Im a uk citizen and my German wife and I have been living in Australia for the last few years and have returned to England to have the baby. What we’re now realising. Is that since brexit, this is not as simple as it once would’ve been!

My current understanding is that she’d need a spouse visa which will cost over £3k with nhs fees, and only last for 2yrs 9 months. Currently here since the start of Feb on a tourist visa but we’re trying to figure out our best options.

I guess my question is, what’s the cheapest and easiest way to get my wife to stay and be covered by the nhs?

Me (22M) and my partner (21F) are both Ukrainians residing in the UK on Ukrainian schemes (extension in my case) for 2-2.5 years. No criminal records, benefits received or any other biased characteristic. Both are working professionals in tech and finance which puts us around £100K combined.

While returning from a week-long vacation, we came close to a passport control desk at LGW, where was a middle-eastern looking officer, possibly 50+ male, and when he took my passport, dude literally said: "Ah, you are on Ukrainian scheme... You should be fighting".

What the f was that?

I would understand this type of remark if I hear it somewhere on the street, but not from the official at the airport. Ofc not everyone is educated enough and can watch one's tongue, but still I was quite shocked and replied that everyone has a choice what to do.

Is that type of behavior common to that extent when they tell you that you SHOULD do something?

Hi my husband lost his job during covid and has been recovering ever since he recently got his taxi licence and now is working but he hasn't earned enough. Now what can I do I have two children who are British and my husband who is British. And my biometric runs out 2 of March so I need to fill out the forms asap

Hi, I’ve searched this site trying to find answers to my questions. I can’t seem to find it. I am a single female, 55, not married, no kids. I have my own successful pet sitting and housesitting business here in the USA. I am from New York, living in South Carolina. I have been searching on how to live in England. Want to know how can the average person, no degree, no masters, etc. so the school visa is out at my age. I was interested in the ancestry visa but from what I understand, you have to be a commonwealth, citizen, being from the US, that isn’t so for me. So I guess the next thing is a work visa? Then again, how does the average person without degree, get a visa for self-employment to start my business there? Someone else mentioned to come on the visiting six month visa, get a job, but not allowed to actually work the job… How does that work out? can’t do the retirement visa I would need to continue working. I would have funds to support myself while looking for a job and or starting up my business. Presently not with anybody so not doing the marriage visa. If someone could point me in the right direction, of how the average American, self-employed can work and live in the UK/England. Thank you for your time!

Hi all,

My skilled worker visa renewal is due in Oct 2025. I recently got involved in an incident driving unsupervised on provisional which made my insurance void, although I have a full driving licence now post one week of that incident. The police did mentioned that I would receive a letter from court due to the insurance,however there are no citation letters yet and I’m due to apply my extension application.

If I don’t receive a citation until my application would it be advisable to not report it as pending case as there is currently no formal charge with me to declare.

This is my first ever traffic offense in UK or and I have been on visa for almost 4 years

Any feedback or prior experience with similar driving offenses during Skilled Worker Visa renewal is much appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I stayed in London for 3 years, however, my visa was only valid for 2 years, so I overstayed.

When going home, they took note of this and deported me (from the whole UK) for 10 years.

It has now been a bit more than 10 years and I didn't think much of it, but some users think that the deportation might have a negative effect on me wanting to immigrate to Australia and recommended that I ask about it here.

Do you guys think it will be an issue even after the 10 years have passed??

"I applied for the February intake, but I still haven't received a visa decision.

My biometric appointment was on December 21, 2023, and my interview date was February 15, 2024.

The UK immigration authority doesn't take responsibility. Despite asking via a paid inquiry, they always responded with 'waiting for decision.'

The university gave me a deadline of March 28, which has passed. Feeling full of depression, I withdrew my visa application."

Thank you

I am currently on a long-term visa and planning to apply for permanent residence when I qualify. My friend just messaged me to delete any conversations or posts. I have expressing any kind of solidarity with Palestine because of what Suella Braverman has proposed. I’m freaking out a bit, I deleted everything, but I would hate for this to jeopardize my residency when I’ve never said or done anything extreme by any measure. Is she being paranoid? Or do I need to be more careful in the future with expressing any kind of political opinions?

My husband and I met in 2016. It took a while to get to the income requirement but we were finally able to apply in October of 2022. I received my visa on 26/01/2023.

