What dates to put about how I met my unmarried partner on online application

[fyzyk]

Hi I am new here to this messaging board. I had a question regarding what I should do. I am currently in the UK on a Tier 4 Student Visa until October 2019. I am from the USA and she is a UK National and we want to get married in the future. I was wondering what options I actually had in regards to remaining in the UK after October 2019. Would I have to switch my Tier 4 visa to a fiance visa or would I need to actually get married and apply for a spousal visa. We are ready to get married now and have a smaller ceremony, but if there was a way to stay in the UK on a fiance visa that would be preferred until we can have a proper wedding. Any helpful advice would be appreciated. I have known her for 4 years and we have proper proof of relationship as well as maintenance funds to prove we have enough income to sustain ourselves together. Thanks in advance.

[Casa]

A fiance visa can only be applied for from outside of the UK. A fiance visa isn't intended to give a couple time to 'hang around' until they are ready to commit to marriage. Once the fiance visa is issued (from outside of the UK) the couple are given a 6 month period in which to marry and submit a FLR(M) application from within the UK.

In order to switch to a Spouse visa you would first have to marry and then apply for a FLR(M) visa.

To be able to marry in the UK you would have to give notice at a Home Office designated Registry Office. The Registrar is legally bound to notify the Home Office who can then extend the notification period from 28 to 70 days in order to interview you both separately, should they choose to do so before the wedding can go ahead.

Your immigration clock would be re-set to zero, putting you on a new 5 year route to settlement (ILR). You would also have to meet the minimum income level of £18,600 p.a which can be joint earnings.

[Robstin2014]

"Would I have to switch my Tier 4 visa to a fiance visa or would I need to actually get married and apply for a spousal visa."

No, you can get married on a Tier 4 Student Visa. You just need to give notice at an approved registry office and allow up to 70 days for the Home Office to investigate if they feel it's necessary. If not, you will only need to wait 30 days.

[fyzyk]

Ok I think I mixed up the visas that I meant in my original post. The correct way of doing it would be to switch to a Unmarried Partners Visa correct? I just wanted to get a second opinion on the matter. I have been living with my girlfriend (who lives with her parents) for 2 years now and and will do so until 2019 when my visa expires. So I believe we should be ok on that front as well as the £18,600 (which we have covered). So if we wanted to get a Unmarried partner Visa to extend my stay for 2.5 years and then apply for a spouse Visa that would give the 5 years correct? We want to get married but not necessarily right now if we don't have to as we would prefer to have a wedding on our own terms not just because we have to for my visa. Thanks.

[Robstin2014]

If you can prove that you have been living together for 2 years or more through the provision of utility bills, tenancy agreements, bank statements showing addresses etc. - Then yes, you can apply for the unmarried partner visa, which falls under the same requirmnets of the spousal visa. You will need to prove that you and your partner meet the £18,600 (before tax) income requirement (you can combine earnings).

To be honest with you I was in the same boat as you, I'm from the UK and my Fiancé is from the USA on a Tier 4 Visa. She lived at my parents house for a year but we decided to move out after that. We have been living together in an apartment for more than a year now and are getting married.

I believe you can still apply for your visa living with your girlfriends parents however you will need to prove, perhaps bank statements? Also you will need to be able to prove the space requirement to show that the place that you are living in is not overcrowded. As mentioned before, it is essential that you can prove earnings of £18,600.

[fyzyk]

Thank you Robstin that's what I thought was just hoping is was the correct info I was looking at

[fyzyk]

Hi,

So I met my partner online and began a relationship with her in October 2014 exclusively online and we started talking over Skype, Facebook etc.

I visited the UK and physically met her for the first time in December 2015 although we were in an online relationship since 2014.

This is where I need help.

Under the Your Relationship section of the unmarried partner visa it asks:

When did you first meet your partner? And asks for a month and a year.

after that, it asks:

When did your relationship begin?

So if I understand it correctly I would put December 2015 for question #1 and October 2014 correct?

Thanks.

[Casa]

Correct.

Further to the advice given regarding proof of living at the same address, the Case Worker will want to see evidence of shared responsibilities such as joint finances. Bank statements in single names won't prove a relationship 'akin to marriage'. If you are living with your partner's parents, this may be a challenge.