I am planning to enter the UK on a work permit, and will be accompanied by my unmarried partner (now fiance).
We lived together in the UK in 2002 but have a tenancy agreement in my name and her bank statements going to the same address. (I was on a work permit and she was on working holiday)
From 2003 - we have both of our names on two 12 month joint leases in Australia for the flats we have been living in.
They explicitly state that tenancy agreements only are not acceptable and we need joint utility bills or other docs (see below) which we don't have (they are in my name only as I pay the bills). I am wondering if the evidence I have of living together in 2 countries is enough proof of our relationship akin to marriage.
I also have airline tickets with both or names on from our holidays.
What do you think?
I have emailed the British High Commission with the above and they suggest I apply, and they will ask for more evidence if required. I really would like to know the likelihood of success before going forward so I can try to get more evidence to save time.
Cheers,
KD.
PROOF REQUIRED:
------
You must be able to show that:
· you are the unmarried partner of a person who is present and settled in the UK or who is on
the same occasion being admitted for settlement
· any previous marriage (or similar relationship) by either partner has permanently broken down
· the parties have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage which has subsisted
for a minimum period of two years (you must provide documentary evidence going back at
least two years to substantiate your claim)
· you have adequate accommodation where you and your dependants can live without recourse
to public funds
· you intend to live together permanently.
Some examples of the type of documentary evidence used to support the relationship follow.
· Children from the relationship, copy of birth certificates
· Joint ownership of property or possessions
· Joint tenancy/lease agreements
· Joint bank accounts, savings, investments, loans or any joint financial commitments
· Joint responsibility for bills, utilities
· Acceptance of relationship (from an official Australian body; e.g. Australian Taxation Office)
· Last Will and Testament
Please note: We do not accept Statutory Declarations from friends/family or other parties and we
would need to see more than one of the above, i.e. joint tenancy agreements going back two years is
not enough on it’s own to prove a relationship akin to marriage, it simply means you have been
sharing accommodation.
t is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that a relationship akin to marriage exists and
has subsisted for two years or more.