UK spouse visa, partner visa, fiance visa, or marriage visa A Guide to Marriage and Civil Partnership Applications
UK spouse visa, partner visa, fiance visa, or marriage visa, all require a genuine and subsisting relationship, when applying for visa the Home Office consider several important factors to make sure the relationship is genuine and subsisting. This article highlights the key points to consider when assessing these applications.
For UK visa and immigration purposes a partner is someone you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a long-term relationship with (similar to marriage or civil partnership) for at least 2 years. This means the applicant may not need to have lived together for 2 years, as long as your relationship is like a marriage or civil partnership, and application can produce evidence confirming the same. Secondly, both you and your partner must be 18 or older when applying. If either of you is under 18, your application will usually be refused. If you don’t meet the relationship requirements, the decision-maker will consider whether you have more evidence that could prove your relationship. They should be flexible when looking at evidence, especially when checking with third parties to see if your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
If you’re applying for settlement, you won’t need to provide documents to prove your relationship is ongoing unless your circumstances have changed since your last application. The Home Office will consider a combination of the information you provide and check with third parties to see if your relationship is ongoing. If you or your partner say you’re divorced or your civil partnership was dissolved, you’ll need to provide documents to prove it. The type of evidence needed may vary depending on the country where the divorce or dissolution took place. For example:
- In England and Wales, you’ll need a final order from the court.
- In Scotland, you’ll need a decree of divorce.
- In Northern Ireland, you’ll need a Decree Nisi/Conditional Order.
It’s important to be aware of cultural differences when assessing marriage and civil partnership applications. In some cultures, religious or cultural customs may affect the evidence you can provide. Decision-makers should consider all relevant factors and consult country-specific guidance. Understanding the key considerations for marriage and civil partnership applications is crucial, Kash Legal Services provides accurate advice and guidance to clients, eligibility criteria, age requirements, evidential flexibility, subsisting relationship assessment, and cultural awareness, to ensure that applications are thoroughly prepared and have the best chance of success.