To apply for the Unmarried Partner Visa or Same-Sex Partner Visa, you must meet the following criteria: You must have been living together with your partner who has British nationality or has had UK settled person status for at least two years. If you decide to get married, you will not be required to meet the 2 years evidence of co-habitation.
What is an Unmarried Partner Visa UK ?
If you intend to relocate to the UK to begin a new life with your UK-based partner, you could be eligible for Unmarried Partner Visa UK. The Unmarried Partner Visa is designed to enable non-EEA nationals to enter the UK live and work to join their long term UK partner, and to begin a new life here.
The applicant’s partner must be either a UK citizen or a person with settled status in the UK, with indefinite leave to remain or settled status in the UK. There are also circumstances where the applicant is eligible to apply with their Spouse/Partner is on limited leave to remain in the UK,
Unmarried Partner Visa UK lasts for 2.5 years or 30 months.
If you are not sure whether the Unmarried Partner visa is the right for you give us a call on 0203 7324736 or contact us online to discuss your individual requirements and how we can help.
What are the Unmarried Partner visa in UK requirements?
In order to qualify for a UK Unmarried Partner visa you will need to satisfy and meet the following requirements:
- The applicant must have a valid application for entry clearance and must not fall for refusal under any suitability grounds
- The applicant be overseas and attend a appointment to submit their passport and provide their biometric
- Your long term co-habiting partner is British, holds indefinite leave to remain or limited leave to remain in the UK
- You are both over the age of 18;
- You have met in person and have lived together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for a minimum period of 2 years.
- Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently;
- Any previous relationships have broken down permanently and you are not in a relationship with anyone else
- You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds;
- There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
- There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
- Have a valid TB Certificate and
- You can meet the financial requirement of £29,000 to demonstrate you will not have recourse to public funds.
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How long does the Process Take?
On average it can take between 4-6 weeks for an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO), if you are applying from outside the UK or if you are applying from inside the UK, 6-8 weeks for a Caseworker to consider your application and documents and decide to issue you a UK Unmarried Partner visa. In some case it can be longer and each case is considered in its individual merits.
What are the Financial Requirements for an Unmarried Partner Visa UK?
You need to prove to the Home Office that as a couple you have enough money to support yourselves whilst you are in the UK (as well as any dependents included in your application) without recourse to public funds.
Your annual income must be at least £29,000. If you have any child dependents additional financial requirements would apply to meet the requirement. You can prove your finances through any of the following:
- Regular salary through employment
- Self-employment
- Statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity or adoption pay
- Savings
- Stocks and shares
- Pension payments
- Property financial gains, such as a regular income from rent
You may still be able to meet the requirement if you are not working or are on benefits or have sufficient savings to satisfy the financial requirements. If your UK Sponsor – husband or wife is in receipt of the following specified benefits, you will need to fulfil the financial requirement of £29,000.
Do I need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge?
All applicant (s) need to pay the UK NHS Surcharge of £2,587.50, which is a separate fee from the Unmarried Partner visa application fee is £1,048 if applying from inside the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) covers the initial period of the length of the visa. A separate fee is applicable for each dependant
How long is an Unmarried Partner Visa Valid For?
Your initial Unmarried Partner visa will be valid for 2.5 years or 30 month and prior to its expiry, you will be eligible to apply for a further Unmarried Partner extension from inside the UK. If your application is successful you will be granted a further visa for 2.5 years. This is known as the 5 year route under the Immigration rules.
You may still be able to meet the requirement if you are not working or are on benefits or have sufficient savings to satisfy the financial requirements. If your UK Sponsor – husband or wife or Civil partner is in receipt of the following specified benefits, you will need to fulfil the financial requirement of £29,000.
- Disability Living Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit
- Police Injury Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment
- under Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War
- Disablement Pension under War Pensions Scheme
What is the ‘adequate maintenance’ test & requirement?
The adequate maintenance test/requirement will require you and your partner to prove that the level of income available to your family unit (after income tax, National Insurance contributions.
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Can I work on a Unmarried Partner visa?
Yes, you are entitled to Work, Study, Open up a Business in the UK once the visa has been granted. The length of the grant of the visa is 2.5 years or 30 months. After competing 5 years under this route, you can apply for Indefinite leave to remain in the UK, to the Home Office.
What happens if we decide to get married?
Once you are on an unmarried partner visa and you decide to get married, you will be entitled to apply for Spouse leave to remain in the UK, subject to meeting the relevant requirements of the rules.
