Which visa would be better: UK or EU?

Which visa would be better: UK or EU? - Brown Dragon Statue in White Background

I am married to British citizen who is in the UK. I am in Pakistan and have been for the last 5 years. We are separated but we are still husband and wife. I was issued a 2-year UK visa but I left the UK before the expiry. Now my wife wants me to sit down with her and discuss whether we should stay together or go for a divorce. She doesn't want to come to Pakistan.

What should I do: should I apply for a UK visit visa or a Swiss visit visa so we can meet each other? I am only worried that about getting a refusal on my passport.

Travel history:

  • 3 Dubai visit visas
  • 1 Dubai work permit visa
  • 1 Thailand visit
  • 1 Malaysia visit
  • 1 Belgium visit visa (not traveled)
  • UK visa from 2006 to 2013

Can anyone please guide me?



Best Answer

As the spouse of a British citizen, you can apply to any EU or Schengen country (other than the UK) for a free visa, provided your wife travels with you to that country or arrives there before you do. This is set forth in directive 2004/38/EC, the free movement directive, at Article 5(2):

Such visas shall be issued free of charge as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated procedure.

The visa can only be refused under very limited circumstances, as laid out in chapter VI (articles 27 through 33).

On the other hand, getting a visitor visa to the UK can be difficult, because you will have a difficult time overcoming the presumption that you intend to use the visa to remain in the UK indefinitely. A visitor visa costs £93, while a family settlement visa costs £1,523, so visa officers are very skeptical of visitor visa applications from people in your situation.




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Is UK visa and Europe visa same?

The UK is not a part of the Schengen and will soon not be a part of the EU as well. As a result, they have an independent visa regime. If you want to enter the UK, you will need a UK visa. If you plan on visiting the UK from a Schengen country, you will need both these visas.

Do I need an EU visa from UK?

Although the UK is now outside the EU, British citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area and stay short-term. Although there are no visa requirements for UK citizens, travellers will need to apply for ETIAS from the end of 2022.

Is UK visa tough to get?

UK visa application is the most strict and highly scrutinized visa process. The UK Visas and Immigration receives thousands of visa applications every year that do not meet visa requirements. Once you have a UK visa refusal, it remains permanently in the records of the UK Home Office.

Can I enter UK with EU residence permit?

If you're an EU, EEA and Swiss citizen, you can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. You can cross the UK border using a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time you are in the UK.



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Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Samuel Sweet, Anatolii Maks, Paul Macallan, Pixabay