV) Jul 2004 until Oct 2004 when she went back to uni in her own country.

I went to her country for two weeks March 2005

She came here on Student Visa in Aug 2005 till Dec 2006 when as part of her uni course she has to go on placement for a year.

Now I'm worried about this placement cocking up our UPV from Aug 2005 plans, more than six months apart. She's due back Sept 2007. Obviously we fly to and fro regularly but the six month think worries me.

If we can count UPV time from July 2004 until now have we got a better case - no six month period apart? Or am I worrying too much? Since she went we've spent btween two and four days together per trip every three weeks or so.

And if we do apply and it's refused, would this nullify her student visa valid till Oct 2008?

Thanks

Steve