I always thought a settlement visa was longer than 6 months.
A friend of ours (thai) just got her visa for 6 months and that is not a settlement visa.
Mike.
I am a bit rusty on this but maybe the 6 months is the time that Oasisdave's gf has within which to use the visa for first entry at a British port. This rings a bell with me as the same confusion arose over my stepson's visa. The visa wording is misleading and my stepson was refused re-entry to the UK after returning from a school trip abroad by an inexperienced immigration officer who thought that the expiry date meant that the visa was invalid after that. In fact it was just the time within which the visa had to be 'activated.' His passport was endorsed and things got messy. The local MP became involved etc. and we eventually got an apology from the Home Office.
Back to Oasisdave's gf: After entering the UK she has the two years to wait before applying for indefinite leave to remain (if already married it may only be one year). It always used to be that gf's were issued the settlement visas on the understanding that they would marry their British partner within 6 months. If they didn't then the visa expired but maybe things have become more liberal in this regard.
Here's a copy/paste from The British embassy's website. Should clear any confusion up.
How do I qualify to join my fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner in the UK?
You must show that:
* you plan to marry or register a civil partnership within a reasonable time (usually six months)
* you plan to live together permanently after you are married or have registered a civil partnership
* you have met each other before
* there is somewhere for you and your dependants to live until you get married or register a civil partnership, and you will be able to live without help from public funds, and
* you and your dependants can be supported without working or claiming any help from public funds.
You will be allowed to stay in the UK for six months but without permission to work. When you are married or have registered a civil partnership, you can apply for a two-year extension to your visa and, if your application is granted, you will be allowed to work. Near the end of this time, you can apply to stay in the UK permanently.
NB, did people applying to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months now need a TB certificate. Did your g/f have to supply one of these to get her visa?
All settlements need a TB certificate,which was not easy.
you go to a clinic in silom very "hard to find ",
they send her for tests at a hospital and then you go back to the clinic
for the results.I wasted 4 days of my holiday doing this.
and it costs 2,500 baht plus all ther travel
dave
Hope the above cleared up the confusion, Oasisdave. Obviously your g/f has a settlement visa. She only has to apply for a two year extension in the UK. You must marry within 6 months. I think the extensions are done in Croydon.
Interesting and bad news to hear of your experience with the TB test.
oasisdave wrote:i hope i am right too
it cost me 19.000 baht for the settlement visa .
i had a look at embassy website and it only says 6 months
anyway 6 months might be long enough
If its a Fiancee visa YOU LUCKY BASTARD!
My wife got rejected the neo nazi bastards in UK immigration seem to not like giving out visas - 20 other girls also in tears at immigration taht day. Maybe best to marry in UK. Maybe I should divorce the wife then get her a visa
Jack Straw was going to make COE weddings only for marriages to foreigners so keep an eye on the latest news. The "New Labour, New Fascists" are in power and they are gunning for nasty foreigners especially Asian hookers marrying white men (the imi officers do accuse....) and that despite a massive wedding at considerable cost
But the 400,000 illegals they want to give passports too (latest idea in UK).....including all the rapists and murderers on the run from there home countries. One of which raped and muredered a 17 year old girl in UK. I suppose he will still get his passport
enough
the neo nazi bastards in UK immigration seem to not like giving out visas - 20 other girls also in tears at immigration taht day. Maybe best to marry in UK. Maybe I should divorce the wife then get her a visa 