Visiting the UK as unmarried couple
My girlfriend and I both have Ukrainian citizenship. We're planning to visit the UK at the end of April. While filling in the application form for visitor visa we specified our relationship status as unmarried partners since we have been living together for more than 3 years and I'm going to be her sponsor. Closer to visa appointment I started to google some information, like what documents we should bring to prove our relationship etc. All the information that pops out is about the case when a person already settled in the UK wants to bring his partner. Did we fill in the form right?
Best Answer
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
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Can I bring my unmarried partner to UK?
It's FREE, fast & no obligation! The Unmarried Partner visa (also known as the UK defacto visa) allows the unmarried partner to enter or remain in the UK on the basis that they are in a relationship with a person who is present and 'settled in the UK'.Can I bring my girlfriend to UK?
Your partner might be able to apply for pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme. It's free and easier than applying for a visa. Your partner can apply for pre-settled or settled status if you have British or Irish citizenship - or both. You must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020.Can my boyfriend visit me in the UK?
Your friend or family member can apply for a visitor visa so they can visit you in the UK. Visitor visas are usually for up to 6 months.What is an unmarried partner UK?
A. What is an Unmarried Partner Relationship? According to the Immigration Rules and the EEA regulations, the term unmarried partner relationship is be defined as: "Two persons living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years".DIY UK Unmarried partner Visa Requirements
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Answer 2
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
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