What is Fiance Visa?
The UK Fiance Visa allows you to remain in the UK, if you intend to get married with your UK partner. This visa enables a non-EEA national to enter the UK and to get married to your partner who is a UK citizen or a person settled in the UK and start a new life together.
Fiance Visa is granted under the presumption that you will get married to your UK based partner within the validity time period of 6 months.
After the time period expires you should apply for another immigration permission to remain in the UK. The Spouse Visa is recommended for such a case as it permits 30 months stay in the UK. As a Spouse Visa holder you can get employed and also study in the UK.
Who is Eligible for a UK Fiance Visa ?
You and your partner are required to fulfill certain conditions and requirements for your eligibility for the Fiance Visa. Thy are as follows:
You and your partner should be 18 years old or above
You must be preparing for your marriage to be within the 6 month validity period of the Fiance Visa
Your partner who is your sponsor should be a UK citizen or a person having settled status
You need to prove that you will not be a financial burden as you can financially support yourself and assist your partner so that you can have a combined income of minimum £18,600 annually
You should convince that you have a suitable accommodation to reside with your partner and other dependents if any
You need to take a certified SELT test to prove that your proficiency in English that needs to be to the level of A1, if you are from a non-English speaking country as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
What are the Financial Requirements for the Fiance Visa UK ?
The Fiance Visa UK requires you and your partner to meet minimum financial thresholds. With the submission of the evidence you need to convince the Home Office that as a couple you have sufficient money to support yourselves or any other dependent if present during your stay in the UK.
The minimum income threshold of £18,600 should be met by you and your partner. In the case of having children joining you, the amount increases by £3,800 for your first child and £2,400 for each subsequent child.
The following can be considered to support your finances:
Regular earnings through employment
Self-employment
Maternity, paternity, adoption or sick pay
Savings
Stocks and share
Pension paymen
Property financial gains, like regular income from rent
It should be well known that you will not be classified as a permanent resident by holding a Fiance Visa and so you will not have access to public funds.
Required Documents and Information for Fiance Visa
To classify you to be eligible to apply for a Fiance Visa, certain documents and information needs to be provided.
Information regarding you and your partner also the dependents with you if any should be presented. Some of the major information to be provided are:
Your name and date of birth
Copies of the photo page and any visa stamped pages of your old passport
Details about you and your partner’s relationship such as how long have you been together, how you met and how often you two meet
Information of any other person you had previously married or the children you had with them
Divorce certificates if you have had divorced anyone
Informations regarding any criminal convictions
Details of the countries outside the UK that you have visited or lived
The birth date and nationality of your parents if you are from outside the UK
Rubens Immigration can provide information and guidance on the documents and information required for the Fiance Visa. We will assist you to gather and compile all your documentation, to make certain that the evidence provided will meet the administrative standards and maximise the success of your case.
What is the English Language Requirement ?
You will be required to fulfill the English language requirement, unless you fall into the exceptional category.
You need to exemplify your English ability to prove that you have a strong command in English and can read, write, speak and understand it well without any difficulties. As set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages the level of proficiency should be at least to the level of A1.
To prove your English language ability a SELT test at the level of A1 at an authentic English language test centre needs to be proven. In your portfolio the pass certificate needs to be submitted as well as evidence to the Home Office.
In the following cases, you will be exempt from the English language requirement:
You are over 65 years of age
You have a degree or higher qualification taught in English at an educational institute
You are living in the UK as a widow or orphan
You are a victim of domestic abuse
You are a recognised refugee in the UK
You have a mental or physical condition because of which you cannot meet the English language requirement
Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn how to apply for a Fiance Visa.
How Do I Satisfy the Genuine Relationship Requirement ?
The genuine relationship requirement is one of the most important requirements that should be fulfilled for the UK Fiance Visa. Adequate evidence should be provided to show that your relationship with your UK-based partner is genuine.
The information to provide could be:
Details about your relationship like how you two met, how long have you been together and how often do you meet one another
Testimonials from family, friends and professional people to vouch that your relationship is genuine
Information related to accommodations that demonstrate you have lived together
Bank statements of joint accounts
If you have had children together, their birth details
Divorce certificates, if applicable
If there are any doubts or confusions regarding the genuine relationship requirements then you could get in touch with our immigration lawyers. We will provide you with appropriate suggestions and guidance as per your situation to prove that your relationship is genuine.
Fiance Visa Application Fees and Processing Time
A number of documents need to be provided that exemplify you to be eligible for a Spouse Visa extension. The documents are required to be submitted in their original form, exceptions are made for the financial documentation.
According to your situation the information required might vary. Some of the information that you should provide are:
Personal details: It includes your biometrics and other documents such as your current passport or other valid travel ID. You should provide a copy of the photo page along with the copies of any pages that include a visa stamp, if you have any previous passports. Documents relating to your partner and any children that you are applying on behalf of should also be provided.
Financial documents: This includes the bank statements and payslips. Electronic financial documents are also accepted with the condition of having accompanied with a letter from the issuing authority.
Certified English language test certificate: Unless you fall into the exemptions category you will need to provide this to prove that you meet the language requirement.
Evidence and detail of relationship: Documents that support the genuinity of your relationship with your partner such as marriage or civil partnership certificate recognised by the UK should be provided. Demonstration should be done that proves you have been living together throughout your UK residency.
Receiving a Decision
After receiving a decision and having your Fiance Visa approved, you will officially be granted six months time to remain in the UK. During this time period you are expected to get married to your partner and also abide by the conditions that are imposed on your immigration permission.
You will need to report to border control when you arrive, if you are travelling from outside the UK. When you travel to the UK, it is crucial for you to bring photocopies of the main documents and information from your application.
It is anticipated that you intend to make the UK your permanent residency as you are granted with a Fiance Visa, for which you will need to switch to a different long-term immigration permission when the Fiance Visa expires.
There is no provision of Fiance Visa extension. Although, you might be granted an extension at the discretion of the Home Office, if certain exceptional incidences, averted you to get married in the initial 6 months time period.
The exceptional extension needs the same requirements to be fulfilled for your eligibility and your personal circumstances must not have drastically changed.
How Do I Switch to the Spouse Visa ?
Fiance Visa has a major advantage of an easy transition to the highly pursued Spouse Visa. You can apply for the Spouse Visa through the standard application process while you are in the UK before your Fiance Visa expires.
Under a Spouse Visa you are eligible to stay in the UK for 30 months and can later apply for the Spouse Visa extension as well when your original Spouse Visa expires with the condition that your circumstances have not changed, which also lasts for 30 months.
As a Spouse Visa holder you can work and study in the UK which slowly maximises your eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.
The Spouse Visa and its extension makes a total of 5 years of you living in the UK and you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain which is a form of permanent residence and so you can remain in the UK without any restrictions.
After living in the UK for a year holding Indefinite Leave to Remain, you are qualified to apply for full British citizenship. You can enjoy the benefits of being a British citizen and can apply for a British passport too.