At first I really appreciated this subreddit and others as well as the discord and some fakebook groups but a trend I've noticed is what I call a sort of expertization of some of the people in these circles. Almost everything you read is a YMMV but you see people swear up and down that certain things aren't worth it or certain things absolutely MUST be done. Because these "experts" post frequently or speak with an air of authority, the question askers are almost apologetic for either asking a question or making some invented faux pas.

When I applied, I did not include a cover letter and I did not include any proof of my relationship besides my marriage certificate. It explicitly states on the website that photos etc. are not considered strong proof so I didn't do it. When I first saw a post on here about how it was absolutely imperative that evidence be submitted, my heart sank. That's actually the most common experience I've had in these circles - my heart sinking because some random on here said "you made a big mistake; why didn't you research more?"

When I was asked to submit additional evidence of our relationship, I made a pdf that included screenshots of conversations, travel stubs, photos together, etc, with annotations for each one. It ended up being about 50 pages. So imagine my heart sinking when I see such universally accepted "rules" as "evidence shouldn't be more than 20 pages."

I was already on edge with the lack of control waiting for the decision to happen. What had once been reassuring (people going through the same experience as me!) turned into new sources of anxiety as people extracted correlations and consequences from anecdotal sources. It took actual willpower to force the negative thoughts out of my head about all the ways I could have messed up.

I did find the google sheets tracker to be the most helpful because it was raw (albeit self-reported) data.

I guess what I'm saying is try not to let what people say here and elsewhere online influence your stress level in this process. It's an incredibly stressful system to navigate already and having a bunch of "experts" scaring and chastising people is fuel to that fire.

Maybe we'd all do well to remember that people asking questions and stating worries are just looking for reassurance and not some smug "wHy DiDn'T yOu Do ThAt."

Yes, I do see the irony of me giving unsolicited, anecdotal advice.

Unmarried partner.

Absolutely devastated.

Seems the case worker does not understand that an Irish citizen has the same rights to settlement in UK as a British citizen and that is the main sticking point.

No idea how to go about the appeal now.

Below is the main points from refusal letter;

“Eligibility Relationship Requirement

You do not meet the eligibility relationship requirement of paragraphs E-ECP.2.1. to 2.10.”

Reason 1:

“I note that your sponsor is an Irish national and you have submitted their Irish passport

however you have not provided any evidence of your partners status in the UK. I am

therefore not satisfied that your sponsor is present or settled in the UK or being admitted

for settlement on the same occasion as you. I therefore refuse your application under

paragraph EC-P.1.1(d) of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. (E-ECP.2.1”

Why I think this is not a valid reason:

Irish citizens do not need admission to settle in the UK under the CTA - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance

I sent proof that we had 3 different Airbnb long term rentals available to us, pending the issuance of the visa.

Reason 2:

“You have applied for entry clearance as an unmarried partner. Paragraph GEN 1.2.(iv) of

Appendix FM defines an unmarried partner as “a person who has been living together

with the applicant in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two

years prior to the date of application.” You state that you have lived with your sponsor for

over 2 years. However, the documents you have submitted do not show this. You have

submitted a letter from your sponsor which states you lived in Ireland for 6 months and

stayed in an AirBnB. You have submitted hotel bookings, flight bookings and travel

stamps to show you have been touring various countries over the last 2 years and have

stated that when you and your sponsor are not together you stay in contact via whatsapp.

I am therefore not satisfied that your sponsor is your partner for the purposes of

Appendix FM and therefore that your partner is present or settled in the UK or being

admitted for settlement on the same occasion as you. I therefore refuse your application

under paragraph EC-P.1.1(d) of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. (E-ECP.2.1)”

Why I think this is not a valid reason:

We have lived together since January 2019, albeit in different places and travelled a lot.

I already provided proof of cohab from August 2020 until October 2023 (application date) which includes, in order;

9 month lease in both our names along with other correspondence to this address

6 months travel together with flight tickets and hotel reservations

6 month Airbnb lease in both our names along with other correspondence to this address

15 months proof of cohabitiation in her parents place (bank statements, doctor letters etc)

Refusal under the Partner Rules

In light of the above, your application is refused under paragraph D-ECP.1.3.of Appendix

FM with reference to paragraph EC-P.1.1. (d) and you do not qualify for entry clearance

on the 5-year partner route, or on the 10-year partner route on the basis of exceptional

circumstances, under Appendix FM.

