Spouse Visa Extension After 2.5 Years

Are you currently on a Spouse Visa in the United Kingdom and approaching the end of your initial 2.5-year period? If so, you may be wondering about the process to extend a spouse visa after 2.5 years. In this detailed guide, we will walk you through all the essential information you need to know about the Spouse Visa extension after 2.5 years.

Eligibility Criteria for the Spouse Visa Extension after 2.5 years

To be eligible for a Spouse Visa extension, you must meet certain requirements:

• You must still be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your spouse.
• You must have sufficient accommodation for you and your dependents.
• You must meet the financial requirement, which involves demonstrating a specific level of income or savings.
• You must not have any criminal convictions that could affect your eligibility.
• You passed the English language test A2

In short, you must continue to meet all the requirements under Appendix FM to renew your spouse visa after 2.5 years.

The Application Process

This guide will walk you through the spouse visa extension process after an initial 2.5 years.

When Should You Apply for the Extension?

It’s essential to start the application process well before your current Spouse Visa expires. Ideally, you should apply about 28 days before the expiration date.

Required Documents

You will need to gather various documents to support your application, including:

• Proof of your relationship with your spouse.
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirement.
• Accommodation details.
• Passport and biometric residence permit.

Financial Requirement For Spouse Visa Extension after 2.5 Years

If you apply for a family visa as a partner, you and your partner usually need to prove that your combined income is at least £29,000 a year.

This is called a ‘minimum income requirement’.

The financial requirements are different if either:

• your partner is getting certain disability or carer’s benefits
• you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and you’re extending that visa – this includes if you first applied as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

How you prove your income depends on how you got it. You may be able to use your savings instead of income to show you meet the requirement.

If Your Partner Is Getting Disability Or Carer’s Benefits

You do not need to meet a minimum income requirement if your partner gets one of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension
• Child Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment

You need to show you and your family have enough money to house and support yourselves without relying on additional public funds. The caseworker considers your income and housing costs.

Check the guidance in Appendix FM and Appendix HM armed forces: minimum income requirement for more information.

If You First Applied As A Partner Before 11 April 2024 And You’re Extending That Visa

If you’re extending your stay with the same partner, you and your partner will need to prove that your combined income is at least £18,600 a year.

You must prove you have extra money for any children who:

• you’re applying for a family visa with
• are already in the UK as dependants on your family visa
• are already in the UK as your partner’s dependants

You do not need to prove you have extra money for any children who:

• are British or Irish citizens
• have pre-settled status
• are permanently settled in the UK

You might not need to prove you have extra money if your children are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and they do not have pre-settled status or are not permanently settled in the UK. Check the guidance in Appendix FM and Appendix HM armed forces: minimum income requirement for more information.

If you need to prove extra money for children, you’ll need to prove an extra:

• £3,800 a year for the first child
• £2,400 a year for each additional child you have after the first child

If the total amount you’d need to earn based on your children would be more than £29,000, you only need to prove you make £29,000 a year.

Relationship requirement to extend spouse visa after 2.5 years

To obtain a spouse visa extension after 2.5 years, you need to prove to the Home Office that you are still in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your UK partner. Your relationship must be genuine and ongoing and able to prove that you lived in the UK with your partner during your initial 2.5 years of spouse visa.

You will need to submit documents in your name and on your partner’s name showing your cohabitation together for 2 years. You can provide tenancy agreements, council tax letters, utility bills, and bank statements to show that you live together with your UK partner.

Spouse visa extension English test

When applying for a spouse visa extension after 2.5 years, you need to pass the A2 English language test. You can seek exemptions from English language test if you are:

• A national of an English-speaking country
• Someone who holds a degree or higher qualification from an institution recognised by UK NARIC which was taught /researched in English
• A person aged under 18 or over 65
• Someone with a long-term physical or mental condition

Biometric Appointment

You will need to attend a biometric appointment as part of the application process. This appointment involves providing your fingerprints and photographs.

Waiting Period

Once you’ve submitted your application, there is a waiting period during which the UK Home Office will process your case. It’s essential to monitor your application’s progress online.

Good character requirement for spouse visa renewal

To renew your spouse visa after 2.5 years, the Home Office needs to ensure that you meet the good character requirement and there are no reasons to refuse your application based on your immigration history.

What Supporting Documents Will I Need for Spouse / Civil Partnership Visa Extension?

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) officials may want to see the following (non-exhaustive) list of documents included with your application:

• Your current passport
• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Evidence that you and your spouse have been living together continuously in the UK since you were last granted the spouse visa entry clearance
• Your National Insurance number (if you have one)
• Details of your accommodation in the UK
• Bank statements and details of salary showing you or your sponsor can meet the minimum income threshold
• Your sponsor’s British passport or Indefinite Leave to remain documents
• English language certificate

You can book an appointment with our spouse visa lawyers to apply for spouse visa extension after 2.5 years.

What is the spouse visa extension fee?

The spouse visa extension fee is £1048.

Immigration health surcharge for a spouse visa extension

• £776 per year for visa and immigration applicants who are under the age of 18 at the time of application
• £1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example, £3,105 for a 3-year visa

How do I apply for a UK spouse visa extension?

You should apply online for your spouse visa extension before your UK spouse visa expires. However, you must meet all the requirements to extend your spouse visa after 2.5 years.

As part of the application process, you will be required to provide details of your spouse or partner, including the nature of your relationship with them.

How long does a spouse visa extension take?

To renew a Spouse Visa takes up to 6 months to process. Suppose you need a faster decision when extending a spouse visa. In that case, you may be able to pay an extra £1000 to use the super priority service for a decision by the end of the next working day.

Can I travel while my spouse visa extension application is pending?

No. If you leave the Common Travel Area, which includes the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, when your application is pending, your application will be treated as withdrawn.

Why Choose Deluxe Law Chambers To Extend Your Spouse Visa Application?

Choosing the right and best immigration lawyer for your immigration needs can be stressful. While it could seem like a difficult choice, let us simplify things for you. Here are a few good reasons why you should choose Deluxe Law Chambers to assist you with your UK visas and immigration matters.

Our commitment to affordability means that you can receive expert advice without straining your finances. Our success hinges on transparency. We believe in keeping you informed about every step of the process, ensuring that you understand your options and the potential outcomes.

• REGULATED – We are regulated and approved immigration lawyers by The Office Of The Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).
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• TRUST – Our commitment to uphold your trust is unwavering. Our transparency and ethical conduct are treatments for the trust placed in us by our clients.
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A combination of our rich experience, deep-rooted expertise, trust authority, and unwavering commitment to our clients makes us your best choice.

So, why wait? Take your first step towards a successful immigration application with us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)