Fiance visa - what are my chances?

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:24 pm

Hi all,

I've returned to the UK after a few years living in Moscow, and after 18 months together I want my Russian fiance to come here so we can get married and start a new life together here. I came back to the UK 9 months ago, and after a hard time looking for paid work will start a p/time Â£500 per month job soon, working 2 days a week and will spend the other 3 days a week doing unpaid training. My contract is for 6 months, after this 6 months of work and training I hope to get a full-time job. I have about Â£8,000 in savings (and another Â£20,000 in shares). My fiance has about Â£2000. I'm looking for a flat for us at the moment, and as soon as I've got that we want to put in his visa application.

I have a couple of questions. Firstly, if i rent a studio flat for us initially for 6 months, is that ok or would that go against us? Do they penalise studios? If I move out of my mum's house and pay for the flat and then they refuse the visa, I'll be VERY upset... so thats why I don't want something too expensive cos I'm assuming I'll need to sign contracts before I can apply for the visa. Unfortunately it's not an option for us to live with my mum.

Secondly, taking into account our circumstances, what are our chances of being granted the fiance visa? They refused him a visitors visa 6ish months ago cos neither of us knew (and the embassy didn't willingly give the info) that they wanted photo evidence and email evidence to prove we had even met in Moscow!! We indeed do have lots of photos together, proof of daily skype and emails, and in the time we've been apart I've gone to visit him in Moscow once every 3 months.

Thanks for any help!

Post by **geriatrix** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:46 pm

See also MAA14 Overcrowding

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:03 pm

Thanks sushdmehta

I've seen that already, but it doesn't go into detail about studios... however, if 50 square feet is the sole requirement of a living/bedroom area, which if I'm right is about the size of a boxroom bedroom (am I right???) then it should be okay...?

Does anyone have any experience of getting a fiance visa with a studio flat?

Also, I thought that my fiance would be eligible to find work here in the UK after the first 6 months - is that correct? On the link that sushdmehta posted it says after 2 years!

Post by **geriatrix** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:12 pm

One cannot work in the UK when entering UK on a fiance(e) visa. Work is permitted only after being granted FLR(M) leave subsequent to marriage / civil partnership.

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:25 pm

I don't know all the correct terminology, but I understood that if he got the fiance visa we'd get married within the 6 months (during which he couldn't work), then we'd apply for a marriage visa which would let him live and work here for 2 years, and after this he could apply for indef leave to remain... correct?

Post by **geriatrix** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:44 pm

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:06 pm

Ok, got a 1-bed flat, savings of Â£7300 in a savings account and Â£20,000 in stocks and shares AND a part-time job on a 5-month contract bringing in Â£500 per month. After that, the job will either become full-time or I'll work elsewhere. Got photos, skype transcripts, inbox screenshots.

What are the chances of my Russian fiance being granted the fiance visa - any knowledgeable opinions?
Thanks.

PS Guess what I really want to know is whether my employment/fiancial status will be a minus...

bridge1 · Post by **bridge1** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:09 pm

I would say that your realisable assets of Â£7,300, plus his Â£2k, combined with your fairly liquid assets of Â£20k in shares will be enough if you explain your current employment situation correctly and that the training should lead to a job paying Â£x per year. You should maybe explain that you are planning to liquidate your shares (in fact do it anyway- they may be worth Â£5k tomorrow in this economy so I'm not sure how much stock (forgive the pun) the ECO may hold with those shares - it's like saying you have 20,000 lottery tickets at home unless you can demonstrate regular dividend income that can be factored into your earnings) and with then Â£27k savings in the bank you should be golden.

All IMHO of course, I am not an immigration specialist just somebody going through the process and there are many here significantly more knowledgeable and experienced in these matters than me.

Post by **geriatrix** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:54 am

kid13 wrote:I'm making a visa app for my Russian fiance soon. My question is - if I am already supplying a certified copy of my passport and a certified copy of my drivers licence, do I need to send in my birth certificate too?

I saw my birth certificate today for the first time, and to my surprise it lists my middle name as my surname. In every piece of paperwork I've ever had (including passports, NI number, etc etc etc) my middle name AND my surname have been used.

Given this discrepancy of my name on my birth certificate compared to every other document I've held in my life(!!), would it be better to just not send it in? Would my fiance be refused entry because I didn't send it in?

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:35 am

we got the visa

many thanks to those who helped

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:48 pm

Hi all,

My then-fiance originally got his 6-month visa, and now that we're married and approaching the end of his fiance visa, I understand we need to apply once again for another visa.

I've been reading the forum and the UKBA website, but can't see the difference between needing to do the FLR(M) form or the SET(M) form. Which one do we need to do? And what's the difference between them? We're both in the UK, if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

Post by **Casa** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:18 pm

You need to apply on form FLR(M) which will give a further right to remain of 2 years. SET(M) is for Indefinite Leave (permanent residency) after the initial 2 year probationary period.
Bear in mind that although applications made in person at a PEO are charged at the higher fee of £826, decisions are generally made on the same day. A postal application (£561) is likely to take 3 months to process and he will be unable to work legally until the Further Leave visa is granted.

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:54 pm

Thanks Casa. We have a friend in the same situation who has just applied for the Set(M), so I am a bit confused... Would that mean their application would be rejected?

Post by **Greenie** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:03 pm

kid13 wrote:Thanks Casa. We have a friend in the same situation who has just applied for the Set(M), so I am a bit confused... Would that mean their application would be rejected?

always difficult to comment when it is about a third party, in case the situation is not the same. But essentially, if your friend does have a 6 month fiance visa, then s/he does not qualify for settlement on form SET(M) before s/he has complete two years as a spouse, so, yes the applicaiton would be refused if this is the scenario.

kid13 · Post by **kid13** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:29 pm

Thanks guys

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Fiance visa - what are my chances?

Fiance visa - what are my chances?

Fiance visa - flr(m) or set(m) form???