Can you get married on a UK student visa?

Getting married on a Student Visa

There are no restrictions to getting married or entering a civil partnership if you have a student visa. You do not need to follow any immigration rules or let the Home Office aware of your marriage or civil partnership. However, the marriage you are entering should be a genuine relationship and you should be aware you may need to have evidence to demonstrate this when your current visa status expires.

You may wish to seek advice from a lawyer who specialises in immigration law to fully understand your circumstances and possible options once your visa expires.

Switching to a Spouse Visa

Once you are married, you may be able to switch to a Spouse Visa. This is possible if your new partner is a British citizen or has Indefinite Leave to Remain status in the UK. There are a number of benefits of moving from a student visa to a spouse visa including being able to work and it being a route to gain permanent residence in the UK

As well as proving your relationship is genuine, you will need to demonstrate you meet the following criteria:

• You and your spouse or civil partner are at least 18 years of age
• Your spouse or civil partner must either be a British national, have settled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain or have settled status
• You and your spouse or civil partner must plan live together permanently in the UK and you have adequate accommodation arranged
• You have sufficient knowledge of the English language and ability to speak English
• You can financially support yourself and any dependants

Cost of applying for a Spouse Visa

The current costs associated with applying for a Spousal Visa vary if depending on where you are currently living. If you wed in the UK and your student visa has not expired then you can apply from within the UK – you will not have to return to your home country.

• Visa fee:  £1,321 if made from inside the UK, £2,064 if made from outside the UK
• English language test: Around £150
• Annual Immigration Health surcharge: £1035
• Tuberculosis test: £65-110
• Housing report: £80- £120

Applying to switch to a Spouse Visa

You will need to apply online to move from a student visa to a spouse visa once you have established you meet all the eligibility criteria and can provide evidence. Part of the spouse visa application process involves submitting a range of documents as well as your biometric information and paying the application fee.

The Spouse Visa document checklist includes

• A valid passport or other form of valid travel ID
• Copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports
• Your civil partnership certificate or marriage certificate
• Your tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where this is required
• Proof that you meet the financial requirement, this may include bank statements or pay slips
• Proof that your relationship is genuine with a UK citizen. For example this could include photographs, booking confirmations from holidays you have taken together, a child, shared tenancy agreements and more
• Proof that you will have acceptable accommodation whilst in the UK, this could include a tenancy agreement or other documents
• An English language certificate unless you have an academic qualification that meets the English language requirement
• If you or your partner have previously been married then you will need proof that the previous marriage has ended such as divorce certificates

Your supporting documents must be written in English or Welsh, if they are not in English then you will need to get them professionally translated before you submit them otherwise your application could be delayed or the visa refused.

Timescale for switching to a spouse visa

It can take around 3 months for your application for a spouse visa to be processed. There is the option to opt for the priority services, which, for an additional fee, can reduce the processing time of the family visa significantly.

For an additional £500  you can receive a decision within five days or to get a decision on your application by the end of the next working day then you can opt for the super priority service at a cost of £1000.

How long are spouse visas valid for?

The Home Office will initially grant your spouse visa for 30 months but it is possible to apply for a extension for a further 30 months. You must ensure you apply for an extension before it expires and you must contain to meet all the criteria for the spouse visa.

Once you have extended your Spouse Visa and lived in the UK for a full five years, you can qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and gain settled status.

How can London Immigration Lawyers help?

Gaining Settled Status is a life-changing event that comes with many benefits, however, the application process isn’t easy and it can be incredibly difficult to navigate it alone.

Our immigration lawyers are experienced when it comes to assisting with British citizenship applications, they know exactly what it takes for an application to be successful and can give you the best chance of success.

One of the most difficult aspects of the application process is meeting the strict requirements. Our lawyers will help you to do this. We can advise you about whether you need to take an English language test, which test to take and how to book it. We can also help you to meet the other requirements, this includes helping you to prepare for the Life in the UK Test and assisting you with gathering a substantial portfolio of documents to support your application.

To find out more about how our lawyers can assist you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today by calling 020 4502 8582.