From Visitor to UK Resident: Our Client’s Spouse Visa Success
16.10.2025
Our client first came to the UK long before securing any immigration status. Initially, he entered on a Standard Visitor visa to complete a short course of study. After finishing his course, he returned to his home country. Some time later, he came back to the UK as a Temporary Worker.
While he was in the UK, war broke out in his home country, Ukraine, making it impossible for him to return. The client tried to secure leave under the Ukraine Scheme but, having applied without professional assistance, he received no updates or response from the Home Office. Eventually, he was granted permission to stay in the UK under the private life route. Despite his complex immigration history, he has now successfully obtained a spouse visa thanks to the work of Tetiana Deren and Daria Kotkova.
A spouse visa (Family Visa – Partner Route) allows a non-UK national married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or settled person to live and work in the UK. The initial visa is usually granted for 2 years and 9 months, followed by an extension for another 30 months before becoming eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and eventually, British citizenship.
This visa forms part of the family migration route, which enables individuals to live with or join family members in the UK. Sponsors must typically meet certain requirements such as a minimum income threshold, adequate accommodation, and valid immigration status. Applicants themselves must meet English language requirements and show genuine and subsisting relationships. Previous immigration history, overstaying, or breaches can also affect the outcome and must be addressed carefully.
Think you might be eligible under the family route? Perhaps you have private life ties to the UK that could form the basis of an application? Contact us today to discuss your situation. We will assess your circumstances and help you understand the best route to remain lawfully in the UK.