How do I apply for an Unmarried Partner Visa in UK?
The Immigration Rules in particular the financial requirement of the rules are complex and require specified mandatory documents. If you require professional advice and representation, our Immigration Solicitors dealt with Unmarried Partner visa applications on a regular basis and assist the applicant and the UK Sponsor with full assistance and preparation to ensure that the Immigration rules are met for a successful outcome.
For Further Information or to talk to us, Contact us to discuss your UK Unmarried Partner visa application with one of our Immigration Solicitors in London on 0203 7324736 or complete the contact form.
Does an Unmarried Partner Visa Lead to Settlement?
Once you have completed 5 years as an Unmarried Partner of your long term partner, you will be entitled to eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
What happens if my application is refused?
If your application is unsuccessful and has been refused by an Entry Clearance Officer from outside the UK or from inside the UK, you will be given a right of appeal to challenge and lodge an appeal against the decision to refuse your application for an Unmarried Partner visa to the UK. If this is the case, you can either lodge an appeal or submit a fresh application to address the ECO concerns. We have years of experience to help you with appealing against the decision to refused and will conduct a full assessment of the prospects of success or advice you submit a new application.
My Legal Services immigration lawyers can help you check your eligibility and individuate the correct requirements to make your application successful. Call us on 02037 324 736 to speak with one of our qualified Immigration Lawyers and get for immediate help or enquiry online with your situation
We employ only the highly trained immigration lawyers to help our clients with their Immigration issues. All of our lawyers and solicitors are trained and qualified to help you with the application, appeal or decision making process in obtaining your visa in the UK. You can speak at any time with one of our specialists who will be happy to assist you and go over the process for you to obtain your leave to remain in the UK.
Hire one of our Immigration Solicitors in London to benefit from our Application package, which will allow us to complete your application.
Once instructed, please feel assured we will include the following:
- Taking detailed instructions from you and advising you about the relevant immigration laws and procedures in your entry clearance application for an Unmarried Partner visa to the UK;
- Assessing and checking your documents and evidence to ensure that your application fulfils the relevant requirements, if any documents are missing or additional documents are need
- Advising you if any documents are missing or additional documents are required to support and strengthen your Unmarried Partner visa application.
- Completing of your entire Unmarried Partner visa application process from start to finish
- Preparing a representation letter to the Home Office as to why you qualify for an entry clearance application for an Unmarried Partner visa to the UK.
Why our client’s instruct us and how we can help?
My Legal Services immigration lawyers can help you check your eligibility and individuate the correct requirements to make your application successful. Call us on 02037 324 736 to speak with one of our qualified Immigration Lawyers and get for immediate help or enquiry online with your situation
We employ only the highly trained immigration lawyers to help our clients with their Immigration issues. All of our lawyers and solicitors are trained and qualified to help you with the application, appeal or decision making process in obtaining your visa in the UK. You can speak at any time with one of our specialists who will be happy to assist you and go over the process for you to obtain your leave to remain in the UK.
Hire one of our Immigration Solicitors in London to benefit from our Application package, which will allow us to complete your application.
Get in touch on 02037 324 736 or use our online contact form to speak to our team.
Our Professional Solicitor's are available in person at our offices or via the phone, Call us Today
Our Top Unmarried Partner Visa FAQ’s
UK Unmarried Partner Visa. The Unmarried Partner visa (also known as the UK defacto visa) allows the unmarried partner to enter or remain in the UK on the basis that they are in a relationship with a person who is present and ‘settled in the UK’.
The documents that you can use as evidence of your relationship include:
- Tenancy agreements and letters from the landlord or letting agent to prove cohabitation
- Children’s birth certificates where both parents are named or letters from a school or GP stating the parents have shared responsibility for children
- Bank statements from joint bank accounts, mortgage or tenancy agreements or utility bills in both names to prove shared financial responsibility
- Flight bookings, statements from close family members and photographs of visits to each other’s countries
- Offer of employment for the applicant plans for any children’s education (school acceptance letter) or proof of intention to live together in the UK
The application process from overseas can take between 6-8 weeks, in some cases a lot quicker. If you apply from within the UK, it normally takes between 6-10 weeks.
The application fee for a Unmarred Partner visa is currently £1,033 from inside the UK, plus £19.20 for the Biometric fingerprints fee. The application from overseas is £1,563. In both cases, you will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, known as the NHS charge.
In many cases, you can switch to the Unmarried Partner Visa UK from certain other visa categories without leaving the UK.