Imigration Question

[XMG5]

Not sure where this topic should sit so note to administrator "Please move if necessary"?


Meanwhile. How long does it take from application for a UK visa to be granted to stay in the UK for an indefinate period. Assuming that there are no problems with the application/applicant.

He has visited the official website and associated websites but none have a FAQ covering how long they can expect to wait for the decision from the date of the application and submission of documents/fingerprints taken etc.,

He is a UK citizen residing in the UK, is a civil servant with necessary security clearance for his job. She is from The Gambia and has stayed on temporary visas in the uk on and off for the passed 3-4 yrs. On and off as in required to leave and return as per regulations of the visa.

Any advice based on fact or experience welcomed.

[Neil H]

When my GF applied to extend her Visa she went in person to the Border Agency office and it was done the same day, with her ID being sent a few days later after they had some additional info she forgot to take with her.

I think it really depends on the individual case and the basis for the application, which is probably why they don't specify an exact timescale. Are they married, or applying on a partnership basis?

[JAGS]

It really depends on how busy the office is at the time of submitting the application.

I'm UK born and have been here all my life etc etc, and my wife is an Indian citizen. After marriage, she was given a 2 year settlement visa initially and came to the UK. We would have to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) towards the end of the 2 year visa. Applied for the ILR in May this year, and we had the application approved and completed with all docs returned after 3 weeks with the ILR Residence Permit stamped on her passport.

On the flip side, it took 4 months for one of my good friends who was in the same situation. Also heard of 2-3 month waits for a few other people that I know

Sorry to give a vague answer, but it really is pot luck

[bob1179]

It's all a bit complicated really.

First of all, are they married? If not, then it will be very difficult

She need to show a good immigration history, basically that she left when she said she was going to leave and never overstayed a visa.

If they are married, she would require a Spouse Visa, once she has the Spouse Visa, she need to be permenantly based in the UK for 27 months (IIRC), once the 27 months are up, she can then apply for a permanent visa which will allow her to stay in the for an indefinite period.

I know a very good immigration law firm who can sort all of the issues out for you and give you advice if you need it.

[XMG5]

Thank you bob. They are not married and she is currently languishing in the Gambia awaiting the outcome. if yes then she will come to the uk where she will live with my friend as his partner until a wedding can be arranged in due course.

[King Herald]

XMG5 said:

Thank you bob. They are not married and she is currently languishing in the Gambia awaiting the outcome. if yes then she will come to the uk where she will live with my friend as his partner until a wedding can be arranged in due course.

It will vary immensely with the country they apply in.

My wife got her settlement visa when we lived in the Philippines, some nine years ago. We were already married, and it was a fairly straightforward deal in the British embassy. The visa was granted after a brief stand-up interview there at the desk.

Others had to join a six month queue for a formal interview after their application.

It took about six weeks to actually get the visa stamped in her passport, but then she was free to go to the UK, any time within the following six months.

Maybe she can phone the embassy and inquire about her application? It is afterall a British Embassy, though the person who answers the phone will probably be a local.

[Kindersley]

King Herald said:

XMG5 said:

Thank you bob. They are not married and she is currently languishing in the Gambia awaiting the outcome. if yes then she will come to the uk where she will live with my friend as his partner until a wedding can be arranged in due course.

It will vary immensely with the country they apply in.

My wife got her settlement visa when we lived in the Philippines, some nine years ago. We were already married, and it was a fairly straightforward deal in the British embassy. The visa was granted after a brief stand-up interview there at the desk.

Others had to join a six month queue for a formal interview after their application.

It took about six weeks to actually get the visa stamped in her passport, but then she was free to go to the UK, any time within the following six months.

Maybe she can phone the embassy and inquire about her application? It is afterall a British Embassy, though the person who answers the phone will probably be a local.

I am married also to a filipina (Do we have the best ironed shirts ever !)

Home Office as mentioned does not state time scale which is a bit crazy !!

But as soon as the cheque etc is cashed you should get the visa !

[King Herald]

Kindersley said:

King Herald said:

XMG5 said:

Thank you bob. They are not married and she is currently languishing in the Gambia awaiting the outcome. if yes then she will come to the uk where she will live with my friend as his partner until a wedding can be arranged in due course.

It will vary immensely with the country they apply in.

My wife got her settlement visa when we lived in the Philippines, some nine years ago. We were already married, and it was a fairly straightforward deal in the British embassy. The visa was granted after a brief stand-up interview there at the desk.

Others had to join a six month queue for a formal interview after their application.

It took about six weeks to actually get the visa stamped in her passport, but then she was free to go to the UK, any time within the following six months.

Maybe she can phone the embassy and inquire about her application? It is afterall a British Embassy, though the person who answers the phone will probably be a local.

I am married also to a filipina (Do we have the best ironed shirts ever !)

Home Office as mentioned does not state time scale which is a bit crazy !!

But as soon as the cheque etc is cashed you should get the visa !

Things have definitly improved in the Manila embassy since we first applied for a tourist visa there in 2000

I seem to recall it was some £300 for the mum in laws UK visa, five years ago, but if you were rejected you didn't get that money back. Oh no, you lost the lot.

