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Visiting the UK as unmarried couple
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern)
April 2019 photo competition, “Road trip” (Read, rules are different.)UK visa refusal on V 4.2 a + c (and sometimes 'e')I've a visa-free passport to UK but was refused to enter in Heathrow. Applied for a visa as advised by IO but still refusedUK standard visit visa rejected from India for my wife and 2 kidsCan I still enter the UK after my EEA Family Permit has been denied?My girlfriend was refused a tourist visaHow to demonstrate ties to home country for a UK tourist visa?Applying for UK visitor visa after 3 refusals. Does this case fall under complicated category requiring a lawyer?UK visitor visa; misinterpreted friends and family in the UK questionUK standard visit visa refused under V4.2 a) and c) & V4.3 a) and c)EEA family permit refusal - appeal or new application?What documents to substitute bank statement as proof of salary received?
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My girlfriend and I both have Ukrainian citizenship. We're planning to visit the UK at the end of April. While filling in the application form for visitor visa we specified our relationship status as unmarried partners since we have been living together for more than 3 years and I'm going to be her sponsor. Closer to visa appointment I started to google some information, like what documents we should bring to prove our relationship etc. All the information that pops out is about the case when a person already settled in the UK wants to bring his partner. Did we fill in the form right?
uk tourist-visas applications ukrainian-citizens
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
add a comment |
My girlfriend and I both have Ukrainian citizenship. We're planning to visit the UK at the end of April. While filling in the application form for visitor visa we specified our relationship status as unmarried partners since we have been living together for more than 3 years and I'm going to be her sponsor. Closer to visa appointment I started to google some information, like what documents we should bring to prove our relationship etc. All the information that pops out is about the case when a person already settled in the UK wants to bring his partner. Did we fill in the form right?
uk tourist-visas applications ukrainian-citizens
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
1
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
20
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
3
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03
add a comment |
My girlfriend and I both have Ukrainian citizenship. We're planning to visit the UK at the end of April. While filling in the application form for visitor visa we specified our relationship status as unmarried partners since we have been living together for more than 3 years and I'm going to be her sponsor. Closer to visa appointment I started to google some information, like what documents we should bring to prove our relationship etc. All the information that pops out is about the case when a person already settled in the UK wants to bring his partner. Did we fill in the form right?
uk tourist-visas applications ukrainian-citizens
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
My girlfriend and I both have Ukrainian citizenship. We're planning to visit the UK at the end of April. While filling in the application form for visitor visa we specified our relationship status as unmarried partners since we have been living together for more than 3 years and I'm going to be her sponsor. Closer to visa appointment I started to google some information, like what documents we should bring to prove our relationship etc. All the information that pops out is about the case when a person already settled in the UK wants to bring his partner. Did we fill in the form right?
uk tourist-visas applications ukrainian-citizens
uk tourist-visas applications ukrainian-citizens
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
edited Mar 25 at 8:43
Traveller
11.9k11948
11.9k11948
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
asked Mar 24 at 17:27
Roman KishchenkoRoman Kishchenko
8315
8315
1
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
20
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
3
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03
add a comment |
1
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
20
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
3
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03
1
1
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
20
20
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
3
3
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
If you are both just visiting the UK, the authorities will not be very bothered by what your relationship to each other is. They are really only concerned about whether you will both leave at the end. Unless there is something that doesn't make sense about your story they won't care if you are legally married or how long you have been together. That is probably why you are not finding much information about it.
It might be helpful to have photos of yourselves together from a while back, and maybe documents showing you live at the same address, but I doubt you will be asked for them.
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
|
show 8 more comments
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
add a comment |
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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active
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
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active
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oldest
votes
If you are both just visiting the UK, the authorities will not be very bothered by what your relationship to each other is. They are really only concerned about whether you will both leave at the end. Unless there is something that doesn't make sense about your story they won't care if you are legally married or how long you have been together. That is probably why you are not finding much information about it.
It might be helpful to have photos of yourselves together from a while back, and maybe documents showing you live at the same address, but I doubt you will be asked for them.
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
|
show 8 more comments
If you are both just visiting the UK, the authorities will not be very bothered by what your relationship to each other is. They are really only concerned about whether you will both leave at the end. Unless there is something that doesn't make sense about your story they won't care if you are legally married or how long you have been together. That is probably why you are not finding much information about it.
It might be helpful to have photos of yourselves together from a while back, and maybe documents showing you live at the same address, but I doubt you will be asked for them.
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
|
show 8 more comments
If you are both just visiting the UK, the authorities will not be very bothered by what your relationship to each other is. They are really only concerned about whether you will both leave at the end. Unless there is something that doesn't make sense about your story they won't care if you are legally married or how long you have been together. That is probably why you are not finding much information about it.
It might be helpful to have photos of yourselves together from a while back, and maybe documents showing you live at the same address, but I doubt you will be asked for them.
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
If you are both just visiting the UK, the authorities will not be very bothered by what your relationship to each other is. They are really only concerned about whether you will both leave at the end. Unless there is something that doesn't make sense about your story they won't care if you are legally married or how long you have been together. That is probably why you are not finding much information about it.
It might be helpful to have photos of yourselves together from a while back, and maybe documents showing you live at the same address, but I doubt you will be asked for them.
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
answered Mar 24 at 17:42
DJClayworthDJClayworth
37.6k7102136
37.6k7102136
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
|
show 8 more comments
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
2
2
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
Well he intends to be the sponsor of her which does raise the question 'why are you sponsoring her'.
