UK Settlement Visa for Thai Girlfriend

If you are planning to get married to your Thai Girlfriend or Fiance, Apply for UK Settlement Visa as soon as possible! Your Thai wife/fiance will be able to apply for visa before you arrive in the UK, but you must be eligible. You must be able to prove income level and any savings you have.

There are many routes to obtaining a British visa, but one of the most popular is the family route. For example, you may wish to bring your Thai partner to the UK. Or maybe you’re a UK citizen and would like a partner from another country to move in with you. In these examples, you’re looking at applying for a UK settlement visa for a Thai girlfriend or fiance(e).

Citizens from all over the world move to the UK every year with hopes of settling down with a dream job or exploring a promising business opportunity, or simply because they feel a connection to the place, they have been wanting to live in. Today the United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for a better life because it offers a great way to harness your potential and enjoy a dynamic new culture simultaneously.

Voices from all the corners of UK are recognized globally in the fields of arts, science, business, sports and politics.

Usually a long wait, an average of 5 years, the process will call for some patience and diligence. If you decide to take up residence in UK permanently, you will be rewarded with bright prospects.

We will discuss the eligibility criteria, the application procedure and the different routes through which one can apply.

Permanence Residence in UK

Permanent resident status in UK provides any person who wants to live and work in the UK indefinitely an opportunity to do so. The interested person needs to acquire this permit in order to work or conduct business in the UK, without any time limits on their stay and immigration restrictions. 

In accordance with current immigration rules, this status is granted exclusively to a person who does not have the Right of Abode naturally.

This permit can lapse if the person spends more than 2 years outside the UK continuously after being granted permanent residence in the UK. 

What is ILR?

ILR (Indefinite leave to remain) is similar to a permanent residency (PR) in the UK. It grants an immigration status to the foreign nationals to live, study and take employment in the UK without any time limits or restriction.

Who can apply for PR or ILR?

To get UK PR, it is required to live in UK for 5 years under one of the following categories:

• Tier 1
• Tier 2 of the points-based system: for the skilled professionals from overseas who has a valid job offer in United Kingdom
• Businessperson
• Investor
• International students and Research Fellows
• Representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency, PR agency or broadcasting organization
• Private servant in a diplomatic household
• Domestic worker in a private household
• Overseas government employee
• Self-employed lawyer or solicitor
• UK ancestry
• Highly skilled migrant under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
• Retired person of independent means
• Sole representative of an overseas firm

One can also apply for UK PR if you have a family member or a partner who is a British citizenship. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must be able to submit proof of living in the UK for a pre-set time duration, legally or otherwise corresponding to their granted visas. The following Table shows time period of stay in UK to be completed the stated categories:

Eligibility for settlement as a family member of a UK Citizen

Applicant must be a partner of a UK citizen or of one permanently settled in the UK. He or she must be currently on a family visa (of 2, 5 or 10 years) as a partner or spouse the partner who is a British citizen.

Marriage

Current visa in the partner category is eligible if the applicant is married to a British partner or in a civil partnership or in a subsisting relationship though not married.

Living together

You must provide proof that you’re living together and intend to continue doing so after you are granted residency. Evidence may take the form of joint bank accounts, a joint tenancy agreement and other official documents.

‘Life in the UK’ Test

It is compulsory to pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test. This test is designed in a simple manner to evaluate your knowledge of British life and assess your reverence and compatibility towards it.

English test

For applicants who do not speak English as their first language, this test is mandatory to prove fluency in speaking and understanding the language since it is the official language of communication in all sectors of British life. An educational qualification from a recognised UK institution is accepted as meeting the standards for this requirement.

Proof of finances

In case you have dependant family, your finances need to be in order as per the prescribed limits of the immigration system. Currently the funding expectations to support your family if you are on the 5-year route visa are as follows:

• At least £18,600 a year in case of no dependents.
• At least £22,400 a year in case of one dependent child.
• Extra £2,400 a year for each child above the limit on one.

All children below 18 are a part of this income calculation scheme with the exception of children who are British or EU origin. The limits take into account total income for both partners.

No minimum earnings stipulation is given for 2-year and 10-year route. Proof of finances when submitted must validate the ability of the applicant to provide for their family without support from public funds of UK.