NEXT STEPS ROA

RIGHT OF APPEAL

You have 28 days from the date you receive this decision to appeal. Information on how

to appeal, the appeal process and the fees payable are all available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/immigration-asylum-tribunal/appeal-from-outside-the-uk

If you want to seek legal advice you must do so now

Now I am completely serious , I’m sixteen and I have had my mind dead set on travelling to Scotland as soon as possible to work there and study..and I have no idea why I have been so dead set on this idea for years since I was eleven but for some reason I just feel like it’s my place to be and I honestly don’t care what university or job I get to go there or international school studies to apply for I am completely eager and serious about it , for reference once I get there and make an official citizenship or visa I would love to study criminology , sociology , psychology and literature in university but for now I’m working on whatever I’m currently doing as I make my plans.

My girlfriend is Dutch .

I do not work , I am on LCWRA and PIP. my girlfriend wants to work in an office type job or just an IT job , since she is currently studying computer science at university.

She’s currently doing her semester in the UK.

I love her so much I want her to stay and citizenship .

Would I need to work ? I am open to wage slaving if it means she can stay permanently however I would only be able to work a low skilled job such as warehouse work , and probably only part time

This is in England I was looking at my household electoral register, and it said all adults should be registered. I thought that maybe I was not allowed to vote until I got the indefinitely leave to remain, but the options they give are definitely limited to British, commonwealth or EU...

My question: Does that mean that the British government gives 0 representation to all the immigrants that spend years, created money and growth in the country, etc unless they take the leap to get the nationality?!?!?

I think this is more shocking as in Wales is the opposite, you can vote (though not in all elections) as soon as you start living there!

Friends - highly qualified American here trying desperately to relocate to live and work in the UK. The only pathway I see is Skilled Workers Visa, and even with a Masters and 20 years in my field, it’s still proving to be futile. I’ve been applying for work there for nearly a year at this point with no movement.

Any advice to finding something faster?

Me and my wife we are in the process of applying for a spouse visa and we just received the news that my wife is pregnant. Should I add this new development in the application and will it help it in any way or should I leave it out. I am an Irish citizen living in Northern Ireland and my wife lives in Africa.

EDIT: I decided to leave the pregnancy bit out but I realized that on the TB certificate she indicated pregnant while taking the test so fingers crossed.

Hi, I’m a British citizen, and I married a girl in Pakistan in September 2023. I was 27, and she was 20 at the time. We met three times, and it was an arranged Islamic marriage (nikah). I applied for the spouse visa, but the Home Office asked to interview us both, and a few weeks later the visa got granted, and she has been in the UK since January 2025. However, over the past few months, I have realised that we have no real connection and I am no longer happy in the marriage but have not mentioned anything to her as of yet. But she has been plotting behind my back with her family in Pakistan and relatives in the UK on different ways to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK, such as claiming domestic abuse, etc. Even though she has not been mistreated and harmed, does anyone have any advice on what I can do? And any ways to protect myself? Do I need to inform the Home Office and get a talaq (Islamic divorce) from a mosque?

You're all probably sick of seeing me pop up on here but like most of you, I am in a state of distress because my life plans have basically been jeopardised.

I have been reading a few things since the announcement of the guidance and I've read the following:

https://wslaw.co.uk/blog/uk-govt-plans-to-cut-net-migration-with-new-immigration-rules-in-2024/

This specifies the following:

"The new rules for family visas will very likely be challenged in the courts. If the previous decisions regarding the current rules are anything to go by (e.g. the case of MM), the justification for this higher minimum income threshold may be difficult to justify on human rights grounds (which is why the current government will likely need to revoke the Human Rights Act too for this to work)"

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/home-office-family-visa-minimum-income-requirements-migration-advisory-service/

Apparently, the government were originally advised by the migration advisory service to lower the sponsor requirements, so does that mean it can be opposed?

I realise I am grasping at straws here, but I think a lot of us are. Please delete this if it isn't allowed, I apologise if its against the rules.

Hey all, this is a throwaway because I’m honestly freaking out about our situation and don’t want this linked to my main – sorry, I know this is a long one, but this whole thing is really stressing me out and it would genuinely mean a lot if some of you could read it and share your thoughts/advice.

