Get legal assistance to join your partner in the UK
You have decided to join your partner in the UK. If you are a non-EEA national, you will need to apply for what is known as a spouse/partner visa. This category of visa allows certain couples to live together in the UK when one is a British national or settled here, and one is from a country outside of the UK and Ireland. Broudie Jackson Canter’s expert Immigration team, based in Liverpool, are available to guide you through this potentially complicated process.
We offer a 'Where Do I Stand' meeting to help you gain clarity. Call to book today.
Why do you need an immigration expert?
The UK immigration process can be long, uncompromising and complex. It’s also costly, so you want to be sure that you’re filling in all of the right forms, correctly. Unfortunately, if you provide the wrong documents or submit your application with mistakes, you can be refused and will not receive a refund of your application fee. You will have to start the process over and pay again.
Our immigration lawyers want to make the process accessible and will support you through your case, tailoring our advice to your personal circumstances. Call our team on 0151 227 1429 to begin building a better future and to know where you and your family stand today.
Understanding the UK spouse/partner visa application process
There are strict criteria that you must meet before even considering an application. Submitting an application without ensuring you meet these criteria may mean your application will be denied, and the money and time you have spent on the application will be wasted. The criteria are:
- Both you and your partner must be over 18
- Your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, or have settled status in the UK
- You must intend to live with your partner permanently in the UK after you apply
- You’ll need to prove that you and your partner are in a civil partnership or marriage that is recognised in the UK
- You’ll need to prove that you have a good knowledge of English
- You’ll need to prove that you can financially support yourself and any dependants you have
You must also prove that your relationship isn’t fraudulent or for convenience, and to do this you will have to submit evidence, along with other documentation to support your application.
Spouse/partner visa supporting documents
There is a document checklist that you must submit with your application. This checklist is quite substantial, however your lawyer will be able to advise on what specific documents you will need for your individual application, as all applications are different.
Examples of documents you will need to submit include:
- Proof of your relationship - This could be text conversations, emails, call logs, or anything else that proves your relationship is real.
- Proof of income - This could be job contracts, your P60, or bank statements.
- Proof of accommodation - This could be a tenancy agreement, a house lease, or booking confirmation of a temporary accommodation.
- Proof that you meet the language requirements - This could be IELTS test results, an English-taught degree, or proof that you are a national of an English-speaking country
For advice on what documents you will need and how to submit them, you can book a ‘Where Do I Stand?’ consultation with one of our experts who will be happy to guide you.
How long does a UK spouse/partner visa application take?
Spouse visa applications are known to take time, likewise the process of putting the application together and gathering your evidence can take a few weeks alone. Current processing times for applications is around 6 months.
Once you’ve sent your application off for review, UK Visas and Immigration will assess your case and whether you meet all of the necessary criteria before making a decision. You can expect the whole process to take a couple of months at the least. It is important that you act early and seek help from a lawyer to assist you in this application, not doing so can mean you may have to complete the process multiple times, wasting valuable time.
Why choose Broudie Jackson Canter?
Our Immigration experts have significant experience in dealing with family immigration and spouse/partner visas. No matter where you are in the process of your application, you will feel more knowledgeable and confident with the help of an expert. We offer a ‘Where Do I Stand’ consultation meeting that allows you to gain clarity on the process and what you need to do.
Regardless of if you want us to prepare your application for you or simply perform a document check on your evidence, our trusted experts will support you every step of the way.
Call us now on 0151 227 1429 or make an enquiry. Alternatively, you can request a callback at a time that is convenient for you.