Switching from a Tier 4 visa

I currently have a Tier 4 visa (its a two year, post graduate degree) and expires in January of 2016. I currently live with my partner (I have since beginning of June of this year) and we are currently exploring options for us once I finish my degree. Ideally we would like to stay in the UK and my partner meets the income requirement. I am familiar with the Fiancé Visa path, but I am struggling with understanding the FLR(M) path. The UK Visas and Immigration website makes it a little difficult to find the information I need, and previous posts in this thread I fear might be a little outdated.

Could someone help explain our options? Thank you in advance

If you live together in a relationship 'akin to marriage' for 24 months (and have proof), you can apply using FLR(M) for an unmarried partner visa. The income requirement could be met using your combined incomes as you are here on a visa that allows work. You must have proof over the 24 months that you live together.

Thank you, but I'm afraid that we will be 5 months short of the 24 month requirement before my current visa runs out. Do we have any other options other than me returning back to the US and applying for the Fiancé Visa?

You could just get married here in the UK anytime between now and Jan 2016 and apply for FLR(M) based on being a spouse rather than an unmarried partner. The sooner you do this, the sooner you could qualify for ILR after 5 years on FLR(M) visas.

Doing this would mean you could study wherever you like (you wouldn't actually need your Tier 4 for your course anymore) and work as many hours as you want with no restrictions, compared to the restricted 20 hours a week on Tier 4 (you would still have to pay international student fees though).


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