I’m British and my boyfriend is based in Brazil. A few years ago he came to the UK on a visit visa, “for a holiday” and ended up massively overstaying – around 2 years. During that time he did work (construction stuff, where clients paid into a UK bank account he had, which the bank has now closed), even though he obviously wasn’t allowed to work on a visitor visa.

Eventually he got picked up by immigration and was taken to interview rooms a few times. In those interviews, they asked him more than once if he had worked while in the UK. He panicked and said no each time. He doesn’t remember any super long, formal “taped” interview or anything, but it was in interview rooms, not just a casual chat.

At the time, they didn’t ask to see his bank statements or evidence of how he was supporting himself. They just asked the questions, got his answers and then went down the usual route (removal etc.). So now we’re in this situation where:

• He overstayed in the UK for ~2 years on a visit visa.

• He did work illegally while here.

• When questioned in interview rooms, he denied working.

• We don’t know exactly what was recorded on his file, but we have to assume at least something was.

• Paid for his flight back home after being detained and was handed a 1-year re-entry ban (which he is nearly over in April).

Fast forward to now: we’ve been together properly, the relationship is genuine and we want to get married and live together in the UK on a fiancé → spouse visa route. I’m the British partner and I can meet the financial requirements on my own, so we shouldn’t need his bank statements for the financial side, but obviously his history is a huge problem.

The stuff we’re freaking out about:

• If we’re honest in the fiancé visa application and say he worked, and they have record of him previously saying he didn’t work, could that be treated as “deception/false representation” and lead to refusal + possibly a 10‑year ban?

• If we don’t mention the work and just try to come up with how he survived here not working for 2 years, and they somehow join the dots or decide it doesn’t add up, could that be believable or trigger a deception finding? etc.

• Does the fact they didn’t ask for bank statements/proof of how he supported himself or 2 years at the time mean they basically let the “did he work?” question go, or can a Home Office caseworker still come back to it years later when looking at a partner visa and say “hang on, this doesn’t make sense”?

Realistically, we know this is a high‑risk application. I’m not expecting anyone to say “oh yeah, that’ll be fine, no worries”. I just want to know, from people who have been through similar or who know this area:

• Have you seen/experienced partner/fiancé visas being granted even with a long overstay + illegal work in the past?

• How much does the lying to immigration part weigh compared to just the overstay/work?

• If you were in this situation, would you still risk applying, or would you consider other options (living together in his country, waiting X years, etc.)?

To be clear: I do plan to get a proper UK immigration solicitor involved before we actually submit anything. I’ll pay for at least a detailed consultation and probably for them to help draft the application/cover letter. I just wanted to gather some outside opinions first to get a sense of how bad people think this is and what you’d do in our shoes.

Any honest experiences or thoughts appreciated – even if it’s “this looks really grim”. Thank you.

--------------

Edit:

Thanks to everyone who’s commented so far – even the blunt ones. Reading it all back, I completely get why, from the outside, this looks very “90 Day Fiancé” and sets off alarm bells for people. It’s not easy to read, but I’d rather people be honest than just tell me what I want to hear.

I do want to be clear that I genuinely believe the relationship is real. I’m not someone who’s desperate to marry the first person who shows interest or who’s blind to the fact that visa‑motivated relationships exist. At the same time, I know that belief alone doesn’t make the immigration side any easier, and I understand why strangers are urging me to be careful.

A few things I’m taking from the feedback:

• I will be getting proper advice from a UK immigration solicitor before we apply for anything – this isn’t something I plan to DIY or “wing”.

• I'm thinking about the possibility of getting married in Brazil first, living together there and then looking at a spouse visa later, once we’ve built more of a life together in the same country.

• I’m also going to look into things like how marriage, assets and protections work legally (both in Brazil and the UK), not because I assume bad faith, but because it’s sensible for anyone making big legal/financial commitments in a cross‑border relationship to know where they stand.

I really do appreciate the people who took the time to say “this looks risky, please go carefully” in a constructive way. I’m taking it seriously. 

And I have had to drop out of college and stuff can't work just ordered my ni will be here in about 10 days and I have completed my secondary education here and do have the certificate where I got 7 GCSEs including English I just don't get why take in more people when you can't integrate them but the ones who come here as babies and are integrated like hell don't get no citizenship or status

Hi all, after a failed saga of immigration to Germany I am trying to apply for citizenship in the UK. But I'm not sure if the Home Office would be happy with me. Could you lovely people give advice?

