I met Zabir three years ago when I went back home during a university break. We spent a lot of time together, and when I left we kept in touch. When I was about to graduate, I decided to stay in the UK to build my career. At the same time, I wanted to be with Zabir, so I got in touch with Imperial & Legal seeking assistance.
A young couple did not have a clue as to what visa they needed to apply for to live together in the UK; so they contacted Imperial & Legal for help. The young woman was about to graduate from a UK university. She was in a relationship with a man living in her home country, Tunisia. After spending her summer break together, they decided to start a family and contacted us to find out how the man could relocate to the UK.
Once all the details were clarified and taking into account that the young woman was finishing her final year at university, our immigration advisors recommended the couple get married and the husband obtain a UK Dependant visa as a family member. Then the married couple would switch to a UK Graduate visa, an immigration route for British university graduates. The couple trusted our qualified immigration advisors and agreed to the plan. Imperial & Legal’s team began work on the case.
Catherine and Zabir are from Tunisia. Catherine was studying in the UK to be a designer.
Catherine met Zabir three years ago. He lived in Tunisia and worked as an architect there. It was love at first sight; they kept in touch by texting and video calls. They spent Catherine’s last summer break together and made up their minds to get married and start a family.
To obtain a UK Graduate visa for Catherine as soon as she got her degree and a UK Dependant visa for Zabir.
Since Catherine and Zabir had lived together for less than two years, they could not apply for a UK Visa for Unmarried Partners and Zabir was not eligible for a UK Dependant visa as an unmarried partner.
After consultation with Imperial & Legal’s immigration advisors, the young couple agreed that the best way to obtain UK visas for both of them was to follow their hearts and get married.
They got married in the spring while Catherine was still a student. Our immigration advisors immediately applied for a UK Dependant visa for Zabir as a partner of a UK Student visa holder. It was crucial to do that while Catherine’s UK Student visa was still valid so that the couple would switch to a UK Graduate visa together. Zabir could only apply for a UK visa from Tunisia, his country of residence.
When a UK Student visa holder switches to a UK Graduate visa, their family members who stayed in the UK as their dependants can do the same. In other words, you can switch to the UK Graduate visa with the main applicant provided you were a dependant of a UK Student visa holder. Once a UK Graduate visa is granted, it is not possible to add a partner or children.
You can legally stay in the UK on a UK Graduate visa for two or three years. Since Catherine was due to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, her UK Graduate visa was to last for two years.
Her university met all the Home Office requirements for education providers that accept foreign students for studies: it had a sponsorship licence and a track record of compliance. Our immigration advisors asked the university to confirm that Catherine had completed her studies and therefore was eligible for a UK Graduate visa.
Once Catherine finished her studies and passed the final exams, our immigration advisors applied for UK visas for the couple. They obtained UK Graduate visas, which you can only switch to from a UK Student visa from inside the UK.
Zabir is an architect and a landscape designer. He came up with a business idea to produce and sell plant decor ideas for offices. If he manages to grow it during the two years while a UK Graduate visa is valid, the couple might be able to stay in the UK on a UK Innovator visa or UK Skilled Worker visa.
We will work with you to find a customised solution for your immigration, second citizenship, business, tax and other needs.
UK Graduate Visa
UK Student visas
UK Family Visas: Spouse and Fiancé/Fiancée Visas