Help with options.....

[sicknote]

Wondering if someone could give me some advive.

I have been dating my girlfriend for 4 years. She was here first on a student visa, then on a Post Study Work Tier 1. Her earnings dont allow for her to extend this visa.

The Tier 1 visa ends in October and we had hoped to apply for the FLR(M) visa but it turns out one of the requirments says we should be living together for at least two years in a relationship similar to marriage.

By the time the Tier 1 ends we would have been living together permenantly for 23 months and we miss out on the FLR by 1 month.

She has enough money in her bank accounts to support herself for over 4 years.

What other options are open to us other than marriage?

[Greenie]

You should apply by post. Apply as close to the end of her leave as possible. Pay by cheque as this takes longer to clear. Also she will have to give her biometrics and has 15 days from the date of the letter to make appointment. If she takes a later appointment then by the time she has done that you will have been living together for 2 years. Also you should provide evidence you have been together for 4 years as well as evidence of your cohabitation.

[sicknote]

Would they not just look at the dates and see we havent been living together for the full 24 months?

[Greenie]

by the time they make the decision (after she has given the biometrics) you will have been living together for 24 months.