Unmarried Partner VISA - Civil Partnership

[pjhn77]

I'm trying to figure out whether it will be possible to bring my parter to UK and what is the fastest route (that allows her to work)
Apologies if this is a common question, been trying to understand terminologies for weeks now.

My partner is in Georgia and I am looking into the Unmarried VISA route (although its confusing if there is a requirement to have lived together for two years). So far I can see thats the normal route to allow her to work as well.

Would it make it possible if we would get a civil partnership in another country, like Greece and then apply for a EUSS family permit? The permit is for 6 months and from my understanding she can apply for a pre-settled status after that? My apologies if I am missing something obvious.

Me:
Settled Status (EU country), in UK for 8 years.
Full-time working +£70,000 annually
One bed flat renting (can accommodate partner)

Her:
From Georgia (non EU) - lives there currently
Studied in UK between Sept 2021 - Sept 2022 (Master degree in English - Sussex University) - Chevening Scholarship
Studied in US (another masters degree - two years, also in English) - Full Bright Scholarship

Timelines:
Relationship started: March 2022 (first in person, then from distance)
Validity of relationship: Easy to prove with several trips and photos (1 in UK, 1 in Poland, 1 in Greece, 1 in Italy).

[meself2]

although its confusing if there is a requirement to have lived together for two years

For unmarried partners - that's kind of expected, but see the family visa page for exceptions.

Would it make it possible if we would get a civil partnership in another country, like Greece and then apply for a EUSS family permit?

https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/apply- ... chtenstein

You can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if all of the following are true:

you’re the eligible family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

your family relationship began by 31 December 2020

I'm not an expert in EUSS (let's wait once they give their opinion), but as far as I know, you'd need to satisfy the part in bold; you're mentioning your relationship started in 2022.

Relationship started: March 2022 (first in person, then from distance)

Have you looked at family visa?
https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse

[pjhn77]

Thank you for your response.

Thats the confusion I have with the EUSS family permit as in some guides online I see the 31/12/2020 as the cutoff period of when I had to be in the UK and in some others regarding the relationship.
In that case the permit is not an option and forming the Civil Partnership has no real benefits for the process.

The only option left is the family-spouse visa as they claim they accept unmarried partners and without the need to have lives together for 2 years.

I assume a popular route for many is to get the proposed civil partner where the partner comes here with the intention of marrying/forming a civil partnership. The only benefit I see in that one is that you pay less from within the UK when you actually apply for the family visa after the 6 months.

We are planning the same with a visitor visa to allow 6 months window for now , but not sure which is fastest or cheaper. Visitor visa or proposed civil partnership.

[meself2]

We are planning the same with a visitor visa to allow 6 months window for now , but not sure which is fastest or cheaper. Visitor visa or proposed civil partnership.

You cannot marry or switch to a spouse visa while in country on a visitor visa.
https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor

You cannot:
[...]
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:

you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor
your visa is for 6 months or less

[pjhn77]

Thank you for your guidance. My apologies, I meant not to apply from inside the UK while on the visitor VISA but to just allow to visit until we apply (from outside) for the Family VISA.

The family route allowed couples (unmarried) that can show an actual relationship (photos/text).

So I am not sure why someone would go for the option of the proposed civil partnership and then apply from within for the spouse VISA. Thats 1800 (initial application) and 1200 the second one.
I assume that only for couples that are together less than two years?

For my case I think I only need to decide if we should form a civil partnership if possible (outside the UK) to strengthen the application. We have photos together (starting 2,5 years ago) and texts, but not sure if not being officially together would make a big difference for them.

[Casa]

Thank you for your guidance. My apologies, I meant not to apply from inside the UK while on the visitor VISA but to just allow to visit until we apply (from outside) for the Family VISA.

The family route allowed couples (unmarried) that can show an actual relationship (photos/text).

So I am not sure why someone would go for the option of the proposed civil partnership and then apply from within for the spouse VISA. Thats 1800 (initial application) and 1200 the second one.
I assume that only for couples that are together less than two years?

For my case I think I only need to decide if we should form a civil partnership if possible (outside the UK) to strengthen the application. We have photos together (starting 2,5 years ago) and texts, but not sure if not being officially together would make a big difference for them.

In order for a visa application as an Unmarried Partner to succeed, you would be required to submit documented evidence of living together in a relationship 'akin to marriage'. The Case Worker will expect to see joint responsibilities, such as shared finances/bills, both names on a mortgage or rental agreement etc. Photos & texts won't be sufficient. The evidence must cover a minimum period of 2 years.

[pjhn77]

Thank you for your guidance. My apologies, I meant not to apply from inside the UK while on the visitor VISA but to just allow to visit until we apply (from outside) for the Family VISA.

The family route allowed couples (unmarried) that can show an actual relationship (photos/text).

So I am not sure why someone would go for the option of the proposed civil partnership and then apply from within for the spouse VISA. Thats 1800 (initial application) and 1200 the second one.
I assume that only for couples that are together less than two years?

For my case I think I only need to decide if we should form a civil partnership if possible (outside the UK) to strengthen the application. We have photos together (starting 2,5 years ago) and texts, but not sure if not being officially together would make a big difference for them.

In order for a visa application as an Unmarried Partner to succeed, you would be required to submit documented evidence of living together in a relationship 'akin to marriage'. The Case Worker will expect to see joint responsibilities, such as shared finances/bills, both names on a mortgage or rental agreement etc. Photos & texts won't be sufficient. The evidence must cover a minimum period of 2 years.

These are the requirements of the Unmarried VISA.
The family visa allows applications for couples that don't live together but the relationship is longer than 2 years.

[Casa]

.

The family route allowed couples (unmarried) that can show an actual relationship (photos/text).

For my case I think I only need to decide if we should form a civil partnership if possible (outside the UK) to strengthen the application. We have photos together (starting 2,5 years ago) and texts, but not sure if not being officially together would make a big difference for them.

According to your post above, you are undecided whether to apply for the Unmarried Partner Visa, or to form a Civil Partnership and submit a family visa application.

The advice given in my previous post, was referring specifically to the detailed evidence required for a UPV application to have any chance of success.

Your assumption is incorrect that unmarried partners not living together, qualify under the family route.