Fiance Visa Application

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Fiance Visa Application

This application guide provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements, process, and documentation needed to apply for a UK fiancé visa. This visa is intended for engaged partners of:

·      British or Irish citizens,

·      Individuals settled in the UK,

·      Individuals with pre-settled status,

·      Holders of a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa,

·      Individuals with refugee status or humanitarian protection,

who wish to enter the UK and get married within 6 months of arrival.

Key Facts

·      Application must be made from outside the UK.

·      Does not lead directly to settlement. After marriage in the UK, applicants can switch to a Spouse Visa, which can lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years.

Page Contents

  1. Eligibility and Requirements

  2. Relationship Requirements

  3. Financial Requirement

  4. Accommodation Requirement

  5. English Language Requirement

  6. Supporting Documents

  7. Application Process

  8. After Your Arrival in the UK

  9. Limitations of the Fiance Visa

  10. Frequently Asked Questions

  11. Tips and Recommendations

  12. Conclusion

Relationship & Evidence Requirements

Prohibited Degrees of Relationship

You and your partner must not be closely related under UK law, including relationships such as: - Parent/Child, - Siblings, - Grandparents/Grandchildren, - Adoptive relations, - Step-relations (if under 21 and lived as family before 18).

Genuine and Subsisting Relationship

Evidence should demonstrate: - Ongoing contact and communication, - Visits to each other’s home countries, - Joint financial responsibilities, - Shared children (if any), - Plans for future life together.

Common documentation includes: - Photos together, - Travel itineraries, - Communication logs, - Joint bills or leases, - Letters from friends/family.

Proof of Meeting in Person

You must show that you’ve met face-to-face and formed a mutual connection, not just incidental contact.

Intention to Marry Within 6 Months

Provide evidence such as: - Wedding venue booking, - Deposit receipts, - Invitations, - Statements outlining wedding plans.

Evidence of Permanent Separation from Previous Partners

If either party was previously married or in a civil partnership: - Submit decree absolute (UK) or equivalent official document (foreign), - Provide death certificates (if widowed).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a UK fiancé visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration that:

1.        Sponsoring Partner’s Status

o   Your partner is:

  • A British or Irish citizen,

  • Settled in the UK (e.g., ILR, permanent residence),

  • Holding pre-settled status,

  • A Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker,

  • Granted refugee or humanitarian protection.

2.        Minimum Age

o   Both you and your partner must be over 18 at the time of application.

3.        Relationship Requirements

o   You must have met in person.

o   Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting.

o   You intend to marry within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

o   Any previous relationships have ended permanently.

o   You intend to live together permanently in the UK.

4.        Financial Requirements

o   Gross annual income of at least £29,000, unless exempt.

o   Financial requirements can be met through income, savings, pensions, or a combination.

5.        Accommodation

o   You must have adequate accommodation in the UK without relying on public funds.

6.        English Language Requirement

o   You must speak and understand English to CEFR Level A1, unless exempt.

Financial Requirements

Standard Requirement

Your partner must have a minimum income of £29,000 per year. This can be from: - Employment (salaried or self-employed), - Non-employment income (e.g. rent, dividends), - Cash savings over £16,000 held for at least 6 months, - Pensions.

State Benefit Exemptions

If your partner receives specified benefits, you may only need to show adequate maintenance and accommodation.

Documentation Tips

·      Bank statements,

·      Payslips,

·      Employment letters,

·      Tax returns,

·      Savings account statements.

Accommodation Requirements

You must show: - Legal right to occupy the property, - No overcrowding, - Property complies with health and safety regulations.

Documents may include: - Tenancy agreements, - Mortgage documents, - Council tax or utility bills.

English Language Requirement

You must prove English proficiency at CEFR Level A1 through: - A test from an approved provider, - A degree taught in English (confirmed by Ecctis), - Nationality of a majority English-speaking country.

Exemptions:

·      Over 65,

·      Physical/mental disability,

·      Exceptional circumstances preventing testing.

Supporting Documents Checklist

Each case is different, but generally include: - Passports, - Proof of relationship, - Financial documents, - English language test results or proof of exemption, - Accommodation documents, - Intent to marry documentation, - Divorce certificates or death certificates (if applicable).

Avoid using generic checklists. Instead, seek tailored advice to match your personal situation.

Fees & Processing Time

·      Application Fee: £1,938 (outside UK)

·      Switch to Spouse Visa: £1,321 (inside UK)

·      Priority Service (optional): Extra cost; result in ~30 working days

·      Standard Processing Time: Up to 24 weeks

After You Arrive

·      Visa valid for 6 months.

·      You must marry within this time.

·      After marriage, apply for a Spouse Visa from within the UK.

·      Spouse Visa grants 30 months stay, extendable for another 30 months.

·      After 5 years as a spouse, apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Work Restrictions

Fiance Visa holders cannot work in the UK.

FAQs

How Can I Get Married in the UK?

If you want to get married in the UK, there are two main visa options:

  1. Marriage Visit Visa – For those who want to come to the UK to marry or register a marriage.

  2. Fiancée Visa—For partners of British citizens or people settled in the UK who want to enter the UK and marry within 6 months.

Choosing the Right Visa

  • The Marriage Visit Visa is for short visits to marry.

  • The fiancé visa allows a longer stay to marry and then switch to another visa.

Where to Apply

  • You must apply for a Fiancée Visa from outside the UK.

  • Apply from the country where you live legally, even if you are not a citizen there.

    How to Apply for a UK Fiancé Visa

    You must apply online using the correct form. Check with an immigration lawyer to find the right form for your situation.

    Gather your supporting documents while filling out the form. Some documents must be dated before you submit your application.

    You usually upload scanned documents for the Home Office to check. However, rules can change depending on the country where you apply, so verify the process when you apply.

    What if You Don’t Marry Within 6 Months?

    If your marriage isn’t before your visa expires, you can ask to extend your stay by 6 months. You must have a good reason for the delay and proof that the wedding will happen within that time.

    When Can I Apply for a British Passport?

    When you enter the UK on a Fiancée Visa, you can stay for 6 months. After you marry, you can switch to a spouse visa, which lasts 2.5 years. You must apply to extend it before it ends, giving you another 2.5 years.

    Most people on a spouse visa follow a five-year path to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR) after two 30-month visas. Some follow a ten-year path, requiring four grants of leave. If you switch from the five-year to ten-year route, your previous time counts.

    Once you have ILR, if you are married to a British citizen, you can apply for British citizenship immediately. If not married to a British citizen, you must wait 12 months before applying.

    What if my fiancé visa application is refused?

    If your fiancé visa is refused, you usually can appeal because it's treated as a human rights case. The appeal goes to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in the UK.

    If you are in the UK, both you and your fiancé can attend and speak to the judge. If you are outside the UK, your fiancé can attend, and you can send a statement and evidence. Sometimes, you may be able to give evidence remotely if allowed.

Immigration appeals can take many months and the result is not certain. We advise getting help from a specialist immigration lawyer before appealing a refused fiancé visa.

What if I don’t meet UK fiancé visa requirements?
You might still enter or stay in the UK on human rights grounds if:

  • You have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen;

  • You have a child in the UK who has lived there for at least 7 years and it’s unfair to make them leave;

  • You and your fiance would face serious problems if you lived together outside the UK;

  • Stopping you from coming to or staying in the UK would violate your human rights.

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