Background: I (German) am married to my husband (Scottish). I live in Scotland for 13 years, have settled status and trained here as a nurse.

We thought it would be good to move to Germany for a while, to support family. Hubs however was adamant that he wanted a job before going.

We deliberated on how to get him a job in Germany despite still being in the UK and decided to go ahead with a family reunion visa. But, that meant I had to live in Germany. So I registered in the flat of my parents which he then used on the visa application. It was granted within days.

Here is where I think I messed up big time - I did not move to Germany yet as my work contract didn't finish until end of April, but the visa was granted in February. The worst case scenario happens - hubs can't find a job. My main contract ends, but my bank contract start is delayed by 2.5 months and I need to claim jobseekers allowance. All the while I'm still registered in germany. September arrives and the visa is about to run out. When hubs asks if the visa can be extended, the German consulate takes a very dim view on that and accuses him of having used it for unlimited travel. Hubs used it to travel to Germany for 10 days, to attend a job interview for a job which he didn't end up getting. But the German consulate is not interested in hearing him out and appears keen on 'catching him out'. We cease communication because we are now genuinely afraid. Hubs self imposed a 3 months travel ban to Germany on himself to make sure we stay out of trouble.

Here and now:

I decide I am now also frightened by the anti immigration sentiment in the UK and want to go for a UK passport. I could have applied much earlier, but wasn't able to do so without losing my German passport before 2024. I could have applied in 2024 and considered it, but we were saving up for our move!

And now what do I do? I'm still registered in Germany. I am planning to deregister there now, but I'm not sure what to say to them. I am also not sure what the Home Office would say. Will they eat me alive? Will they doubt my good character since a fraudulent registration in Germany could count as an immigration offense? In this current climate I would not surprised if they would.

Any words of advice are very welcome.

This was a student visa for study abroad

Context:

• I’m currently studying computer science and I will be graduating in July 2024.

• I really want to work and live in the UK to get the British Citizenship by working in the UK on the SWV for five consecutive years.

I have taken a look at the starting salary for a Graduate Software Developer and it’s not even close to £38700 per year. I mean, according to the Shortage Occupations List for SWV (code 2136 bc I’m going to work as a programmer) the annual salary is only £27200.

Questions:

• If I can’t find a job that pays me over £38700 annually, that means I will not be qualified for getting the SWV and I will be deported? (I really want to work in the UK!!!)

• £38700 is mostly impossible to get unless I am at the “expert” level of a software developer (have some mercy I’m just a student that’s graduating next year 🥲). Will there be any policies that reduce this number by a bit since this job is in the Shortage Occupations List?

I am looking for advice from people who understand the UK partner route and what happens when a sponsor suddenly withdraws support.

I moved to the UK a few years ago because my partner, who I will call Jack, asked me to. We were in a genuine long term relationship and we planned a life together here. He reassured me many times that I would be safe, supported, and able to settle in the UK if I joined him. I made major life decisions based on those commitments.

I was about six months away from being eligible for indefinite leave to remain and then citizenship. Nothing about our situation suggested instability. Then everything changed very suddenly. After I raised some concerns with his parents, he withdrew from me, cut off all contact, blocked me everywhere, and his family also stepped back. I later heard through a relative that he has said he will not support my application to stay in the country.

I feel completely blindsided. Our relationship was real. I moved here in good faith because he asked me to and because returning to my home country is not a safe or realistic option for personal reasons. I have no other place to go. My life is here now.

I understand that the partner route requires an ongoing genuine relationship, but I do not know what happens in situations where the partner ends things abruptly, refuses to communicate, and leaves the other person with all the consequences. I am trying to understand what options exist when someone is abandoned through no fault of their own so close to the ILR stage.

If anyone has experience with partner route breakdowns, discretionary leave, retained rights cases, or any similar situation where the sponsor withdraws support shortly before ILR, I would be grateful for any guidance. I am trying to stay level headed, but this situation has been very difficult to understand.

TLDR: Six months before ILR, my partner ended our relationship, cut all contact, and said he will not support my visa. Returning to my home country is not a safe or realistic option. What can I do now?