Marrying a german citizen that lives in the UK

[Tots]

I'm a Nigerian, who has been in the UK on a students visa for the past 6 years. I have a partner and he is a German citizen who lives in the UK. We want to get married and settle down but I need to put an application in in order to be able to switch from a student's visa to suitable one.

How do I go about this? Thanks

[Casa]

If you want to get married in the UK, as foreign nationals you are required to register your intent to marry with a Home Office designated Registry Office.

The Registrar is then legally bound to notify the HO who can then extend the notification period from 28 to 70 days in order to interview you both separately should then choose to do so before the wedding can take place.

If you are given permission, once you are married you would then apply for a Residence Card as a family member of an EEA citizen. This assumes however that your future spouse is exercising their Treaty rights in the UK. Are they employed or studying and/or do they have PR?

[Tots]

Thanks for your reply. Another issue I forgot to mention is that my students visa has expired and I only have a few weeks left to make a new application in the UK or leave for Nigeria.

What can I do in this case? Cheers

[Casa]

Do you realise that an application would have to be submitted within 14 days of your student visa expiring?

Any request to marry when one of the couple has an expired visa will come under a great deal of scrutiny and you appear to have run out of time.

You may want to think of a Plan B.

[Tots]

What might you suggest please as PLAN B?

[Casa]

What might you suggest please as PLAN B?

Return to Nigeria, marry there and then apply for an EEA Family Permit to re-enter the UK.

[Tots]

My fear is that it might become increasingly difficult for me to come back into the UK.

[noajthan]

My fear is that it might become increasingly difficult for me to come back into the UK.

On what grounds do you say that?
That option is probably your best bet.

Hanging on in UK for grim death, screwing your eyes tight shut and simply hoping for the best is less viable.

[Tots]

... especially because of stricter enforcements in the UK and its immigration agencies.

[Obie]

Thanks for your reply. Another issue I forgot to mention is that my students visa has expired and I only have a few weeks left to make a new application in the UK or leave for Nigeria.

What can I do in this case? Cheers

How long have you and the German guy been in a relationship?

[Tots]

My fear is that it might become increasingly difficult for me to come back into the UK.

On what grounds do you say that?
That option is probably your best bet.

Hanging on in UK for grim death, screwing your eyes tight shut and simply hoping for the best is less viable.

You are probably right. Thank you.

[noajthan]

... especially because of stricter enforcements in the UK and its immigration agencies.

UK immigration route is different from EU route.
Suggest look into FP in more detail and cast rumour and hearsay aside.
Ofcourse no guarantees whichever route you take.

[Tots]

Thanks for your reply. Another issue I forgot to mention is that my students visa has expired and I only have a few weeks left to make a new application in the UK or leave for Nigeria.

What can I do in this case? Cheers

How long have you and the German guy been in a relationship?

For about 7 months

[Tots]

... especially because of stricter enforcements in the UK and its immigration agencies.

UK immigration route is different from EU route.
Suggest look into FP in more detail and cast rumour and hearsay aside.
Ofcourse no guarantees whichever route you take.

I recently just put in a FLR (FP) application and I was refused. I now don't know what other kind of application I can put in.

[noajthan]

I recently just put in a FLR (FP) application and I was refused. I now don't know what other kind of application I can put in.

UK immigration route is quite different from EU route.
Suggest look into FP option and EU route in more detail.