[XMG5]

Update from her inquiries at the British Embassy in the Gambia; it takes about 6 to 12 weeks as the surrounding ctates are all French speaking the paperwork has to be processed in the UK(?). So I guess by that reckoning they have between 3 and 9 weeks to go.

The cashing of the cheque is a good idea.

Edited by XMG5 on Tuesday 24th August 13:59

[TVR1]

Did this in 2004 for my Australian partner. I'm now doing it the other way for me to go there but that is another story.

Very simple procedure. The most difficult question is if she can afford to not be working for a few weeks. If she can afford it, then make the application here and things will go much quicker. So........

Enter the UK as a temporary visitor, for a holiday etc...anything you like really as long as you can get her here legally again.

Apply for a spouse temporary residence visa.You will need to demonstrate that you have been in a relationship for the previous 2 years. There are no medicals or police clearances required for the UK.

Once this is granted, your spouse will be entitled to take employment.

After 2 years, apply for indefinate leave to remain.

Job Done!

Sounds easy? Well, with a bit of organisation it really is that simple. I would personally (and did) stay well away from 'Migration Consultants' they charge an extortionate amount. Simply by reading the application forms, you will know what to do. It really isn't rocket science. The UK still has probably the most lax and easy to apply for, Visa sytem in the world.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Cheers

[King Herald]

TVR1 said:

So........

Enter the UK as a temporary visitor, for a holiday etc...anything you like really as long as you can get her here legally again....

I was always under the impression you can't change the status of your visa once you are in the UK, that you have to leave and re-apply?

Maybe your other half managed it because she was Australian, Commonwealth etc?

[TVR1]

King Herald said:

TVR1 said:

So........

Enter the UK as a temporary visitor, for a holiday etc...anything you like really as long as you can get her here legally again....

I was always under the impression you can't change the status of your visa once you are in the UK, that you have to leave and re-apply?

Maybe your other half managed it because she was Australian, Commonwealth etc?

In a way correct, however you are applying for a different catagory of visa, so allowed. There are a number of visas that you can apply for onshore. The main criteria is that you initially arrived with a valid visa of one sort or another.

Where it gets tricky, of course, is if on your initial entry the immigration officer at the airport/port has suspicions about your reason for visiting. They would prefer you apply offshore for a spouse visa but can't stop you applying once you are in.Commonwealth doesn't come into it really, other than possibly having an easier time at initial entry rather than arriving from a 'suspicious' country.

Australia, as an example, has got around this particular loophole recently. They know that they can't stop everyone getting in as a 'tourist' and then applying on shore for residence so have simply doubled the cost of onshore applications and made it impossible to support yourself. My visa application has so far cost £1000 plus £250 for medicals and £150 for Police clearances.Had I arrived in Australia, not only would I have to have a return ticket out of the country, the total visa costs would have been around £3000.

In a way, the process is a bit of a game, you just need to find out what the rules are. The prblem of course, is that the only ones who know the 'rules' tend to be the deptartment of immigration (of whichever country you are applying to)and they really don't want to tell you because suddenly, the whole process becomes relatively simple.

I am sure that for difficult cases, migration agents can be of some use but simply by reading the visa forms and guidance notes you can save an awfull lot of money. I was quoted £750 to process my OH application but it ended up costing about £180 IIRC by submitting the forms myself.

[adigra]

The various visa fees for the UK have doubled in the last few years. Their official line on them was that they are wanting a better standard of immigrants coming into the country. Although achieving that by higher prices seems a bit dubious to me.

Anyhow, as some have mentioned, it really very much depends, and varies, on which country you are coming from and if you are able to apply for a visa in person at a consulate. I am a US citizen who got married to a UK citizen and decided to move here in 2005. My visa was approved within three hours and only depended on the payment being processed, on me proving I have the funds to support myself, and obviously my documents checking out. But the most important reason for it being so fast is that I lived very near the British Consulate in Chicago and could apply in person in the morning and come back and pick up my passport with the visa in it in the afternoon.

Regards,
Adi

[stigmundfreud]

just saw a urine boiling DVD advert on late night tv but it might be of help if you want to spend 50 quid on an ambulance chaser DVD

Part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOu5yp2cI20
Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b86f2oboqok&fea...
Part 3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wINscwIoFSU&fea...

[adigra]

It's funny, the advert came on as I was reading this thread.

[anonymous-user]

When my wife applied for the two year entry visa, she had to apply from her country of residence, (we were not married in UK), we had been married for 5 years when moved back to UK and the marrige and our children birth was registered at the embessy, and she applied and it was granted within an hour of receipt. After two years she applied in the UK for permentent residence, at the Croydon office, it was granted the same day and received first class post the next morning.
So it depends on circumstances, and how busy the officce is.
If you try to get a marrige visa in Bankok to bring back a Thai girl for a UK weeding it takes a minimum of 14 days, I think they do this on purpose so you get to go hopme and think about it

[XMG5]

Thanks to all of you for your advice.