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Fiance Visa to PR Timeline: 5 Year Route?

Family member & Ancestry immigration; don't post other immigration categories, please!
Marriage | Unmarried Partners | Fiancé | Ancestry

Moderators: Casa, archigabe, CR001, push, JAJ, ca.funke, Amber, zimba, vinny, Obie, EUsmileWEallsmile, batleykhan, meself2, geriatrix, John, ChetanOjha, Administrator

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irenechooi
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Fiance Visa to PR Timeline: 5 Year Route?

Post by irenechooi » Sat Nov 07, 2015 7:26 am

Hello!

I'm engaged to a British citizen and we're looking at Fiance or Spousal Visa options. I'm trying to do as much research as I can so we can make an informed decision. So...please help!

From what I can figure out, this seems to be the timeline for a Fiance Visa to PR:
1. Apply for Fiance Visa - allowed to stay for 6 months
2. Apply for Leave to Remain with Family after wedding - allowed to stay for 30 months
3 - What do I do here? Apply for a 5-year Route? What is that?
4- Apply for Leave to Remain again
5- Apply for Naturalization

I'm so confused by this.. Genuinely not sure if Fiance Visa or Spousal Visa is the smarter way to go...

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CR001
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Re: Fiance Visa to PR Timeline: 5 Year Route?

Post by CR001 » Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:27 am

Yes, it can be confusing. You need 5 years residence before you are able to apply for PR or Indefinite Leave to Remain under the UK immigration rules. PR refers to the EEA route not applicable to you.

I will give the scenarios on two ways for you.

If you want to marry in the UK
1. Apply for a Fiance visa, meeting all of the requirements. Come to the UK and get married within 6 months. You will not be permitted to work during this time.
2. Once married, apply for spouse visa on form FLR(M), meeting all the requirements again. This visa will be for 30 months. Once granted, you will be permitted to work. You can apply for this extension in person or by post. You will also have to pay the immigration health surcharge of £300 x 2.5 years (so £500) upfront before submitting your application.
3. Shortly before the expiry of the 2.5 year FLR(M) visa, you apply for another FLR(M) extension for a further 2.5 years and do all the necessary as per #2 above.
4. 28 days before you reach 5 years residence and provided you meet all the requirements, you apply for ILR = Indefinite Leave to Remain (PR as you say) on form Set(M). This can be applied for in person or by post.
5. Once you are granted ILR, you can apply for British Citizenship immediate as the spouse of a British Citizen.

If you marry abroad
1. Once married, apply for a spouse visa on VAF4A, meeting all of the requirements. You will be issued with a visa for 33 months but likely get a temporary 30 day visa in your passport to enter the UK and collect your biometric residence permit visa from the Post Office.
3. Shortly before the expiry of the first visa, you apply for an extension on FLR(M) for a further 2.5 years meeting all the requirements. You can apply in person or by post.
4. 28 days before you reach 5 years residence and provided you meet all the requirements, you apply for ILR = Indefinite Leave to Remain (PR as you say) on form Set(M). This can be applied for in person or by post.
5. Once you are granted ILR, you can apply for British Citizenship immediate as the spouse of a British Citizen.
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irenechooi
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Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 9:19 am

Re: Fiance Visa to PR Timeline: 5 Year Route?

Post by irenechooi » Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:54 am

Thank you!

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