Whether you’re looking to apply for the first time or aiming to renew your partner visa, Latitude Law is well placed to help you secure the right to live with your family member in the UK.
Since 2007, our team of experienced immigration solicitors have been successfully reuniting thousands of couples and providing qualified EEA nationals with the opportunity to live, work, and join family in the UK.
We understand how stressful it can be to be separated from your loved one, and that is why our team will work closely with both parties to ensure that you understand every stage of the application process.
Latitude Law assists at all stages, from visits to initial partner applications, from extensions all the way through to settlement and naturalisation.
A partner visa allows the romantic partner of certain UK residents to relocate to the UK to be with their loved one. The initial visa is granted for two and a half years, which can then be extended by another two and a half years so that the settlement target of five years can be reached. Applicants who do not meet all of the criteria may still be eligible for a partner visa, but they will be unable to settle until 10 years have passed on the route.
Applicants who are engaged to be married/form a civil partnership face a slightly different application process. They must enter the UK initially for a six-month period only, during which time there is no permission to work and no access to free healthcare. During that six-month visa, the couple must marry/form a civil partnership, and the applicant may then apply in-country for full partner status.
Applicants may bring their children to the UK with them. All dependents must be under the age of 18 and be solely in the applicant’s care. They will also need to meet the suitability and eligibility requirements.
Your partner must either be British or Irish; settled in the UK; hold pre-settled status; hold a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish worker visa; hold refugee status or humanitarian protection; or have permission to stay as a stateless person. One of the following must also be true:
1. You are in a marriage or civil partnership that is recognised in the UK.
2. You have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years.
3. You have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but have been unable to live together, for example because you are working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture.
4. You are a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner, and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving.
The requirements you must then satisfy are split into suitability, relationship, financial, and English language requirements (as well as immigration requirements if you are already in the UK).
1. Suitability – These relate to your conduct and character. If you have any criminal convictions or previous immigration problems in any country, these will be considered here.
2. Relationship – These focus on whether your relationship is genuine and subsisting and whether it is your intention to live together permanently in the UK.
3. Financial:For more detailed information, please see this article Partner visa financial requirement.
a. Income/Savings - The financial threshold can be met in several different ways, but most commonly is met via employment income or through savings. Please refer to our specific guide on the financial requirement for more information.
b. Accommodation – You must have suitable accommodation available to you in the UK, and intend to live there with your partner.
4. English Language – You must be able to hold a conversation in English and submit to formal English language testing.
5. Immigration Status – You must not be in the UK as a visitor, with leave granted for 6 months or less, on immigration bail, or in breach of immigration laws.
The partner visa is one which requires mandatory specified documents as evidence; this is where a lot of applicants make mistakes and why their applications are refused. The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law can ensure this does not happen.
Approval for a partner visa can be a difficult process, which is why it is recommended to enlist the help of a legal expert. The solicitors at Latitude Law are able to provide assistance with application preparation, compiling the correct support documentation, and challenging refusals though judicial review, administrative review, or the appeals system. From preparing the application and compiling the correct documentation to challenging refusals through judicial and administrative review and the appeals system, we will give you the best possible chance of securing a UK visa for you and your family. Learn more about how we can help you after you have submitted your application by asking about our UK visa application status services.
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As the requirements for a partner visa can be complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your partner visa is compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
Usually, two and a half years, although it depends on whether the applicant is an established partner or a fiancé. All applicants will need to make at least one extension application in the UK before they can qualify for settlement
A partner visa is not automatically cancelled if a relationship comes to an end, but the visa obviously can be cancelled if the individual no longer qualifies for it. In that scenario, some time is usually given for an alternative application to be made.
If your partner visa application has been refused, you have 28 days to appeal against the decision if you are outside of the UK. For those already in the UK, you would have 14 days to make your appeal.
If you receive a refusal decision, our experienced immigration solicitors can help you to understand what has gone wrong and what steps you can take to fix it.
At Latitude Law, we understand how stressful the prospect of being separated from your loved ones can be. Get in touch with our team on 0044 161 234 6800 or complete our contact form to learn more about how we can support you through the process.
Yes, you must extend it at least once in the UK before you are eligible for settlement, depending on if you are on the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement.
Yes, you will be eligible for settlement after 5 or 10 years, depending on the visa route you are on.
Yes, you can switch to another visa route if you meet the required eligibility criteria.
The UK government believes that family should stay together wherever possible, which is why they offer visas for family members of British citizens or migrants who are settled in the UK. The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law can guide you through the application process and provide legal advice on complex matters, such as past refusals and appeals.
If you are looking to apply for an ancestry visa to provide you with the right to live, learn, and work in the UK, Latitude Law can assist you and help you to navigate the UK immigration system.
We can help you to navigate the complexities of obtaining a child visa; UK authorities require you to provide supporting documentation to prove that you and your child meet the visa’s requirements. While you can apply for the child dependant visa yourself, this brings with it the risk of making costly and time-consuming mistakes. Our team is made up of immigration experts who will ensure you avoid the many pitfalls surrounding applying for immigration status.
