My British partner (living in the UK) and I (Russian citizen living in Russia) have been in a long-distance relationship for 4 years 8 months. We have a 40 month old daughter together who was born in Russia but is a British passport holder. Little one is growing up and demands to see MUCH more of her dad, and I'm missing him like mad and cannot stand any more goodbyes. Our circumstances have changed somewhat as I will soon be sending my eldest daughter to join her father in another country where she's been admitted into a school - she was a major factor keeping me in Russia, while my partner has had work (he could not earn here what he earns in the UK) and family ties (ageing parents etc.) in the UK. Having come across the words "Unmarried Partner" on the website I got excited just before seeing the requirement of having lived together for 2 years, so I called UKVI to ask them whether I stood a chance anyway. Once again, I'm Russian and we love all things British (only half joking) so needless to say I had no reason not to trust the lady on the phone and yelled "Yay!" when she told me VERY CLEARLY that it did NOT matter that we had not lived together and that I still qualified. So, I spoke to my partner to give him the good news, started on the application and then called UKVI again with some more questions I had. Funnily enough, they also told me that since we have a child together no proof of relationship other than the original of our daughter's birth certificate (+ a certified translation, as it is in Russian) was required! A while later, looking for some info online I came across this and some other forums where people were asking whether they would be ok to apply despite not having lived together at all or long enough and the answer was NO. My heart skipped a beat so I called UKVI once more and asked the man on the phone whether I qualified having presented my case in detail. He asked me some questions and told me that I did! Having filled out 98% of both the application and Appendix 2, paid for and taken the damn English test with only the Tuberculosis test left to take and just a couple of other docs left to put together I was still reluctant to submit my application - the money is huge (and I cannot believed they have just raised the fee!) and I didn't want to risk it. So, I had my partner call UKVI asking to speak to a case manager (?) who told him that I didn't qualify!
I am devastated, had no idea I was paying so much to speak to people who either have no idea what they're talking about or do this on purpose as a way to raise revenue... Anyhow, is there any way that we could argue that this would be for the (HUGE!) benefit for our child, and that while she could, of course, live with her dad, he must work and could not take proper care of a youngster? Would it make sense to consult an immigration lawyer (anyone any of you could recommend?) who could advise on a way to proceed with the application for a decent chance of being granted the visa? Any success stories and/or tips would be greatly appreciated.
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), then as far as I understand my chances of then getting a visit visa would be slim to none..? I have read up tons on how one must not so much as attempt to use their valid (!) visit visa following a refusal of a settlement visa (I hear they don't necessarily cancel valid visit visas following such refusals) as they would face about a 99.9% chance of being turned around at the border - beautiful, especially when you've got a toddler with you who's dying to see her dad! So, logically, if they send people in possession of a valid visit visa on the next flight home, then why would they grant a new visit visa following a refusal of a settlement visa? 
