CarloNap

Hi there, I'm a British Citizen who has been offered a 3 year contract (70k+). I have accepted the position and had a letter of offer. I am now going though the info to get my GF of 21 months on a partner visa.

The idea is for myself to go over initially and start work. We have a friends wedding in the UK in March. So my partner was going to come over then and was going to apply for the visa when she was in the UK.

She is a personal trainer and would like to work whilst over in the Uk. However, if she comes on a visitor entry and doesn't work for a couple of months until we get to the 2 year point.

Can someone please give me some thoughts on what visa should we apply for and any agencies that could assist us to get this completed.

Thanks in advance.

teza

She has to apply from Australia for spouse visa, she can't do it from UK.
Would she qualify for ancestry visa by any chance?

CarloNap

Unfortunately not. I was thinking of the "Apply to join family living permanently in the Uk" visa. According to the website this can be applied for in the UK.

spouse of scouse

Teza's correct, your partner would need to apply from Australia https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk/overview

Read through each page of the above link, especially the relationship and financial requirements. Lots of help available here if you have questions after that.

SanDiegogirl

Whichever visa you apply for, taking into account your current situation, your partner has to apply for it from Australia.

For an unmarried partner visa you have had to have been living as man and wife akin to marriage for a minimum of 2 years, with corresponding proof. The additional 2 months in the UK on a visitor visa will not count towards the 2 years.

Are you currently earning over 18,600 GBP per annum. That will affect whether you can apply for a visa now or whether you have to wait until you have been in new job for 6 months.

BritInParis

Have you been dating for 21 months or living together as a couple for 21 months? It'll need to be a latter for at least 24 months in order to satisfy the requirements as you are not married.

formula

The only visa she may be able to get is the Tier 5 visa under the Youth Mobility Scheme. She will have to be be aged between 18 - 30 when she applies. That is a visa that will allow her to work in the UK for up to 2 years. She must apply for her visa from her own country.

https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility/overview

teza

Slight correction, it's the only visa available at the moment unless they get married or live as defacto couple for two years before spouse visa application. Sorry to be pedantic, but it's required for correct information for the OP and future readers

formula

I thinlk you will find that most people will usually have the sense to read the opening post first and then the replies in order, or at least the replies on the first page. In this case, the OP asked about how to bring a "girlfriend of 21 months" on a partner visa and then the correct replies that they must have lived together akin to marriage for 2 years for them to be a partner. With that established, the Tier 5 YMV offered an alternative for his girlfriend.

Pollyana

Don't bet on it! Many people reach the site through google and get the actual post, not the first post on the thread. The Aus and US forums have always been very careful to clarify details like Teza did, and now the UK forum is so busy we need to be the same in here. Its just not fair on anyone who doesn't arrive at the start of the thread,

teza

My thoughts exactly. Thank you.

formula

What search words do you think would have brought up my post only on google and not the whole thread, if someone was searching for information on bringing a partner to the UK? A "Tier 5" search might have brought up my post only.

teza

I think what Polly means that albeit maybe not in MBTUK forum, the other forums on BE, we constantly finds people skipping past all replies, only reading the info they think relates to them or info they want to hear. Especially in cases where the OP usually doesn't return after they have their info. So it was mainly for future poster, pointing out that it wasn't the only option, especially as we don't know if they have other European heritage, possibility of work visa etc, as I said, pedantic

HKG3

Two things -

First of all, does the OP's girlfriend have one UK born grandparent? If she does, she can apply for an UK Ancestry visa -

https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/overview

The UK Ancestry visa allows the holder to stay and work in the UK for five years.

Second point - is there a chance that your girlfriend has European ancestry (Irish for example) which allows her to hold an EU passport? Having an EU passport means that she can stay in the UK with you.

SanDiegogirl

The OP has said she does not qualify for Ancestry visa.