Unmarried Partner Visa Solicitors
Why AY&J Solicitors For Your Partner Visa
- Most refusals come down to thin relationship evidence. We build the portfolio that shows a caseworker your relationship is real.
- The financial requirement has categories that trip people up. We pick the right one and evidence it exactly as the rules demand.
Why A Y & J Are Your Ideal Sponsor Licence Solicitors
- First need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
Our story in numbers
Why partner visas get refused
The relationship
- Too little evidence the relationship is genuine
- A gap in the two years with no explanation
- Inconsistencies between your accounts
- No credible plan to live together in the UK
The finances
- Income evidenced under the wrong category
- Payslips and bank statements that do not line up
- Savings not held for the required period
- Self-employment evidence that misses a required document
5 steps to your sponsor licence.
A free 15-minute call with our client team to check your business is eligible for a sponsor licence and spot anything that could rule an application out. This is a screening call, not legal advice, so there is no fee.
You receive: a clear view of whether we can help, and your fixed fee.
Once the client care agreement is signed, a solicitor reviews your business, the roles you want to fill and your key personnel, then confirms the right licence type and the documents you need.
You receive: a written eligibility position and a document checklist.
We audit your HR systems against sponsor duties, fix any gaps, draft the policies you need and build your Appendix A document bundle.
You receive: a compliance-ready application bundle.
A senior associate reviews the file independently before we complete the online application, pay the Home Office fee and send your supporting documents within 5 working days.
You receive: submission confirmation and updates on a set schedule.
We prepare your team for any Home Office compliance visit and handle queries until the decision, then help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and stay compliant.
You receive: a licence ready to use and a compliance plan.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
British citizenship eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We read the refusal and confirm you have a right of appeal.
You receive
A quick standing check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We confirm your ground, appeal or JR, and protect your 3C leave.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We draft the grounds and build the bundle and skeleton argument.
You receive
A complete appeal bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We serve the bundle and represent you at the hearing.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and advise on any onward appeal.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Individual eligibility assessment
A phone or video call, wherever you are in Edinburgh, to check for issues.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
A solicitor maps your options on a video call, at a time that suits you.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We gather your documents and build the evidence bundle for you.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
A senior associate reviews, then we submit and deal with the Home Office.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the decision and your next steps by video.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Family dependant eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We check both tests, the relationship and the finances.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We map the right financial category and the risk.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We build the relationship evidence and draft the application.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We submit online, book biometrics, and monitor the decision.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and plan extension and settlement.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Costs & Processing Times
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
Tell us about your relationship
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply
Not necessarily. The strict cohabitation rule was removed on 31 January 2024. You must show a genuine relationship of at least 2 years. Living together is the strongest way to prove it.
Who can apply
A partner who is a British citizen, or settled in the UK. That covers indefinite leave, settled status, or refugee or humanitarian protection.
Who can apply
Yes. The unmarried partner route is the same for all couples. There is no separate visa, despite what some older pages suggest.
Who can apply
You can still qualify. You will need to explain why, such as work, study or immigration barriers, and evidence the relationship another way.
Who can apply
It is the same Appendix FM route, for couples who are not married or in a civil partnership. The requirements are otherwise very similar.
Proving your relationship
With evidence that tells the real story. Joint finances, tenancy or bills, travel together, photos over time, messages, and letters from people who know you both.
Who can apply
At least two years of a genuine and subsisting relationship. Since 2024 that is measured by the relationship itself, not only by cohabitation.
Proving your relationship
Gaps are common and often explainable. We identify them early and build around them, rather than leaving a caseworker to draw the wrong conclusion.
Proving your relationship
Sometimes. The Home Office may interview one or both partners if it has doubts. We prepare you for what they ask and how.
Proving your relationship
Inconsistent accounts, very little shared history, or evidence that looks assembled for the application. We make sure yours reflects your real life.
Income and English
£29,000 a year. The planned rises to £34,500 and £38,700 remain paused after the June 2025 review, so £29,000 is the current figure.
Income and English
Cash savings of £88,500, held for the required period, can meet it instead. Savings and income can also be combined in some cases.
Costs, timing and settlement
£2,064 from outside the UK, or £1,407 from inside, from 8 April 2026. The health surcharge adds £1,035 a year.
Income and English
For an application from outside the UK, your overseas earnings usually do not count. The sponsor’s UK income is what matters. We check which sources qualify.
Income and English
Yes. A1 for the first application, rising to A2 at extension and B1 at settlement. It can be met by a test, a degree taught in English, or nationality.
Costs, timing and settlement
Usually 8 to 12 weeks from outside the UK, or about 8 weeks from inside. Priority service, where available, is faster.
Costs, timing and settlement
Two years and nine months on the first grant from outside the UK, on the five-year route to settlement.
Costs, timing and settlement
Yes. Once granted, there is no work restriction. Your partner can work, be self-employed, or study.
Costs, timing and settlement
After five continuous years on the route, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, if the requirements are met.
Costs, timing and settlement
We look at your relationship and your finances. Then we tell you honestly whether you qualify now, or what to build first.