Work in Progress: Visa faq

Well bless my cotton socks!

The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that the CPB is coming into full force on 5 Dec 2005.  It means that same-sex couples who register in a civil ceremony will enjoy the same immigration rights as married couples.  The procedure is pretty much standard:  go to a Registry Office and then wait 15 days, then show up for the ceremony. 

From the announcement:  The process of entering into a civil partnership will be administered by the local registration service. On the day of registration, each member of the couple will sign in the presence of the registration officer and two witnesses.

The Act also allows for same-sex couples who have entered legally recognised overseas relationships to be treated as civil partners in the United Kingdom.

There will be a formal, court-based process for dissolution of a civil partnership.


I suppose that on 21 Dec 2005, there's going to be some massive parties in town.  Birmingham, Newcastle, Brighton also. 

There's more at:  http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk

Woohoo!!  About bloody time!

Tied with today's announcement that HM Navy is going to make advertisements encouraging lesbians and gays to join the service, we really couldn't have a better snapsnap of the difference between the US and the UK at the moment.

When I got my fiancee visa I was told I was entitled to emergency services only on the NHS, and didn't have full coverage til after the wedding.

A Fiancee Visa is a settlement visa and as such you are entitled to use NHS services.

A discussion about what constitutes "public funds" is at

http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/publicfunds.shtml

A description of how to proceed if you are the victim of domestic violence is at

http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/violence.shtml

In regards to the Civil Partnership Bill, does anyone know if you must be citizens or be marrying a citizen?  Or can both individuals be on settlement visas and still register? 

Also, any clue on what immigration is doing in the meantime?  My partner and I are moving in the Fall.  We are trying to determine if I must go as an unmarried partner or if there will be another category to go under because of the new bill?