How to Extend Your UK Spouse Visa

The UK spouse visa is also known as a UK marriage visa. The UK spouse visa allows married partners of UK nationals to move  to the UK because they are married to someone who is already  ‘settled in the UK’. 

A UK settled person, any one  who is a UK national and has no immigration restrictions on how long he/she can stay in the UK. The spouses or partners can definitely extend their UK spouse visa up to 2.5 years, approximately 30 months if they meet the requirements set by the Home Office. You will need to extend your visa at least once to complete your 5 year or approximately 60 months  qualifying period for settlement as a partner or spouse.

What Are the Requirements?

Before applying for Spouse visa extension, you must meet the following criteria:

• You have initial leave under spouse/civil partner category
• You have strong intentions to live in the UK for a long period 
• The partners have  adequate accommodation
• The partners meet with the financial requirements of £18,600 per year (this could increase if you have children)
• You meet the English language proficiency requirements

Applying  for a Spouse Visa Extension?

The partners must make an application using the Form FLR(M).

For the application to be valid, do ensure you have:

1. applied online using form FLR (M)
2. paid the correct fee
3. The correct payment has been made to the Immigration Health Surcharge, if applicable.
4. provided a valid  passport, national identity card or travel document for yourself and any dependents who are applying.
5. completed all sections of the form as directed in the portal.
6. Shown all the  relevant declarations are signed
7. Have booked and attended the Biometric and fingerprinting appointment at the specified centre. 

What is the processing time for the application?

The  Home Office processing time for a UK spouse visa is approximately 3 months, provided you are applying from outside the UK; however, this could  be longer if they request more information.

This is why submitting a complete application is mandatory.

Fast-track application for a UK spouse visa 

The spouse can expedite the process of getting a spouse visa  depending on which country you live in

Either by using the priority or super-priority services available in your country 

One can check to use these services by contacting the visa application centre in your country.

Proving your relationship

Along with the other eligibility requirements the partners should also provide the following to the Home Office

• They are in a civil partnership or marriage as legally recognised in the UK
• The partners have been living together in a relationship for at least two years before applying for a UK spouse visa
• The partners have intention to get married in the UK within six months of arrival

If any case is found to be dubious and non- promising the Home Office has full rights to convict the partners, in some cases they may be blacklisted or deported.

Seeking immigration law expertise

To ensure the timely application process, we recommend speaking to an immigration law professional who can handle your application and represent your case uniquely as needed by you. Eventually, you would want your Uk spouse visa to be successfully granted to you hassle-free. A Y & J Solicitors have some of the best immigration lawyers in London. They understand the complex and strict laws of the UK and represent your case uniquely as needed. They also help you keep abreast with the latest UK immigration news and updates that may benefit their clients. 

Summary: The spouses or partners can definitely extend their UK spouse visa up to 2.5 years, approximately 30 months if they meet the requirements set by the Home Office. You will need to extend your visa at least once to complete your 5 year or approximately 60 months  qualifying period for settlement as a partner or spouse.

The partners must make an application using the Form FLR(M). They must fulfil certain criteria, they must have initial leave under spouse/civil partner category, have strong intentions to live in the UK for a long period. The partners have  adequate accommodation. The partners meet the financial requirements of £18,600 per year (this could increase if you have children) and they meet the English language proficiency requirements.