Not married or not civil partnered

If your partner lives abroad, and wants to join you to live in the United Kingdom, you are likely to have increased difficulty convincing the immigration authorities of the seriousness of your relationship.

Married or civil partnered

The immigration authorities are likely to treat your application more sympathetically. Even so, there are likely to be conditions attached to any visa granted and you could be deported if there is a divorce or dissolution within a period that suggests that the marriage or civil partnership was not genuine.

Almost certainly, you will need to have specialist advice and guidance.

Links for further information:

Immigration Advisory Service

Citizens Advice Bureau

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants

Home Office Border & Immigration Agency

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

	www.marriedornot.org.uk

Married or not is part of LivingTogether - a campaign led by Advicenow.org.uk to inform cohabiting couples of their legal rights. The Nuffield Foundation and the Department for Constitutional Affairs supported One Plus One's development of material for Married or Not. The legal information on this site was checked by Sarah Forster.