Fiance Visa Extension - FLR(M) or Visitors Visa-Please Help

[aussie27]

I am writing to seek advice on the best case for a Visa application to extend my stay in the UK.

I am an Australian Passport Holder currently on a Work Visa which expires on January 28th 2013.

My Fiance (9yrs partnership) is on ILR and will apply for a British Passport in February 2013.
My 10 month old Baby has a British and Australian Passport.
I am travelling to Australia for a holiday January 18th 2013 returning March 1st 2013.

When I return I will be able to enter the country on a 180 day visitor visa.
This will leave my stay in the UK Valid until end August 2013 on the visitor visa.

As a family we are planning to permanently relocate to Australia b/w September-October 2013 (subject to work situation).
This would see me overstaying my visitor’s Visa by 30-60 days.

The alternative appears to be to apply for a FLR(M) Visa which is an Extension of Visa as a Partner of a Settled Person.

Based on this & the advice I am receiving, I need to fast track this Visa with an appointment January 9th in Liverpool prior to departing to Australia on 18th January.
The associated costs are as follows
1) Border Agency Fee  £867
2) Lawyer Fee  £250 ex VAT
3) Immigration Agency Fee £750 ex VAT

This seems extortionate and I am hoping to receive some feedback for an alternative approach, or to get advice on how I can make an application for FLR(M) at a reduced cost.
Can I apply for this visa while I am back in Australia between Jan-March?
As it stands paying £2K is not viable.
Any advice asap is really appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Greenie]

I don't understand what the 'immigration agency fee' of £750 refers to?

[Lucapooka]

You can't use FLR(M) in any case, as that would require you to be in the UK with something other than a visit visa. So, just overstay for 30 or 60 days. Otherwise, you can put in an postal FLR(O) application, before your visit leave expires, based on whatever comes to mind, but withdraw this and depart before it gets to the stage of being considered (it would take more than two months - perhaps a lot more). That way you will not have overstayed your leave. You will have to pay an application fee for this and make sure you give sufficient notice to retrieve your passport in time to travel. Others may have more suggestions.

[aussie27]

I don't understand what the 'immigration agency fee' of £750 refers to?

The 'Immigration Agency Fee' refers to the fee an immigration lawyer will charge us to process the visa through them. As we have left it until quite late we will this is our only option

[aussie27]

You can't use FLR(M) in any case, as that would require you to be in the UK with something other than a visit visa. So, just overstay for 30 or 60 days. Otherwise, you can put in an postal FLR(O) application, before your visit leave expires, based on whatever comes to mind, but withdraw this and depart before it gets to the stage of being considered (it would take more than two months - perhaps a lot more). That way you will not have overstayed your leave. You will have to pay an application fee for this and make sure you give sufficient notice to retrieve your passport in time to travel. Others may have more suggestions.

I currently am in the UK on a work visa - it expires on 28th of January when my maternity leave finishes (I am not returning to work).

[aussie27]

Just to clarify with the forum community in this case.

The Visa Consultancy Company have suggested their fee is £750 & a Lawyer is required at a further £250 for this FLR(M). This seems ridiculously high for submitting an application. The value they have added to date is to secure an appointment in Liverpool to get this Visa attended to on short notice, I do not know why a lawyer is required.

Can anyone shed any light on whether the lawyer is required and if there is an alternative way to privately secure a meeting to get the visa heard. We are based in London.

Thanks in advance for any feedback received.

[Jaymac]

In my personal opinion you do not need any legal assistance - a worryingly high proportion of immigration "barristers" are scam jobs.

If your application would be straightforward you should be able to do it yourself.

[Greenie]

It is a waste of time and money applying for FLR (m) if you do not intend on settling in the UK. The 'immigration agency' fee is a complete rip off if you are also having to pay for a lawyer.

If you have sufficient evidence of your intentions to move back to Australia when you arrive back in the UK in march then i would suggest going for the visit option. If you want to avoid overstaying then do as lucapooka has suggested and make an FLR(o) application and then withdraw is or perhaps consider moving back to Australia a month earlier.