formula

I always feel sorry for the people who are that desperate to get to another country, that they have to pretend to fancy/love, a citizen of that county.(where's the vomit icon?)

formula

Maybe they are setting the bar high, so that when they bring in the new laws, people will say "well, that's better that what they were proposing" and most people will be happy then. As they did with the PSW visa.

BristolUK

And probably a bunch of others who disagree.

There are more Human Rights than just those of the EU. I think the family life one is actually international. There's also something about individual countries bringing about the circumstances to enable people to be together.

BristolUK

Quite likely...just as with the annual council tax scares when people sigh with relief because it's not as much as they said originally.

roaringmouse

This also sounds broadly similar to the approach Australia has for partner visas.

The visa application is normally a 2-stage process, and 2 years after your initial application you need to provide further evidence of your ongoing relationship. Until the permanent residency is granted after that 2nd stage, the non-Australian spouse is not eligible for benefits (though with a continuing relationship, some benefits can be paid for kids).

There is the allowance for permanent residency to be granted on initial application if you've been together for at least 3 years (or 2 if you have a child together). It's also possible to "serve" that initial 2 years before 2nd stage in the other country, and prove your ongoing relationship to get permanent residency (as long as you've visited Australia by the initial entry date of the visa).

The best thing with the approach here is that the initial application fee covers both stages.

I've found it quite irritating that the previous UK government was making a big thing about changing to an Australian-style points system and then didn't follow through with an Australian-style system for partner category visas. This government has decided to follow one of the worst approaches to partners found in Europe - and potentially (from what I've read from an OISC registered migration adviser) worse than what was in place in the 90's when quite a number of genuine relationships were denied the right to live their lifes in the UK.

Squirrel

The UK process is a two stage process too. A limited visa (was 1 year when DH got his, now 2 years, they plan on making it 5 years). After that you have to prove your relationship, that you have been living together etc, by providing evidence of this; bank statements, council tax statements, P60s, utility bills etc. If they believe you a genuine, and you haven't claimed any benefits for the time-limited spouse, then they get Indefinite Leave to Remain.

roaringmouse

Not in the same way as my example of the situation for Australia.

UK - 2 visa applications, 2 fees
Aus - 1 visa application, 1 fee, 2nd lot of relationship evidence required after 2 years

Both of these is presuming the applicant doesn't get permanent residency straight away, which of course is likely to be removed from the new rules for the UK.

Squirrel

That was something they changed too. When my DH did it, you only paid for the first application.