Taking the next step in your relationship is a significant decision. If you are currently on a fiancé visa UK and are ready to formalise your commitment, switching to a spouse visa is the logical step toward securing a lasting partnership.
We’ll simplify this procedure for you. The necessary procedures for converting a fiancé visa to a spouse visa UK will be discussed. You may contact Rees Clayton at 02033939272 for comprehensive information and professional advice on spouse, fiancée, or any other kind of visa.
You may switch your fiancé visa to a UK spouse visa before it expires. UK spouse visa holders are allowed to stay for 33 months initially, with the possibility of an extra 30-month extension. Those with a spouse visa can live, work, and study in the UK. Additionally, after five years in the UK, holders of spouse visas are qualified to apply for settlement, sometimes referred to as indefinite leave to remain or ILR.
You often need to be outside of the UK in order to apply for a spouse visa. However, if you currently possess a fiancé visa, you may convert your fiancé visa to a spouse visa UK without departing the country.
You must fulfil specific eligibility conditions in order to switch your fiancé visa to a spouse visa in the UK:
To sponsor you, a UK-based spouse or civil partner has to be:
Additionally, remember that you are responsible for providing paperwork, not the immigration caseworker. Most likely, they won’t conduct any more investigations to influence the immigration decision in your favour.
Contact us directly if you want expert legal advice on your spouse’s visa application or if you are still unsure how to fulfil this criterion while making the changeover. You can reach us via our website or by phone at 02033939272.
To obtain a fiancé visa, you and your spouse were obligated to provide evidence of a minimum yearly income of £29,000 (or £18,600 if you had submitted an application before April 11, 2024).
According to immigration laws, when you convert your fiancé visa to a UK spouse visa, the Home Office will usually utilise the documentation you provided on your first application. Proof of ongoing employment or self-employment, however, could be needed.
Your proficiency in speaking and writing English will be demonstrated when you apply for your fiance visa. As a result, the Home Office is likely to presume that you already meet this requirement and won’t ask for further evidence.
The Home Office may require specific documents in order to process your application to change your visa status from fiancé to spouse. You may not require as many of these papers as you did for your first fiancée visa because the Home Office will already have them. They could ask you for:
Remember that this is not a comprehensive list of the documents. Depending on your particular circumstances, you could be required to provide extra documentation.
You must follow these procedures in order to apply for a spouse visa rather than a fiancé visa:
The cost of switching a fiance visa to a spouse visa in the United Kingdom is £1,048. In addition, it is necessary to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge in order to access the National Health Service (NHS), which costs £1035 annually.
The duration of the process could vary. If you are submitting your visa application from within the UK and require a prompt decision, you may also opt to pay an additional fee for the super-priority service. It is priced at £800.
The application process for a Spouse visa typically requires 24 weeks if the application is submitted outside of the United Kingdom. A Spouse visa may be obtained from within the UK, and it is typically processed within eight weeks.
You are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) once you have obtained a Spouse visa.
As previously mentioned, a fiancé visa is only effective for a maximum of six months. Conversely, spouse visas are valid for a long duration and may result in permanent residency in the United Kingdom.
It is possible to petition for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of residence in the United Kingdom on a Spouse visa, which is distinct from the majority of other pathways to ILR. It is important to note that the 5-year minimum does not apply to individuals who are in the UK on a Fiancé visa.
In addition to the five-year requirement, the following criteria must be met:
Upon obtaining ILR status, you will be able to permanently reside in the UK and circumvent immigration control. You will also be eligible to petition for British citizenship after a year of legal and permanent residence in the United Kingdom.
You are permitted to enter the UK for a period of up to six months prior to your wedding with a fiancé visa. During this time, you are prohibited from engaging in any form of employment or academic pursuits. Conversely, a spouse visa allows you and your spouse to reside in the United Kingdom for a maximum of thirty months, with the potential to extend the duration if necessary. Another advantage is the ability to attend education and work simultaneously.
In order to convert your visa status from fiance to spouse in the United Kingdom, you must either legally marry or register your civil union within six months of your arrival in the country. Subsequently, you must file for a change of status before your current visa expires.
If you and your fiancé plan to remain in the UK after the wedding, your fiancé will need to convert their visa to a conjugal visa. You and your fiancé are permitted to enter the United Kingdom on various types of visas to marry.
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