advice needed for unmarried partner visa for the uk

[cazzyb2]

I am a uk born citizen and my partner is an australian. We met in feb 2010 while i was on a 2 year working holiday visa in australia. We worked together and our relationship started within 2 weeks and we have been together ever since. We went to thailand for a month in July 2010 then flew to the uk in august 2010 as my visa was up and he entered the uk on a 6 month tourist visa. He was over 30 therefore unable to get a working holiday visa. We then left the uk in nov with the intention of going to new zealand for 2 years as i could get a 2 year working holiday there. We had a month in thailand where we found out i was pregnant. Therefore our plans obviously changed. So we flew to Oz in Dec 2010 and stayed at his mums then both flew back to the uk in jan 2011 (him entering on a 6 month tourist visa again) as I had to go back to have the baby. He then flew back to Australia in feb 2011 to work for 4 monthes as he needed to earn money for our new family. \We had no choice but to have this time apart. He returned to the Uk (tourist visa again) at the end of June 2011 and our baby girl was born in August 2011.
In all the time we spent in the uk we lived at my mums house. We could not rent our own place as we did not have a visa which entitled him to work or stay in the country for longer than 6 monthes, we could not afford to. We lived at my mums house rent free. I then got a 12 month tourist visa for australia (as I didnt need to work, am mum!) and we came here in dec 2011. We have rented a flat since jan 2012 from his uncle, we have a rental agreement etc but pay our rent in cash. The electricity bill is in my name but we pay it out of his bank. We also opened a joint 'savings' account in jan, our visas had not permitted us to do this before. After being here for the past 7 monthes we have decided that we would like to reside in the uk permanately due to family ties etc. We have plenty of evidence like cards, travel itinary, a BABY (who has dual citizenship), skype conversations, facebook, bank transfers, photos etc.
Anyway, after much researching on the internet I am worried that we dont have enough, it seems so stupid as we are in a general relationship and love each other dearly but it seems proving this can be tough??? Anyway advice would be appreciated.....how tight are they on the '2 year akin to marriage evidence' - we have always been together (apart from 4 monthes when he HAD to work) but as we were not renting an apartment, and living at my mums, or on holiday in thailand, will this not be enough? We have a 11 month old baby, surely this is proof? How much money do we need to prove we can support ourselves? My sister will be a co-sponser, she has savings and a full time job. My mum will provide us accomadation free of charge for as long as we need. We have about 10,000 dollars in savings? Thanks in advance for your help! Am so frustrated with it all its sending my loopy!

[uzi]

1) how tight are they on the '2 year akin to marriage evidence?
By reading the detail you should be fine. Just provide all the record, Photos, travel tickets,emails, skype records, joint bank account, birth certificate of the baby (Indeed a Big proof!!!)
2) How much money do we need to prove we can support ourselves?
if you apply before 00:01 9th july, then you can show the co sponsor and you will need to show only £111 per week, employment can be a min of 3 months.
But if you are going after 9th july then you cant show a co-sponsor and you have to show £18,600 of earnings per anum, Savings will only be considered if you fall short of 18,600 mark and they consider savings at minimum of £16,000.

Accommodation is fine.......

I recon apply before 9th july you still have a day or two :P

Regards

[cazzyb2]

Thanks Uzi, thats really helps. We really do believe we have enough evidence so that makes me worry less about that side of things!!
regarding the money situation, is this definately coming into effect? there is no way we can apply in 2 days unfortuneatly we have not completed the application and are still awaiting on signed forms from relatives etc etc.
there is no way that we would ever have 16,000 pounds, it is near on impossible considering we have been jumping countries for the past 2 years....I really dont understand how they make up these rules? seems so unfair that we are in a genuine relationaship, have a baby, love each other but it is going to be near on impossible to live in the uk!
would it be easier if we got married??? although we do not want to do this 'just' to make life easier, we want to get married but want a lovely memorible wedding not a rush in a registery office for immigration purposes!
thanks again, any more advice would be very much appreciated

[nyclon]

Originally Posted by cazzyb2

Thanks Uzi, thats really helps. We really do believe we have enough evidence so that makes me worry less about that side of things!!
regarding the money situation, is this definately coming into effect? there is no way we can apply in 2 days unfortuneatly we have not completed the application and are still awaiting on signed forms from relatives etc etc.
there is no way that we would ever have 16,000 pounds, it is near on impossible considering we have been jumping countries for the past 2 years....I really dont understand how they make up these rules? seems so unfair that we are in a genuine relationaship, have a baby, love each other but it is going to be near on impossible to live in the uk!
would it be easier if we got married??? although we do not want to do this 'just' to make life easier, we want to get married but want a lovely memorible wedding not a rush in a registery office for immigration purposes!
thanks again, any more advice would be very much appreciated

If you apply after 9 July you will have to meet the new requirements. Getting married won't make any difference.

**Edited to add:

After 9 July co-sponsors will not be allowed.

[AnAmericanInScotland]

Just a thought-you may be able to complete the online application, and pay, before 9 July-which would do two things:

1--the application will be in and dated pre-9 July. Meaning you wouldn't subject to the post-9 July rules.

2--because you have to chose a biometrics appointment date as part of the online application process, you can chose the farthest date out. Meaning you'd have that time between submitting/paying for the application, and gathering your documents. Very possible to get documents from the UK to AU via DHL in a very short period of time, like three days. I think they guarantee that.

(Never, never, NEVER use Royal Mail, even the so-called expedited services, to get something from the UK to anywhere quickly. It's NOT reliable except that it's completely unreliable).

[cazzyb2]

thanks, sorry to go on but we are in mild panic mode now are these requirements definately coming in??

[cazzyb2]

thanks anamaricaninscotland - i have just read this all to my partner and we have decided that we should probablly fill the application tomorrow. really very frustrating when you are genuine and just want to live in the same bloody country - we could easily live in australia but i really wanna be back home near friends and family pain in butt!

[nyclon]

Originally Posted by cazzyb2

thanks, sorry to go on but we are in mild panic mode now are these requirements definately coming in??

Yes.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...mily-migration

[cazzyb2]

thanks nyclon - if we applied online and paid for the application tonight, would be then be exempt from these new laws???

Thanks in advance

[2farapart]

Yes, you would be. The key is to pay for your application prior to 9th July in order to be considered under the old rules through all visas leading to permanent settlement in the UK. The only complication in this is that some countries have different points at which you pay. Some allow you to pay immediately and then go ahead with biometrics etc; others don't take payment until all that is done. I'm not familiar with the process when applying from Australia (others here will be able to advise) but if you can pay immediately, then you can do it.