Moving g/f to the UK

[steviek]

Hi all,

I'm a British Citizen (born in UK if that matters). Been living in the states for the past 3 years.

I've just been offered a great job back in London and I'm flying home on Monday. My American g/f wants to follow me in a couple of weeks and will stay here for a month to see if she likes it enough to stay permanently with me.

What is the easiest way for her to come join me and get a work visa. We're quite happy to do a civil partnership but would prefer not to get married as we would prefer to get married properly later (but will do so if we have to). We haven't been together for 2 years so that unmarried partner thing I read about is out.

I'm thinking if she comes over as a tourist for a month and during that time we become civil partners. Then throw in an application for a married visa (can this be done quickly) and then she goes back to America and waits for that to come through. But any advice is appreciated and if anyone knows typical timescales that would be good too.

[mochyn]

Civil patnership is for same sex couples so are you female?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_part ... ed_Kingdom

[Wanderer]

No two year provable cohab no UPV, sorry...

[ElenaW]

Does your gf qualify for a tier 1 or feel like being a student? Otherwise marriage looks to be your only option.

By the way, she can't apply for a marriage visa from within the uk if she's come as a visitor. Not even if she will go back to wait for it to be approved. She has to apply from the us otherwise it will be refused. And yes it will be processed quickly if she pays an extra $300 in addition to the regular visa costs. They say the expedited route takes 15 days but I've heard of people getting their visa within 24 hours if it's a straight forward case.

[steviek]

Ok thanks for the replies.

First. I totally thought a CP was open to hetro couples too. That's totally wrong that we're not allowed to go down that route. And totally wrong homosexual couples are not allowed "real" marriage (if not).

If same sex couples are allowed a CP or marriage, but hetrosexual couples only marriage, I could not see that surviving a human rights challenge.

But I digress.

15 days for a visa if we get married is not an issue. Worst case is she likes it, we do a registrar marriage in London, she flies back and applies. Incidentially, what's to stop you posting the application off from London to the US office where you apply (which would be Chicago for us it seems).

[PaperPusher]

........that the passport needs to be included, and the applicant needs to give their biometrics!

[steviek]

That's a very good reason

[ElenaW]

15 days for a visa if we get married is not an issue. Worst case is she likes it, we do a registrar marriage in London, she flies back and applies. Incidentially, what's to stop you posting the application off from London to the US office where you apply (which would be Chicago for us it seems).

Keep in mind that you also have to apply for a COA still which takes a few weeks to process before you can get married in the uk.