Switching to another visa from Working Holiday Visa

[goodwind]

Hi there,

I'm from New Zealand and my partner is English. I have only 6 months left on my Working Holiday Visa thus I would like to switch to a partner's visa. I checked the Policy Guidance for the Working Holiday visa and it says you cannot switch to another point based route or visitor's visa in England.

I am aware that if I want to switch to Tier 1 or a work permit, I would have to return home/New Zealand to change my visa. But it doesn't say anything switching to a partner's visa. Does anyone know if I can apply for a partners visa in England or I would have to return home to do it?

Does anyone know how long it takes to get a partner's visa at the moment?

Also, how throughtly do UKBA check your documentation? Do they call your landlord or Tenancy Agencies to check to see if you stayed there the whole time as stated in your lease?

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks : )

[Wanderer]

U need two years provable cohab for UPV, not a day less!!

[UKBAbble]

U need two years provable cohab for UPV, not a day less!!

and don't make false claims about length of co-habitation. They can be checked.

[WellingtonKiwi]

As I understand it you can’t switch from Tier 5 to any other visa (because it is a temporary visa category not a ‘leading to settlement’ visa).

The UKvisas site on Tier 5 says:

You cannot extend or switch into leave in any other category. There are penalties for those who do not observe all conditions of their leave to enter or who remain in the UK beyond the time limited by their leave.

[vinny]

Partners of British citizens and people settled in the UK