Visitor visa for boyfriend refused. Advice needed on next steps

[mcoop2016]

Hi,

I need some advice on what to do since my Boyfriend has been refused a standard uk visitor visa 3 times, I will explain the whole story...

I am a British born citizen, I have a jamaican Boyfriend who has been refused 3 visitor visas.
We met unexpectadely in Dubai in October 2016, I was visiting a Friend and he knew my Friend, he was working as a Chef. We talked on the phone and messaged daily after I left Dubai. He applied for a visit visa shortly after to visit Family (Aunt & Cousins) it was refused due to lack of supporting documents.

In March 2017 I decided to travel to Dubai to see him as we had continued to talk I felt I had to see where the relationship would go. From the second visit to Dubai we officially became a couple and I ended up visiting him in dubai a further 3 times in May, June & August. He applied for another visitor visa in August to come and stay with me, which again was refused, this time because they felt he didn't have enough ties to Dubai so therefore had incentive to overstay in the uk & because he was in a poor financial situation. (I was going to be sponsoring him)

In September he ended up leaving Dubai to go back to Jamaica as his Father became very unwell and was hospitalised. A few weeks after he arrived in Jamaica I went to visit him for 16 days and met his Family. After that I met him twice in New York in December whilst he was visiting Family.

We decided to apply for a visitor visa one more time and its been refused again. We don't yet know the reasons behind this as he's only received an email just to say his application has been unsuccessful and he will get a letter stating the reasons. At the time of the application he was unemployed so I'm guessing one of the main reasons is because hes unable to support himself.

As our relationship has gone on we have spoken a lot about marriage and we know ultimately that its want we want but I just wanted him to have the opportunity to come here for a holiday and meet my Family and friends before we decided to just go off and get married. So understandably we are both devastated that despite trying to do everything properly we are not being given a chance.

So now we are thinking to start arranging steps to get a settlement visa as that was ultimately our goal anyway. Is there any issue with getting married and applying for a settlement visa soon after a vistor visa refusal? Also is it worth paying a specialist to guide us through the application?
Any other relevant advice would be appreciated.

It's also worth noting I qualify for the financial requirement, i earn over the minimum and I own a 2 bedroom property.

[ouflak1]

So now we are thinking to start arranging steps to get a settlement visa as that was ultimately our goal anyway. Is there any issue with getting married and applying for a settlement visa soon after a vistor visa refusal? Also is it worth paying a specialist to guide us through the application?
Any other relevant advice would be appreciated.

If you have ample evidence of your visits, it won't be able problem at all for you to convince the UK that your relationship is genuine. The visit visa refusals will certainly raise an eyebrow, but you can explain your reasoning for wanting him to visit, and back that up with your many visits to see him. Should be fine.