Understanding the Fiancé Visa in the UK: Application and Appeals

Hazelgrace
5 min readJan 27, 2024

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The UK Fiance Visa is possible if you want to go to the UK to start a new life with a partner who is already there. Fiance Visa UK aims to reunite non-EEA nationals with their UK-based spouses via marriage or civil partnerships. An applicant’s spouse or joint-law partner must be a permanent resident of the United Kingdom.

If you will marry your fiancé within the six months that the visa is valid, you may apply for a fiance visa.

After your Fiance Visa expires, you must apply for a new immigration permit to stay in the UK. The quickest and easiest is to change your UK fiance visa to a spouse visa, which allows you to live in the UK for 30 months. Possessing a spouse visa grants you unrestricted access to the UK labour market and educational opportunities.

Who May Apply For a Fiancé Visa to the UK?

You and your spouse must fulfil specific criteria and restrictions to qualify for the Fiance Visa.

Here are the primary requirements for 2024:

  • A minimum age of 18 is required of both you and your spouse.
  • The Fiance Visa is only valid for six months, so you must arrange to tie the knot before then.
  • A citizen or permanent resident of the United Kingdom is required to be your partner.
  • Marriage or a civil partnership in the United Kingdom requires both spouses to intend to reside there permanently.
  • You and your partner must prove you can provide for your needs without putting an undue strain on the public purse. A minimum yearly income of £18,600 is required.
  • You must prove that you and your spouse or dependents have a suitable residence.
  • You must demonstrate your ability to comprehend and communicate in English to the level of A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (SELT) if you are from a non-English speaking nation.

Application Process Step-by-Step

You and your spouse must meet specific requirements and limits to qualify for the Fiance Visa.

Here are the primary needs for 2024:

  • You and your spouse must both be 18 years of age or older.
  • The Fiance Visa is only valid for six months, so plan your wedding before then.
  • A citizen or permanent resident of the United Kingdom must be your partner.
  • Marriage or civil partnership in the United Kingdom requires both parties to want to live there permanently.
  • You and your spouse must demonstrate that you can meet your demands without placing pressure on the public budget. A minimum annual income of £18,600 is necessary.
  • You must prove that you and your spouse or dependents have a suitable domicile.
  • If you are from a non-English-speaking country, you must show your ability to grasp and communicate in English at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (SELT) level A1.

What Documents Do You Need to Apply for a Fiancé Visa?

To apply for a fiancé visa, you must collect certain information and submit documents proving your eligibility.

  • Applicants must include information about themselves, their UK-based spouse, and any dependents they choose to have on the application. Here are a few bits of information that we would appreciate from you:
  • Your complete name and birthday
  • Photo pages of prior passports and visas
  • Data related to your relationships. The data includes the encounter’s date, location, and communication frequency.
  • Please include names, addresses, divorce decrees for any previous marriages or children, and information on prior convictions.
  • Information about the countries you have lived or visited outside of the United Kingdom
  • If you are not a British citizen, include your parents’ date of birth and country of origin.

If you need advice deciding what to include in your portfolio of evidence, the Immigration Advice Service may help. We will help you discover, gather, and assemble all necessary documents, ensuring they meet all administrative standards.

Fiancé Visa UK Application Fees and Processing Time

Currently, the charge for an overseas Fiance Visa application is £1,538, while the fee for an internal UK application is £1,048. Your application may also be subject to additional expenses. Watch out for our posts on the cost of a UK fiancée visa.

A precise timeline for the decision-making process for your Fiance Visa has yet to be discovered. You may expect a rapid answer if your application is complete and meets all standards.

However, the processing time will rise if some crucial documents need to be added to your application. In certain situations, immigration officials may contact you to acquire more information.

A UK fiancée visa typically takes two to three months to complete after receipt.

With our top-tier application package, we can help you create a UK Fiance Visa application that fulfils all industry standards. As part of this service, a highly educated immigration attorney will help you complete all required papers. If you employ us, we will boost your chances of acquiring the Fiance Visa since we understand what it takes to submit a robust application.

You may expect a timely answer to your application by utilising our services. Contact our friendly team at 0203 384 4389 for more details about our application package.

Appeal Procedure for Fiancé Visa

Following these processes will assist you in filing a UK visa appeal a decision for a fiancé visa.

  1. Read the rejection letter carefully to understand the reasoning for rejecting your application.
  2. Your letter will clearly state if you are entitled to pursue an appeal.
  3. Depending on whether you applied from outside or inside the UK, you have 14 or 28 days to file an appeal.
  4. Prepare to make the case for reversing the judgement.
  5. Attend the First-tier Tribunal hearing at the UK’s immigration court.
  6. Keep an eye out for an appellate court decision.

How long does the appeals procedure for a UK fiancé visa take?

There is no fixed timeframe for the processing of visa appeals. Some issues may be remedied within a month, while others may require a waiting time of over 12 months.

Approximately 50% of immigration judgements are overturned throughout the appeals process, and recent data suggests that the Home Office has a success rate of just 25% in immigration appeals.

Consequently, presenting a strong case opposing your original judgement significantly increases the likelihood of attaining success.

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