Unmarried Partner Visa

If your application for entry clearance, leave to remain or settlement as an Unmarried Partner has been refused, our immigration solicitors can advise you on the merits of making a fresh application and/or challenging the decision by way of an appeal to the Immigration Tribunal.

As well as preparing high quality visa applications, our immigration solicitors provide professional legal advice and representation in relation to every aspect of pursuing a UK immigration appeal.

Our immigration appeal solicitors advise on the merits of appealing against Home Office immigration decisions, draft grounds of appeal and applications for permission to appeal, prepare appeal bundles and provide representation at immigration appeal hearings before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and higher courts.

After spending 5 years (60 months) in the UK as the Unmarried Partner of a British citizen or settled person, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain as an Unmarried Partner you will need to demonstrate, in addition to the above requirements, that:

• Since you have been in this category you have lived together with your partner in the UK or there is good reason, consistent with a continuing intention to live together permanently in the UK, for any period when you have not done so;
• You meet the higher English Language requirement that applies to settlement applications;
• You have passed the Life in the UK test.

If you make an application for indefinite leave to remain as an Unmarried Partner but do not satisfy the above requirements, UK Visas and Immigration will go on to consider if you meet the requirements for a further extension of stay as an Unmarried Partner.

Before your initial grant of leave expires, you will need to apply to UK Visas and Immigration to extend your stay as an Unmarried Partner.

The requirements for further leave to remain in the UK as an Unmarried Partner are broadly the same as those that apply to initial applications in the unmarried partner. However, you will need to make sure that your application satisfies the relationship, financial, accommodation, english language and immigration status requirements again.

If you already have leave to remain in the UK as an Unmarried Partner and are applying to extend your stay or to settle in the UK, you may be able to submit your application in person and receive a decision on the same day, using UK Visas and Immigration’s Same-Day Premium Service.

We can arrange for one of our legal associates, who is familiar with your case, to accompany you to the premium service centre, assist you with registering, provide assistance with enrolling your biometrics and liaise with the immigration officer, caseworker and, if required, your barrister on your behalf.

In order to satisfy the requirements of the Immigration Rules for an Unmarried Partner visa, you will need to demonstrate that there is adequate accommodation for yourself, your partner and any dependants.  Our immigration solicitors can arrange for a qualified surveyor with specialist knowledge and skills to attend your property to assess and produce a comprehensive report that can be submitted in support of your application.

If you have already joined your spouse or partner in the UK you may apply to switch to a spouse visa or an unmarried partner visa from a different immigration category. You will not be allowed to switch categories if you are here as a visitor on temporary admission if permission to stay was given for a period of fewer than 6 months (unless that leave was specifically as a fiancée or proposed civil partner on the relevant visa), or if you are in breach of the Immigration Rules (a period of overstaying of less than 28 days will not be taken into account).