what kind of visa should i apply?

[ischafinar]

Hi, everyone, I am a Hong Kong citizen, and I am going to be 19 this year, My same sex partner is a UK citizen, and she is 23. We have been parter for over a year now. Recently, I have been given a refusal of leave to enter when we came back from Italy from a short break. Is there any ban going with the refusal? If no, what kind of visa can I apply for? I had read about a spouse visa,but I am not sure the difference between a spouse visa and the general visitor visa. Can anyone give me some suggestions? thanks much~

[PaperPusher]

There isn't a ban on visiting again unless you used deception or overstayed on a previous visit.

It may be worth applying for entry clearance as a visitor before you travel to the UK if you want to just visit again.

There is a spouse/civil partner visa, unfortunately both of you have to be 21 or over to get that.

Alternatives could be living in the UK by being an international student, but this is expensive.

You could also get married, live together in another EU country for at least six months and then come back using EU rules. The drawback to this is your British partner would have to be exercising treaty rights in the other country by working or studying for example.

You could do the long distance relationship thing by just visiting each other until you are both 21 too. Showing that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit would be hard when your partner is in the UK however.

Let us know if you want more info, links to policy and so on.

[ischafinar]

There isn't a ban on visiting again unless you used deception or overstayed on a previous visit.

It may be worth applying for entry clearance as a visitor before you travel to the UK if you want to just visit again.

There is a spouse/civil partner visa, unfortunately both of you have to be 21 or over to get that.

Alternatives could be living in the UK by being an international student, but this is expensive.

You could also get married, live together in another EU country for at least six months and then come back using EU rules. The drawback to this is your British partner would have to be exercising treaty rights in the other country by working or studying for example.

You could do the long distance relationship thing by just visiting each other until you are both 21 too. Showing that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit would be hard when your partner is in the UK however.

Let us know if you want more info, links to policy and so on.

Thx so much for this : ) U are really helpful~~On my refusal letter, it just stated that I dont have the sufficient documents with me, that with the assumption they have about me not being a genuine student, I first arrive in the UK to look for a school as well as visiting my partner, I already explain to the officer on the point of entry, and that she still issue me a student visitor visa.

By the time I finally start my course is a gd 3 months later. Then when we came back from rome, the officer just said that i have a warning from my previous vocation with my partner on my passport, and that it is to warn us not to enter uk again as student visitor. But the thing is, neither my partner nor I have ever heard the word "warning" during anytime of that day.

After the whole argument, they issue me a refusal of leave to enter on the basis of lack of documentation. I would really like to join my partner to study in UK. But unforturely, my english level isn't sufficient enough to get in a university, and the only english course in the university i want to be in only offer courses last less than 6 months, What should I do..? It would be my best wishes to have some time off to travel around Europe during my stay, will this hindrance my visa?

Thanks again for your reply..

[PaperPusher]

Your English isn't that bad! You could do a foundation course, a pre degree course for a year, and then apply to university and extend your visa.

Have you actually done an IELTS test? You may surprise youself, and even if you do not get great results there are universities that accept 5.5 to 6.

Look at Tier 4 student visas on the UKBA website and the visa website. You cannot come to the UK as a visitor/tourist and apply to stay in the UK as a student, you will have to apply abroad.

It is only May, you could be in uni by September if you get your skates on.

If you are in the UK as a student you are here to study, but there are always the holidays to travel.

[ischafinar]

thx~~well, I had some help writing this.....just want to know if i am holding a student visa, can I leave the country and re-enter with the same student visa? Cause I really want to do a bit of traveling.....

thanks a lot for your replies, u are the most helpful person I encounter in this whole visa sorting process.....

[PaperPusher]

You can come in and out on a student visa (now called Tier 4 of the points based system) as long as you are still studying. Going away when it is the holidays is not a problem.

It can be complicated to get the visa as a student though. You will need money in your bank account or your parent's bank account. There are other things too.

Travelling in the holidays is not a problem honestly, in fact lots of people travel or go home to see family and friends.

[ischafinar]

ok, that's a good news i guess, just that, i am actually supported by my partner, will that be all right? If it is allright, do she or me need to provide anything supporting this arrangement? Thanks~~

[PaperPusher]

You will need a cash lump sum in your bank account I am afraid, plus you must have paid the fees or have the money for your fees in a bank account.

The actual amount of money is on the UK visas website.

What do you want to study?

[ischafinar]

i want to study popular music as a degree course. Guess i need to have that amount of money ready then.....thank you so much for your replies, i think i understand the whole thing a lot clearer now...

[PaperPusher]

I think it may be only a year's fees you have to show, but check this out.

It is so nice to hear that someone wants to come to the UK to study something other than IT/business/law.

Hope you find a good course at a good uni.

Best wishes

PP