– chx
Mar 24 at 18:33
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
I'm assuming it just means he is paying for her,.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:39
2
2
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
@chx "We're going together" seems to be an excellent answer to that.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 24 at 18:44
26
26
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
'Sponsor' has a technical meaning in UK applications which is more than just paying for the trip.
– DJClayworth
Mar 24 at 18:55
9
9
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
Yes, very common. Those persons are not called sponsors in official UK immigration terminology.
– DJClayworth
Mar 25 at 2:15
|
show 8 more comments
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
add a comment |
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
add a comment |
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
I think your issue might be that you're misusing a critical term. "Sponsor" is a specific term that has nothing to do with who is paying for a trip, and since neither of you currently hold a UK visa, the term isn't applicable to either of you.
A "sponsor" in immigration terms is a person (generally a family member, partner, or friend) who is already a citizen or visa holder in the country in question, and who is willing to be a point of contact and vouch for the intentions of the person who wants to immigrate.
You probably didn't fill out the form wrong, you might just be Googling using the wrong terminology.
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
edited Mar 25 at 8:11
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
answered Mar 25 at 2:05
Jess STJJess STJ
3518
3518
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
add a comment |
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
1
1
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
You do not have to be a UK citizen to sponsor a UK visit visa, nor is it the sponsor’s role to vouch for the applicant’s character. It’s incorrect to say a sponsor has nothing to do with temporary vacations see 4.3 gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:01
1
1
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
@Traveller You're absolutely right. In Canada only citizens and permanent residents can sponsor visas and I think I just assumed without Googling that the rules were the same for the UK. I'll amend my answer right now.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:06
1
1
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
Also corrected "vouch for the character of" to "vouch for the intentions of", since from what I'm reading, it's generally expected that when writing a letter of invitation you need to include details about your relationship to the person, the purpose of their visit, how they plan to support themselves, etc. It's irrelevant to the OP's question anyway because they are not -- nor will they need -- sponsors, but I appreciate the correction.
– Jess STJ
Mar 25 at 8:17
2
2
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
In the context of a UK Standard Visitor visa, a person providing a letter of invitation is not vouching for the intentions of the invitee. See under ‘Sponsorship Issues’ in this canonical answer travel.stackexchange.com/questions/92121/…
– Traveller
Mar 25 at 8:41
add a comment |
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
add a comment |
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
add a comment |
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
IMHO the important point here is whether your girlfriend meets the eligibility criteria for a visa in her own right or not. If she does, there’s really little need to prove your relationship. Just state that you’re travelling together in your respective applications and cross-reference the GWF number of your application in hers. You’ll both be providing your respective bank account statements which should show you share the same address.
If you’re paying for the trip because your girlfriend doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you probably do need to do a little more to satisfy the ECO that you have a genuine personal relationship per v4.3 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. You can do this very simply by stating in the application (or a covering letter) how long you’ve been in a relationship and why you’re paying the costs of the trip eg because you are currently the wage earner in the household. You will still both have to provide bank statements, which should prove you share the same address.
Note that:
for a UK Standard Visitor visa, anyone can provide funds, maintenance and accommodation. It is not necessary for the third party doing this to be a UK citizen, or to be in the UK https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673351/Visit-guidance-v7.0EXT.PDF#page20
In UK Immigration Rules parlance, ‘sponsor’ means the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking leave to enter or remain as their spouse, fiance, civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or dependent relative, as the case may be, under paragraphs 277 to 295O or 317 to 319 or the person in relation to whom an applicant is seeking entry clearance or leave as their partner or dependent relative under Appendix FM. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction.
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
edited Mar 25 at 9:51
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
answered Mar 25 at 8:35
TravellerTraveller
11.9k11948
11.9k11948
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Do you have any joint household bills or bank accounts? Mortgage or rental agreement? I think you chose the correct response, all that’s required is to demonstrate why you’d sponsor your girlfriend (assuming she needs a sponsor).
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 17:36
@Traveller That's one of the problems. We don't have joint household bills/bank accounts. It's not that common in Ukraine. We have a rental agreement, but it's on one name because the form doesn't allow to specify more than one person. Though, we've visited most of the countries together, have many photos with us together and we applied for foreign passports together more than 4 years ago (the passport number is different in one digit)
– Roman Kishchenko
Mar 24 at 18:48
Your bank accounts will have the same address though? Or tax returns? As DJClayworth says in his answer, I don’t think ‘proving’ the relationship is such a big deal for a Visitor visa. Your girlfriend’s ties to Ukraine are more important.
– Traveller
Mar 24 at 18:51
20
If you live in Ukraine and are visiting the UK, you can’t be your girlfriend’s “sponsor”. In visa language, the word “sponsor” means a person who’s already settled in the destination country, who’s willing to support the visitor - financially or otherwise. I think you simply mean that you’re both tourists, but you’re funding the trip for both of you.
– Chris Melville
Mar 24 at 23:19
3
It seems to me you are overthinking this. Your relationship status is irrelevant for traveling together. As long as both of you have a registered home address it does not matter if it is the same for both. The only time your relationship status is relevant, is for hotel rooms is in certain countries where they do not allow unmarried couples to share a room; mostly Muslim countries, but I also encountered it in rural areas of Japan.
– Thomas
Mar 25 at 15:03