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What is the Process to Apply for the UK Spouse or Partner Visa?
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Are you planning to make a UK spouse or partner visa application to join your British or settled partner in the UK?
Read on as we explain the steps involved in the application process for a entry clearance/leave to enter visa application as a spouse or partner of a British national/settled person in the UK.
What is a UK Spouse Visa?
The UK Spouse Visa, also known as the spouse visa UK, allows non-UK nationals to join their British or Irish citizen partners in the UK.
This visa applies to those who are married, in a civil partnership, or in a genuine and subsisting relationship akin to a marriage for at least two years.
The Stages of the UK Spouse / Partner Visa Application Process
The general process can be broken down in 6 stages:
- Start to complete the online Application Form
- Begin gathering and organise your supporting documents
- Submit your Application Form and Pay the Fees
- Book your Biometric Appointment
- Attend your Biometric Appointment and Submit your Supporting Documents
- Receiving the Decision on your Visa Application
Am I applying Inside or Outside the UK?
A lot of individuals get confused when posed with this question. This is mostly the case where the resident sponsor (UK or settled partner) is the one processing the application on behalf of the applicant, and so they mistakenly believe they are making the application from inside the UK. However, the visa application is in respect of the actual applicant (the person applying to come and join their British or Settled partner in the UK), and so as the applicant is applying to come to the UK, the application is "being made from outside of the UK". The current Home office fee for applications outside the UK is £1,548, and you will also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,872.
Therefore, all UK Partner visa applications which gives the applicant leave to enter (or 'entry clearance' into) the UK to join their spouse/partner, are made from 'outside' the UK.
Partner Applications made inside the UK are only applicable when the individual is already in the UK with a valid visa (not a visitor/tourist visa), and is either applying to extend their current spouse/partner visa, or are switching to the partner route from another visa category (e.g. a Work visa or Student Visa etc). In this case, the application to make is
FLR (M), (Further Leave to Remain in the UK as a Spouse/Partner) which you can read more about
here.
How to Start the Spouse Visa UK Application Process
All UK Partner Visa applications and extensions (which includes Fiancé, Proposed Civil Partners and unmarried partners) must be made online via the same GOV.UK website
here.
Completing the Application Form
The application form is split into several sections and you must answer all of the questions on each page before you can move on.
A lot of the questions are self-explanatory, and you can always save your progress and come back to the form later on if you ever get stuck or need more time to obtain the respective information. (You will be asked for your email address and to set a password which you will need in order to resume your application when you log/sign out). Your form and answers will be stored up to 10 weeks which leaves you plenty of time to come back and complete it at your convenience.
Once you register, you will receive an email with your own unique link to resume your application at any time.
Submitting your Application and paying the fees
Once you are happy that you have completed your application form correctly and are ready to submit, you must then make the payments for the IHS fee and UKVI Fee. You will receive an email receipt for both payments. - The email for the IHS payment will give you a reference number which you will need to enter when making the UKVI fee payment.
Booking your Biometric Appointment
The next step is to book the biometric appointment at your nearest UK visa centre by clicking the button 'Provide documents and biometrics. This will then take you to the 3rd Party company website which operates the visa centres in your country. The site may ask you to type some information in order to register/log in, such as the GWF number of the application form which you will find on the front page of the application form (when you download the completed pdf file).
Attending the Biometric Appointment and Submit Supporting Documents
You have the option to upload your supporting documents electronically on the Third Party’s platform. This option is free, which If you choose to do, you will need to upload all of your documents before you attend your biometric appointment.
In most cases, you also have the option to have your supporting documents scanned when you attend your appointment at the visa centre. Note that there may be other options to submit your supporting documents before and after your Biometric appointment (the options are dependant on your country and the third-party company), which I have covered in another article
here.
Want more Professional Support and Guidance for your
UK Spouse/Partner Visa Application?
We take huge pride in helping thousands of couples to successfully navigate the UK Spouse / Partner Application process.
To help you achieve a successful outcome for you/your loved one(s), we have put together a range of Services and Tools specifically for UK Spouse/Partner Visa Applications including Step-by-Step Guides, Templates, DIY Application Packs, Documents Checking Service and More!
Receiving the Decision on your Spouse Visa
The Home Office will usually acknowledge receipt of the application by sending an email. This confirms your biometric information and your supporting documents have been received by the UKVI electronically for them to assess your application.
If you purchased the Priority Visa Service, you should receive a decision within 30 to 60 working days (6 weeks is the UKVI's actual service standard for this, but not guaranteed). If you chose the standard service, you should receive a decision within 3 to 4 months.
The UKVI will send a notification email / sms message confirming that a decision has been made. The visa centre that you attended will also send an email to confirm that your documents are ready to be collected. When you attend, you will receive back your passport and (in some cases) the decision letter from the UKVI. If the visa has been granted your passport will have the *visa stamp (vignette) which is usually valid for 30 to 60 days from the issue date (valid for 6 months if you applied as a fiancé or proposed civil partner). You will be granted a maximum period of 33 months (2 years and 9 months) leave to remain in the UK. The expiry date of your leave will be confirmed in your decision letter which you will also receive a copy of by email. Your leave and immigration status will also be shown on your *eVisa which you will access via your UKVI account. You will also be issued a *Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Card which must be collected at your allocated Post Office in the UK. The BRP Card confirms your immigration status in the UK and is required to travel in and out of the UK.
*The Home Office are in the process of replacing physical documents, such as BRP cards and vignette stickers, with an online digital system that has records of all migrants' immigration status in the UK. This is known as an eVisa. This is also why any BRP issued now will have an expiry date of 31/12/2024. - Until the end of 2024, you will still need to carry your physical BRP Card when you travel in and out of the UK.
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While every effort has been made to ensure that the information and law contained in this article is accurate and current as of the date of publication, we accept no responsibility for its accuracy or for any loss or damages arising from accessing, or the reliance, of this guidance.
Please also note that the information does not represent a complete statement of the Law and does not constitute legal advice.
If you would like specific professional advice about your UK immigration matter, please consider booking a consultation or one of my other legal services.
Making a UK Visa or Settlement application can be a stressful experience, and whilst there is a lot of ‘free’ information online, finding clear expert guidance that is up to date, and in line with your specific requirements can be a daunting task.
If you have any concerns about your case, it is recommended to reach out for advice from a trusted legal professional.
