Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
Sep 12th 2022, 12:39 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5
Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
I am a British citizen and my husband is Chinese. We've been married for 8 years and living in China (various cities) for those years. At the moment I am studying here and he is self-employed. We are hoping to move permanently to the UK. We plan to meet the financial requirement using cash savings (we have the full 62500).
The question that I want to be really sure about is: is it allowed for us to be living together in China when he applies for the visa (and while we wait for the result)? In other words, I want to confirm that it's NOT necessary for me to be living in the UK when he applies for the visa. We don't want to be separated during the long processing time; we would much prefer to stay together in China and then move to the UK together when he gets the visa.
Thank you in advance for any responses! (I made an earlier post about going back to the UK for a short visit before we make the permanent move but that's no longer happening - it's too difficult to return to China if we leave, so we're just planning to stay here in China until he gets his spouse visa and then get one-way flights back to the UK.)
The question that I want to be really sure about is: is it allowed for us to be living together in China when he applies for the visa (and while we wait for the result)? In other words, I want to confirm that it's NOT necessary for me to be living in the UK when he applies for the visa. We don't want to be separated during the long processing time; we would much prefer to stay together in China and then move to the UK together when he gets the visa.
Thank you in advance for any responses! (I made an earlier post about going back to the UK for a short visit before we make the permanent move but that's no longer happening - it's too difficult to return to China if we leave, so we're just planning to stay here in China until he gets his spouse visa and then get one-way flights back to the UK.)
Sep 12th 2022, 12:51 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
I am a British citizen and my husband is Chinese. We've been married for 8 years and living in China (various cities) for those years. At the moment I am studying here and he is self-employed. We are hoping to move permanently to the UK. We plan to meet the financial requirement using cash savings (we have the full 62500).
The question that I want to be really sure about is: is it allowed for us to be living together in China when he applies for the visa (and while we wait for the result)? In other words, I want to confirm that it's NOT necessary for me to be living in the UK when he applies for the visa. We don't want to be separated during the long processing time; we would much prefer to stay together in China and then move to the UK together when he gets the visa.
Thank you in advance for any responses! (I made an earlier post about going back to the UK for a short visit before we make the permanent move but that's no longer happening - it's too difficult to return to China if we leave, so we're just planning to stay here in China until he gets his spouse visa and then get one-way flights back to the UK.)
The question that I want to be really sure about is: is it allowed for us to be living together in China when he applies for the visa (and while we wait for the result)? In other words, I want to confirm that it's NOT necessary for me to be living in the UK when he applies for the visa. We don't want to be separated during the long processing time; we would much prefer to stay together in China and then move to the UK together when he gets the visa.
Thank you in advance for any responses! (I made an earlier post about going back to the UK for a short visit before we make the permanent move but that's no longer happening - it's too difficult to return to China if we leave, so we're just planning to stay here in China until he gets his spouse visa and then get one-way flights back to the UK.)
Sep 12th 2022, 12:57 pm
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5
Re: Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
Sep 12th 2022, 1:13 pm
#4
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
Okay, thanks so much!! I've finally got to the point where I understand the basics of the application process, but keep seeing the phrase 'partner settled in the UK' which threw me off a bit! Of course I hope to be settled in the UK soon, with my husband, but I'm not there yet
Sep 12th 2022, 8:20 pm
#5
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Applying for spouse visa while living with husband outside UK
Your spouse can apply to accompany or join you in the UK. As a British citizen you’ll be considered ‘settled’ the moment you cross the UK border hence the wording. What your spouse cannot do is travel to the UK in advance of you or move to the UK if you are living primarily overseas.
