Bridge Partners

Fiancé Visa

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.

Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

We can help you. It’s what we do.

Overview

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

International Sportspersons visa

This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.

Indefinite leave to remain

The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.

What is the Fiancé Visa?

A Fiancé visa allows a British citizen or a person with UK settled status to bring their fiancé to join them in UK with the intentions of getting married within six months period of the visa. The visa does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, once you have married here in the UK, you can extend your stay via the Spouse Visa route – this will enable you to gain indefinite leave to remain status.  

After 12 months with indefinite leave to remain, you can apply for naturalisation. Please note that only after a fiancé visa has been changed to a marriage visa are you able to commence work and be entitled to the same rights as your spouse.  

Who can apply for a Fiancé Visa?

This Fiancé Visa route is ideal for applicants who are engaged partners of British or Irish citizens, persons who are settled in the UK, persons with pre-settled status, persons with a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, who wish to enter the UK and marry shortly after their arrival. Please note, that an application for a UK Fiancé Visa must be made from outside the UK.  

What are the requirements?

To satisfy the requirements for this visa, it is necessary to demonstrate and prove the following: 

  • You intend to marry your fiancé within the six-month period of the visa.  
  • You can prove that your relationship is genuine. 
  • You are both over the age of 18. 
  • You have met in person. 
  • Any previous relationships have broken down permanently. 
  • There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents. 
  • You speak and understand English to the required level. 

What is the Fiancé Visa processing time?

Currently, the Home Office service standard for deciding a Fiancé Visa application submitted outside the UK is 12 weeks (3 months). With the backlog of Ukraine Visa Scheme applications, the Home Office has stated that standard family visa applications, including the Fiancé Visa, are now being processed within 60 working days.  

How to apply for a Fiancé Visa?

The UK Fiancé Visa will entail an online application being submitted via the Home Office website. To ensure that a successful application is made, it’s important to supply the relevant documentation. In terms of the Fiancé Visa, this may include documentation to prove that you satisfy the English language requirement, the accommodation requirement, the financial requirement and that any previous relationships are broken down officially. Please be aware that the documentation required will vary case by case.   

Once the relevant documentation is prepared, we can guide you through the online application form – you will be required to pay the application fee. Additionally, as part of the application process you may need to arrange a biometric appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken.  

How long does a Fiancé Visa last?

Regarding the Fiancé Visa, once it’s granted it will allow you to stay in the UK for an initial period of 6 months to get married or enter a civil partnership. Once you are married, you will be able to apply for a Spouse Visa, which lasts for up to 30 months. In terms of long-term plans for you and your partner, this Spouse Visa can be extended for a further 30 months. However, you must remain in the same eligible relationship with your UK based partner, and you must apply before your current visa expires. 

How much does it cost to get a Fiancé Visa?

Currently, the Home Office service for deciding a UK Fiancé Visa application submitted outside the UK is £1,523. The Home Office application fee to switch into the spouse category from within the UK or extend stay as a spouse is currently £1,033.  

Can my dependants be included as part of a Fiancé Visa?

As part of the fiancé visa, children of the relationship who are under 18 years of age are allowed entry to the UK as dependents and can make their application at the same time as the applicant fiancé. As part of their application, they will be required to provide relevant documentation to prove their dependency on the main applicant.  

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

Whilst the fiancé visa application process can be complicated, we are confident that we can help you and your partner settle into this next chapter of your life. We understand that this is a daunting prospect for you and your partner, so let us guide you step by step throughout this application.  

The requirements can be quite strict and complex in terms of documentary evidence, so our team can work with you closely to ensure that the documentation is as accurate as possible. We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting your needs.  Should you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us today 

Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa​ Application Questions

Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.   

The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement. 

You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.  

The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.   

Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.  

For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.

Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.  

Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.