If you are a non-EEA or Swiss national, you can gain the right to remain in the UK by marrying a British Citizen, or a person with settled status in the UK. If you do this, you will be granted a Spouse Visa. Once you are living in the UK with your spouse or partner, you may wish to make your position more permanent. You can achieve this by gaining ILR from a Spouse Visa. ILR, or, Indefinite Leave to Remain, allows you to settle in the UK permanently without being tied to visa regulations.

The initial grant of leave for a Spouse Visa is two and a half years. When this period has come to a close, you may choose to extend your Spouse Visa for another two and a half years. Assuming you meet the current requirements laid out by the Home Office then you can extend your Spouse Visa. With this visa extension, you will be able to reside in the UK for five years, qualifying to go from a Spouse Visa to ILR.

Our dedicated lawyers can help you with everything you need to know about switching to ILR from a Spouse Visa. We can assess your eligibility for ILR, gather and check your supporting documents and help with completing your application form to the highest standard.

Your lawyer will also write a Letter of Representation to accompany your application. This letter provides the Home Office with information on your case and its merits and will reference relevant UK immigration laws which strengthen your application. We will also make sure you to meet all the necessary requirements by preparing you for your ‘Life in the UK’ test and IELTS test. With IAS, your chances of being granted ILR from a Spouse Visa will be maximised.

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FAQs

Am I eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

The Indefinite Leave to Remain after a five years period is usually granted to those on a Spouse Visa assuming the following:

  • Minimum income requirement of £18,600 (rising with every child dependent) is met
  • No immigration law in the UK or abroad has been broken
  • The applicant has passed ‘Life in the UK’ test and the English Language Test
  • The applicant can supply Biometric Resident information

Read more about the ILR requirements here.

Will marrying a British Citizen allow me to enter the UK?

If you are a non-EEA or Swiss national and you marry a British Citizen or person with settled status in the UK you will be eligible to apply for a Spouse Visa.

It is important to note, however, that the Home Office are very strict with applications for Spouse Visas. They are trained to spot cases of marriage fraud or ‘sham marriages’ and a Spouse Visa application requires a great deal of evidence to prove your relationship or marriage is genuine.

Read more about Spouse Visas and other Partner Visas

How can IAS help?

Our expert lawyers can help you with your application for ILR from a Spouse Visa. We will work with you to ensure that your application is completed to the highest standard before it is submitted. Our services include:

  • assessing your eligibility for ILR;
  • gathering your documentation and looking for issues or gaps;
  • addressing any issues with your documentation;
  • completing your application to a professional standard;
  • having a lawyer prepare a Letter of Representation. This letter accompanies your application and provides details on your case and its merits. It will also reference any relevant UK immigration laws that support your application;
  • liaising with the Home Office where appropriate;
  • preparing you for your ‘Life in the UK’ test;
  • preparing you for your English Language test;
  • checking that you have enough evidence to prove your relationship is genuine to the Home Office.

Contact IAS today on 0333 363 8577 or make an enquiry online to arrange a consultation with a qualified immigration lawyer.

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Appeal Package

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any hearings/tribunals

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Case studies

We are proud to have changed lives for the better. Here are some of their stories:

Luke: Indefinite Leave to Remain

Singaporean citizen Luke studied in the UK and then went on to be an NHS doctor. After building his life and his career in Britain, he was eager to stay.… Read More

Godfrey: Civil Partner Visa

George was from the UK and wanted to bring Godfrey, his partner, a Ghanaian National over to the UK as a Proposed Civil Partner.
George did well in life… Read More

Fiance Visa for Thai partner

John (a UK national) met Vitchita (a Thai national) online and stayed in contact with her for many months.
After they met in person, they decided that there was something special… Read More

Priyanka: Family Visa

Priyanka was an Indian National who wanted to visit her daughter, of whom she had had very little contact with, in the UK.
However, she was unsure of what the… Read More

Yuma: Tier 4 Student Visa

Yuma, a Japanese National, was accepted as a student in her chosen UK university. She was unclear about the process of coming over to the UK so she contacted… Read More

Moira: Tier 2 and Dependant Extension

Moira was an Australian National who had been working in the UK under a Tier 2 Visa with her husband as a dependent.
Her Work Visa was about to… Read More

Latest reviews

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Brilliant service and very friendly helpful staff. I have received my letter for my ceremony and it took me only… Read More
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IAS evaluated my situation properly and successfully tailored my application to secure a happy result

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Excellent service! Would definitely recommend to anyone needing help with immigration issues. Our lawyer was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.

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