What is a UK Fiance Visa?
As a British Citizen, you can sponsor your Thai partner for a UK Fiance Visa, which will allow them to travel to the UK and legally marry you. You’ll have 6 months after their arrival to get married, and afterward, they can further extend their stay by applying for a UK Spouse Visa, which can then be leveraged into permanent residency.
If you envision a future with your Thai partner in your home country, then continue reading to learn more about the UK Fiancé(e) Visa, what benefits it offers to your partner, and how you can sponsor them on their first step to a new life with you in the United Kingdom.
Benefits of a UK Fiancé(e) Visa
Obtaining a UK Fiancé(e) Visa offers your partner a simple way to enter the country legally. As this visa is intended to be the beginning of an indefinite stay in the UK, it comes with some great perks for your partner, such as:
- Getting married while on a fiancé(e) visa qualifies your partner for a UK Spouse Visa, allowing them to extend their stay for 2 years and 9 months.
- While the fiancé(e) visa does restrict them from working, once they have switched to the spouse visa, they can work without restrictions.
- Completing a fiancé(e) visa application is relatively quick, offering your partner a fast and easy way to live with you in the UK.
- This visa gives your partner a straightforward path to permanent residency in the UK, giving them the possibility of settling down indefinitely in the future.
Note that the primary purpose of this visa is marriage, so failing to get married in the allotted 6 months will lead to the cancellation of your partner’s visa and revoking their privileges.
UK Fiance Visa Eligibility Criteria and Required Documents
So, how can your partner qualify for a UK Fiancé(e) Visa while they’re still in Thailand? And what requirements do you need to meet to sponsor them? Before applying for a UK Fiancé(e) Visa, you and your partner will need to satisfy the following requirements:
- As the sponsor, you must be either a UK citizen or a permanent resident.
- You and your fiancé(e) must be at least 18 years of age.
- You and your partner must be legally free to get married in the UK within 6 months of their arrival in the country.
- You need to have met your fiancé(e) in person before.
- There are some minimum financial requirements you need to meet to be able to financially support them.*
- You need to have a home and address in the UK that is in suitable condition for your partner to live comfortably in.
- Your partner has to pass an English language exam at A1 level or higher (if they are taking the CEFR).
- Your partner needs to go through a medical checkup to test for tuberculosis.
To meet the financial requirements, you’ll need to earn a total income of at least £29,000. However, you can earn this level of income from employment, pensions, maternity allowances, or bereavement benefits. If you fall short of this, having at least £88,500 in your savings account will fulfill the requirements, so long as you hold it for at least 6 months after your partner submits their application.
Required Documents
Now that we’ve covered the eligibility requirements, let’s look at what documents you and your fiancé(e) need to provide for the application. It’s important to have all the right items prepared to ensure your partner doesn’t run into any problems with their application, which could lead to delays or even a rejection. Before applying, you and your partner will need to collect the following:
- A completed and signed Appendix FM application form
- Valid Thai passport (from your partner)
- Two passport-sized photographs of your partner
- Documents showing your ability to financially support your fiancé(e) (such as a bank statement)
- An English language certificate from your partner
- Proof of your address in the United Kingdom
- Proof of relationship documents (such as letters from family members and shared billing receipts)
- Tuberculosis medical testing results from your partner
Your partner will also need to provide biometric data after the application is submitted. Additionally, if you or your partner were previously married but ended up getting divorced, a divorce certificate will be needed.
How to Apply for a UK Fiance Visa
Now that you and your partner have all the documents ready, you can both progress to the next stage. To apply for a UK Fiancé(e) Visa, you can work with your Thai partner to complete the online application form located on the UK government’s website. Once the application is in, the UK Visa Application Center (VFS) in Bangkok will receive it and evaluate your partner’s biometrics.
To do this, they’re going to ask your fiancé(e) to schedule an in-person appointment. While this may seem daunting for them, it really isn’t. Your partner can easily book their appointment online by visiting the VFS UK website and creating an account. On the date of their appointment, VFS will ask them some easy questions, have them provide their fingerprints, and take a quick photo of them.
With this out of the way, your partner’s application will be forwarded to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). UKVI will assign someone to take a look at their application and make sure everything’s in order. If they consider it to be acceptable, then they will affix the visa to your partner’s passport and return the application to the UK VFS in Thailand. Your fiancé(e) can simply book an appointment and collect their passport in person, or ask for a courier to drop it off at their home.
Professional Assistance with Your Partner’s Application
If you want to learn more about this visa, you can visit the UK Fiancé(e) Visa information page on our main website. To secure professional assistance that ensures your partner can get their visa swiftly and successfully, contact Siam Legal today and book a consultation. Our experienced UK visa consultants will help you and your partner start the next chapter of your lives in the United Kingdom without worries about immigration issues and delays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Does it Cost for Siam Legal’s UK Visa Services?
For 49,755 baht plus value-added tax (VAT), you and your fiancé(e) can access our visa services. Keep in mind though, that visa fees, English language test fees, tuberculosis test fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and VFS fees are not included.
How Long Does it Take to Obtain a UK Fiance Visa?
The processing time for your partner’s application is about 24 weeks on average. But if they opt for the priority service, they could get the visa in as little as 7 days.
What Should My Partner Do After Receiving Their Visa?
Once your partner has a UK Fiancé(e) Visa in their possession, they’ll need to fly to the UK within 6 months. Upon arriving, they will need to complete and register their marriage with you during this time. Make sure you have your marriage plans ready because failure to get married while your partner’s visa is active would mean they’ll need to apply for another visa if they wish to stay with you longer in the UK.
Once you have gotten married, your partner can then apply for a UK Spouse Visa, giving them up to 2 years and 9 months in the United Kingdom. If you’re still together by the time the visa is nearing its expiry date, your spouse will be able to further extend their stay by applying for a UK Spouse Visa Extension. Also known as Leave to Remain, this allows them to stay for an additional 2 years and 6 months.
Can My Fiance Apply for Permanent Residency on This Visa?
No, the fiancé(e) visa does not qualify your partner for permanent residency status. However, it can be a great starting point if your partner wants to be a permanent resident later on. Once they have gotten married, have applied for a spouse visa, and have extended it, they will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Can My Fiance Bring Any Children on the Visa?
Yes, a major benefit of the visa is that your partner can bring their children along. If your fiancé(e) has any children who are at least 18 years old, they need to apply for their visa if they want to join them on their journey to the UK. But, if your fiancé(e) has a child over the age of 18 who has a mental or physical condition that forces them to be dependent on their parent, they can qualify for the UK Adult Dependent Relative Visa.
As the sponsor, you can also invite your Thai partner’s children to the UK. The cost is £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child.
What Happens if My Fiance’s Application Has Been Rejected?
If your partner’s application has been rejected, they should consult Siam Legal’s foreign visa team as soon as possible. Our team will work closely with your partner to guide them through the reapplication process, so they have another chance at getting a fiancé(e) visa.
Contact Us
Connect with our UK Visa Services team directly by scanning the WhatsApp QR code. We’re here to assist you with all your visa inquiries and provide support throughout your application process.
You may also contact us using the form below. Please completely fill out the form and submit it to us.
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