If you have renewed a spouse visa and you have now held it for 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. A spouse visa can be a route to ILR, provided that you meet the eligibility criteria. We can provide expert assistance if you want a spouse visa extension after 5 years and represent you in applying to move from a spouse visa to ILR.
At Halliday Reeves, we deal exclusively with visas and immigration and our solicitors are genuine experts in this complex area of law. We have secured visas and ILR for thousands of clients, and we hold the Law Society’s accreditation for immigration and asylum work at an advanced level. This recognises both our legal expertise and our strong standards of client care.
When applying for a spouse visa extension or ILR, you need to ensure that your application is strong and that the right documents are sent to UK Visas and Immigration to prove your eligibility.
We can work with you to identify the best evidence in support of your application, obtaining documents and certified translations where necessary.
If you need advice about a spouse visa extension after 5 years, enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form and we will be happy to help. You can also speak to us on 0330 133 7777.
“Fiance visa and Spouse visa both successful. Good help. Will come back to this company for next visa.”
Can I Get A Spouse Visa Extension After 5 Years?
Having a spouse visa for five years is a possible route to ILR in the UK. A spouse visa is granted for 2 years and 9 months and can be renewed for 2 years and 6 months. This means that once a visa has been renewed, if you abide by the terms of the visa, you may be eligible to apply for ILR if you are on the 5-year route.
If you move from a spouse visa to ILR, you will no longer need to apply for visa extensions as you will have settled status in the UK. You will be able to live and work in the UK and you may ultimately be able to become a British citizen.
Eligibility To Move To ILR From A Spouse Visa
To be eligible to move from a spouse visa to ILR, you need to satisfy UKVI on the following points:
- Your spouse or civil partner is a British or Irish citizen or is settled in the UK
- Your relationship is genuine and subsisting, and you have lived with your spouse or civil partner in the UK during the period of your spouse visa
- You intend to keep living with your spouse or civil partner
- You are of good character; this includes the requirements that you have not been convicted of any serious criminal offence, you have not breached your visa conditions, and you have not been dishonest in your ILR application
- You meet the minimum financial requirements, including in respect of any children who will also be applying for ILR
- You have adequate accommodation in the UK and can pay for this without recourse to public funding
- You meet the English language requirement
- You have passed the ‘Life in the UK’ test
- You have spent 60 months in the UK under a spouse visa
You can also apply for ILR for dependent children who have held family visas for the same period of time.
Documents To Support A Spouse Visa Extension Or ILR Application
It is essential to provide sufficient paperwork with your application to prove that you satisfy the above points. This will generally include:
- Your passport or other valid photographic travel identity document
- Your spouse or civil partner’s passport
- Evidence that you have been living together in the UK for the required period
- Evidence that you have adequate accommodation for yourselves and any children or other family members
- Bank statements, payslips and tax returns that show that you meet the minimum financial requirement
- The results of an approved English language test
- The results of a ‘Life in the UK’ test
When Can You Apply To Move From A Spouse Visa To ILR?
You can apply for ILR from a spouse visa up to 28 days before your visa expires. You will also need to have been in the UK for 59 months of the 60 required for eligibility.
Contact Our Solicitors To Discuss A Spouse Visa Extension After 5 Years
If you would like to apply for a spouse visa extension or you have held a spouse visa for 5 years and you would like ILR, contact us today and we will be pleased to represent you. We can put together an ILR application and identify the strongest available documents in support, giving you the best possible chance of success.
To contact one of our experts, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.
“The Halliday Reeves team have been fantastic from the first engagement to the last in getting our spousal visa approved. Navigating us through the hurdles and ensuring we provided the correct information. Actively chasing up UK immigration to get the matter resolved. Thoroughly recommend, don’t risk doing this on your own, engage the professionals.”
