Spouse Visa Extension

In order to extend your Spouse Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• you are in a genuine relationship and intending to continue living together;
• you meet the suitability requirements, which relates to your character and conduct, and your previous immigration history;
• you meet the immigration status requirement, which means you have to be in the UK lawfully;
• you meet the financial requirement set out in the Marriage Visa UK requirements; and
• you meet the English Language requirements.

Changes to the Home Office Immigration Rules mean that some people who did not originally have to meet the English Language requirement in their application for a Spouse Visa may now have to satisfy this part of the application in order for their Spouse Visa renewal to be approved. This affects any applicants whose “leave to remain as a partner” expired on or after 1st May 2017.

If you make a UK spouse visa extension application that is unsuccessful for any reason, you will have 14 days from the date you received your decision letter to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.

If you submit an appeal after this deadline of 14 days, you will need to explain why your appeal was late.

It will then be down to the First Tier Tribunal to decide if they will hear your case.

If you are submitting a Spouse Visa extension application and have any doubts about any part of the process, it is important to get expert advice. The terminology used in Spouse Visa extension applications and related guidance forms can be very confusing. The financial requirements (for example, the minimum income threshold) can also be difficult to understand. Our immigration lawyers are here to help guide and advise you.

Our services include:

• checking your documents to ensure that they are sufficient for your application;
• preparing a Letter of Representation to accompany your application;
• liaising with the Home Office during your application process;
• completing each part of your application form to the highest standard.

Our immigration lawyers can also assist you if your UK Spouse Visa renewal is refused by the Home Office. We can guide you through the appeal process and, if you are taking your appeal to a First Tier Tribunal hearing, we can arrange for you to be represented by one of our expert immigration lawyers.