Permanent residence as a family member of someone settled in the UK

Spouse or partner must be settled in the UK on the basis of a work visa (Tier 1, 2 or 5 visa). Applicant must be married /in a civil partnership/ be in a relationship for at least 2 years to be eligible for permanent residence.

Eligibility for partners

You must currently be on a visa as your partner’s dependent. If you received your visa after your partner was granted settled status, you will need to apply as a partner of a settled person.

If your current visa was issued before 9 July 2012, you must have lived with your partner for at least 2 years. This will go up to 5 years if your visa was granted on or after 9 July 2012.

When you apply, you must still be living together with your partner and intend to continue doing so. You should not be claiming benefits (accessing public funds) when you apply.

English Language and knowledge of life in the UK requirements also apply so you should make sure you satisfy these requirements before making your application.

Documentation:

• Current Pay slips
• Bank account statements
• Address proof (like rent or lease contract etc.)
• Council tax letters
• Proof supporting calculation of an applicant’s disclosed other sources of income, if any.
• Appointment Letter from employer on company Letterhead with signatory authority stamp and date in case the applicant is a job employee.
• In case of business owners, material apropos must be provided regarding registered business address, relevant valid permits etc.

Application Process

Carefully check all requirements for eligibility criterions and compile all the relevant documents to submit as proof. Provide access to your immigration history, with details of UK visas since your arrival. 

Categories of application forms offered:

Select the one suitable to the applicant’s personal background out of the two categories:

Set(O):

Applicable to partner of a UK citizen or the parent of a child settled in the UK.

Documents as proof of your legal relationship status:

• Marriage / Birth certificate (as the case may be).
• Documented Photo/ video proof with the said settled family member.

Set(M)

Applicable to immigrants living in the UK in any one of the above-mentioned categories.

Registration for family members of non-EU Immigrants in the UK

Non-EU immigrants can apply separately for each individual family member wishing to join them in different application forms. For minors and children under 18, the parent or guardian can submit the application on their behalf. Each case will be evaluated on independent merit for the residency registration if they fulfil all the eligibility requirements.

Applicants on Tier 1 or Tier 2 visa have the option of letting their family joining them in the UK, if each particular permit for sponsoring a spouse or dependent children is verified as valid.

Online Applications can be submitted with a copy of the downloaded application form filled with correct and verified details in all mandatory fields. A copy of the applicant’s passport, biometric information, and the supporting documents for all information given must be attached along with it. 

You can submit your application online. You will receive a response to your application within 6 months.

If you prefer to use the premium processing service, you can. You will receive an appointment where your application will be considered in person and you can get a decision on that day.

Cost

It takes £2389 for an individual application by post. Application in person fees might be slightly higher and the advantages of this method is that a decision is declared on the same day avoiding the 6 months waiting.

Processing

It will take around 6 months or more.

Permanent residence Visa application for EU, EEA Nationals or Swiss citizens

Visa applications for Permanent residence in UK are no longer being accepted from EU citizens, EEA citizens or Swiss citizens. If application has been made before 1 January 2021, it will still be considered but may take up to 6 months to get a decision.

All previously granted EEA permanent residence cards, that confirms the right of permanent residence in the UK for those who have exercised Treaty rights in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of 5 years, will not be valid after 30 June 2021.

Until that date, it can be used to apply for British citizenship and sponsor your partner’s visa application if they’re applying for a visa based on your residence

Living in the UK after 30 June 2021

For those who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, it is possible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and if ‘settled status’ is granted, you can apply for British citizenship at a later date. Applications close on 30 June 2021.

Family members

Your close family members (spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent) can also apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Your ‘extended’ family members (unmarried partner, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew or niece) can apply if they have a UK residence card.

Applying for British citizenship

A PR document qualifies you to apply for British citizenship only after 1 year, provided you have lived in the UK at least 5 years just prior to the application.

However, if your husband, wife or civil partner is a British citizen, you can apply after living in the UK for 3 years

Conditions that apply in permanent residency

Your visa status expires if:

• You spend more than 2 years outside the country. The pre settled status becomes void and you will need to reapply for it in case you want continuous residence in the country once again.
• Any criminal offense is committed by the individual which would cancel the PR permit and could lead to deportation.
• CONCLUSION

Permanent residency applications could be rejected if the social media handles of the applicant do not pass the fairness test. Immigration officers have the authority to verify the information provided by the applicants on the basis of data collected from the social media accounts.