FIANCE(E)

Fiance(e) visa allows a person to bring their fiancé(e) to join them in the UK as long as they themselves have settled status in the UK. Settled Status means that they are living here lawfully with no time limit on their stay. If you are returning to the United Kingdom to settle, a fiancé can also apply to join you at the same time.

Duration of a fiance(e) visa

A fiance(e) visa is issued for six months and is solely for the purpose to travel to the UK to get married. After marriage the applicant may apply to stay in the UK, at which time a two year period UK visa may be issued. After this time a person can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain as long as the marriage continues to stand.

Fiance(e) visa requirements

The following are the rules that must be met in order for you to qualify for a fiance(e)'s visa :

• you are seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for marriage to a person present and settled in the United Kingdom or who is on the same occasion being admitted for settlement
• the parties to the proposed marriage have met
• each of the parties intends to live permanently with the other as his or her spouse after the marriage
• adequate maintenance and accommodation without recourse to public funds will be available for you and any dependents until the date of the marriage
• there will, after the marriage be adequate accommodation for the parties and any dependants without recourse to public funds in accommodation which they own or occupy exclusively
• the parties will be able after the marriage to maintain themselves and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds
• you hold a valid United Kingdom entry clearance for entry in this capacity

How do I and my partner qualify for a fiance(e)s visa ?

People who wish to apply for a fiance(e) visa must be 21 years of age or over, and the partner with the settled status or who is returning to the UK to live permanently, must be 21 years of age or over.

To qualify for a UK fiancé(e) visa, partners must:

• plan to marry within a reasonable time (usually six months);
• plan to live together permanently after you are married;
• have met each other;
• have a place to reside for the applicant and any dependants to live until they are married without help from public funds;
• be able to support any dependants without working or having to get help from public funds

Public Funds

To be eligible for a UK marriage visa you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds.

Additional Information

Only after an applicant's fiance(e) visa is changed over to a marriage visa are they able to start working and hold the same rights as their spouse who is present and settled in the UK.

A fiancee visa applicants should marry within the six months from when the fiance(e) visa is issued.

What we can do for you

As British lawyers, we will do our best and even go that extra mile for you. We can help you with the necessary paperwork that will be needed to ensure that your application meets the Immigration requirements.

Please expect us to do the following for you, when you instruct us to represent you or a member of your family:

• Full and professional assessment of your case
• Advice on whether you should consider a different immigration programme or category
• Strong and weak points of your application
• Advice on correct list of documents
• Advice on evidence required
• Instructing your sponsor, relative, employer or college (if required)
• Final check of your documents before submission to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Creating a professionally looking paginated immigration bundle
• Drafting representations and cover letters to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Working with interpreters (if required)
• Submission your application to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Correspondence with the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Keeping you updated by post, E-mail or phone on the progress of your application
• If something goes wrong : requesting a review or reconsideration
• Any further in-country/out-of-country immigration assistance

The above list is not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a professional immigration advice.