Marriage to a Brazilian

I've been in the UK for almost 5 years (it'll be 5 years in June) and I'm going to apply for ILR. I'm just past my first year of my second Tier 2 work visa. I plan on applying for citizenship in 2022.

I've been seeing someone from Brazil and I can see our relationship heading towards marriage. I'm just not even sure how I should approach this from an immigration angle? When would be the best time to get married? After ILR? Before? I find plenty of information on here about marrying a British national, but  very little on marrying someone that's not British.


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Does your partner live in the UK already,  and if so, what's their current immigration status?

If they don't already live in the UK, will you need to sponsor a fiance or spousal visa for them so they can come to the UK to live here?

In terms of being able to sponsor a fiance or spousal visa, you need to hold either ILR or UK citizenship in order to do that.

The other option is to have your employer add them as a Tier 2 dependent once married. Assuming they are not already in the UK.

The other option is to have your employer add them as a Tier 2 dependent once married. Assuming they are not already in the UK.

This looks like the cheaper option, as long as you are on a Tier 2 (General) visa and not the Tier 2 (ICT) visa, as the latter doesn't lead to ILR after 5 years.
https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general

Does your partner live in the UK already,  and if so, what's their current immigration status?

In terms of being able to sponsor a fiance or spousal visa, you need to hold either ILR or UK citizenship in order to do that.

No, they live in Sao Paulo right now.

The other option is to have your employer add them as a Tier 2 dependent once married. Assuming they are not already in the UK.

Yes, but they can't work themselves, correct? I don't mind that, but I know that would probably drive her bonkers.

I know she'd have to pass the Engish test (hers is pretty good already), but I'm just someone that plans EVERYTHING. I'm just trying to figure out what would be the best path for both of us. Are there programs or mock tests for this test?

It is funny when I say "I'm an American" and she'll say "I am too."

Yes, but they can't work themselves, correct? I don't mind that, but I know that would probably drive her bonkers.

Yes, they can work.

Someone on a Tier 2 dependent visa can work with pretty much no restrictions, other than that they cannot work as a Professional Sportsperson, or as a Doctor or Dentist in Training (except under certain circumstances).

See here for the guidance for dependent applications:
https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/family-members
and
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/922968/SW_Dependant_Guidance_09-2020_v1.0.pdf

I know she'd have to pass the Engish test (hers is pretty good already), but I'm just someone that plans EVERYTHING. I'm just trying to figure out what would be the best path for both of us. Are there programs or mock tests for this test?

I'm not sure - there are various different tests, and I don't know what's available for them.

Though looking at the guidance I linked to just above, I'm not sure if she would actually have to pass an English Language test... it only mentions needing it for ILR, not for the initial dependent visa.