Spouse & Partner Visa
Bring or remain with your partner in the UK under Appendix FM.
If your spouse or partner is from outside the UK, bringing them to live with you in the United Kingdom requires a successful visa application. Spouse and partner visa applications are among the most scrutinised by the Home Office, and refusal rates remain significant. BW Solicitors helps families across Ilford and London navigate this process with confidence, care and expertise.
Requirements for a Spouse or Partner Visa
To sponsor your spouse or partner to come to the UK, both the applicant and the sponsor must meet a range of requirements. The financial requirement — currently £29,000 per year (rising to £38,700) — is often the most challenging, but there are also requirements relating to the genuineness of the relationship, English language proficiency, adequate accommodation, and the applicant's immigration history.
- Sponsor must earn at least £29,000 gross per year (rising in stages to £38,700)
- Relationship must be genuine and subsisting
- Couple must intend to live together permanently in the UK
- English language requirement (A1 CEFR for entry, A2 for extension, B1 for ILR)
- Adequate accommodation that is not overcrowded or in disrepair
- Neither party can be under 18
- Applicant must not fall for refusal on criminality, deception or other grounds
The Route to Settlement
A successful spouse or partner visa initially grants leave for 33 months (if applying from outside the UK) or 30 months (if applying from within the UK). After five years of continuous residence in the UK on this route, your partner may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — provided all requirements continue to be met. Our solicitors will advise you on the full pathway from initial visa to permanent settlement and eventual British citizenship.
How BW Solicitors Can Help
Spouse and partner visa applications require meticulous preparation. A well-organised bundle of supporting evidence — including financial documents, proof of relationship, and accommodation evidence — can make the difference between success and refusal. Our team prepares every application with the thoroughness it deserves.
- Assessment of eligibility, including the financial requirement
- Advice on alternative ways to meet the financial requirement
- Preparation of the full supporting evidence bundle
- Drafting a covering letter addressing all relevant requirements
- Assistance with applications from both inside and outside the UK
- Support with extensions, ILR and citizenship applications
- Appeals and administrative reviews if your application is refused
Why Choose BW Solicitors?
Spouse and partner visa refusals are distressing and disruptive to family life. Our solicitors approach every case with the sensitivity and determination it deserves, fighting to keep families together. We have successfully reunited hundreds of couples and families across Ilford, East London and beyond.