US Female to join boyfriend in the UK (vice versa)

I'm a British Male, 26, A-levels, currently work in Sales & Marketing in Printing. She's American, 32, bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and associates degree in Culinary Arts.  Currently Chef de Cuisine.  Met in New Zealand March, 2010 and travelled around New Zealand & Asia together. Until we departed each other’s company in Dec 2010.

She has visited England Nov, 2012 and met my family. I will visit US in Feb 2013.

Whilst travelling and visiting each other’s Countries have plenty of photo’s, joint names on tickets.

(Reason for large gap – saving funds, furthering career’s)

Now in the process of closing the gap and wanting to live together. Don’t believe we can qualify for Partner/Defacto Visa due to not living together continually in the past two years? (Please advise if I’m wrong)

How are we able to apply for a joint bank account when neither of us live in each other’s country. Spoke to my bank (Natwest) She must visit the bank in person with a Passport showing she can remain in the UK for more than 6months. Also have a utility bill in both of our names.

 

What we are after - We would like to live in the same country, both be able to work, marriage is a possibility further down the line, looking at living together first.

Options which we have looked into for UK  –      Sponsoring a General Visitor (She’s unable to work)

Working in the UK – Skilled Workers – Tier 2 (General)

Partner Of a British Citizen or settled person

                                                                                               

If we were living together with joint accounts and joint utility bills on a visitor visa how long until we could apply for a partner visa?

Also apart from marriage straight away is there any options that I can join my partner in America and work? (Seems I lack qualifications in regards of visa’s we’ve looked into)

You are right that you cannot qualify for an unmarried partner visa without living together for two years (with proof).

Why do you want to open a joint bank account?

Your options are marriage, engagement (you must get married within six months), or her going to school in the UK under a student visa.

The reason for the joint bank account is for proof we are an official couple without being engaged or married. Whilst reading around everyone states you need to have proof for visa's and we would also use this account to show we have shared funds and are able to support each other.

Is the sponsorship route advisable with her being a Chef?

I am open to marriage but don't like the idea that we only way we can be together is forcing a married upon us. Preferably I would like to live with her 6 months.

A joint bank account is not needed to show proof you are a couple.  Things like photos, boarding passes and photos from holidays you have taken together, Skype logs of calls and snapshots of email inboxes are used for proof.  It's unusual for a couple who does not even live in the same country to have a joint bank account. I wouldn't waste your time trying to set one up.

It would be pretty unlikely she would be able to get sponsorship as a chef.  They are not an 'in demand' profession.

She can visit for up to six months but she cannot work during that time.  That is really your only option outside of marriage or her going to school as a student enrolled in a degree program.  There isn't a visa to allow unmarried couples to just live together unless they can prove they have been doing so for at least two years prior to applying for a visa.

It would be pretty unlikely she would be able to get sponsorship as a chef.  They are not an 'in demand' profession.

Actually, they are. Chefs are listed on the Tier 2 Shortage Occupations list. However, I believe only top chef jobs are on there, such as head chef, sous chef etc. and the job must pay over £28,000 a year to qualify.

Thanks for the correction, ksand24.

Thank you for the replies, I came across this yesterday:

newcomer link: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/shortageoccupationlistnov11.pdf [nonactive]

Page 14/15.
She is a head chef I believe although she has put Chef de Cuisine.
I was thinking of approaching a couple of restaurants I know to see if they would offer sponsorship.
It states:
the pay is at least £28,260 per year after deductions for accommodation, meals etc

Would £28,260 have to be the minimum wage? Just confirming is this before tax?

Yes, minimum wage before taxes but after the deductions mention.  And you must be sure she would meet the rest of the requirements:

skilled chef where:
- the pay is at least £28,260 per year after deductions for accommodation, meals etc; and
- the job requires five or more years relevant experience in a role of at least equivalent status to the one they are entering; and
- the job is not in either a fast food outlet, a standard fare outlet, or an establishment which provides a take-away service; and
- the job is in one of the following roles:
o executive chef – limited to one per establishment
o head chef – limited to one per establishment
o sous chef – limited to one for every four kitchen staff per establishment
o specialist chef – limited to one per speciality per establishment

A fast food outlet is one where food is prepared in bulk for speed of service, rather than to individual order.

A standard fare outlet is one where the menu is designed centrally for outlets in a chain / franchise, rather than by a chef or chefs in the individual restaurant.

Standard fare outlets also include those where dishes and / or cooking sauces are bought in ready-made, rather than prepared from fresh / raw ingredients.

Sponsors must retain references from the individual’s past employer(s) detailing five or more years’ relevant experience in a role of at least equivalent status and provide these to the UK Border Agency on request.

Sponsors must also retain relevant evidence to enable them to justify the following:
1) - Why does the job require someone with at least five years' previous experience in a role of at least equivalent status? What elements of the job require this experience and why?
2) - Why could the job not be carried out to the required standard by someone with less experience?
3) - How would you expect a settled worker to gain this experience before being appointed to the post?



Of course you can have her approach potential employers to see if they would be willing to sponsor her.  But don't get your heart set on this option, as it's pretty unlikely.