Living 'illegally'? in the UK

This conversation has left me behind I'm afraid!  

I am a freelance writer.  I work for several corporations to essentially write their propoganda.  I'm not sure that would qualify.

-L

Oh, no it wouldn't sorry.  Then you are back to the other options Lola has suggested, hope you can find one that suits you, or you can just keep coming and going as a tourist but doing no work while you are here.

Thanks very much for all your experienced input.  I suppose I'll have to think over the situation and see where we go.  He and I have been seeing eachother for 8 years now.  Seems very silly to be going through this at this point.

Many thanks!
-L

Time spent as a visitor doesn't qualify as living together for an UP visa.

Actually, it does. I spent 1 1/2 years living in different countries with my partner on just a tourist visa, including 6 mos here in the UK. I applied for our UP visa from here while I was still on my tourist visa and just received my LLR for 2 years.

Actually, it does. I spent 1 1/2 years living in different countries with my partner on just a tourist visa, including 6 mos here in the UK. I applied for our UP visa from here while I was still on my tourist visa and just received my LLR for 2 years.

I think the trouble w/this is that there's always the possibility, particularly w/exiting and entering the UK like that, of being returned to the US and getting one of those nasty stamps in the ol' passport. 

I do know of an artist who got a visa, but she's a very, very established musician, and the visa was only for one year - to do some particular research in a specific area of England.

pkessler... how did that work exactly?  If you don't mind explaining...

 

I think the trouble w/this is that there's always the possibility, particularly w/exiting and entering the UK like that, of being returned to the US and getting one of those nasty stamps in the ol' passport.

In my case, I did most of my going back and forth when we were living on the continent, where they are a lot more lenient, but the maximum stay is only 90 days. Once we got to the UK I got my 6 mos stamp and had no issues the 2 times I left and came back. I was honest and told them we were here because my partner was on trial employment and we were waiting to see if we were going to stay. I never had a problem, though I was always nervous. We sent in our application as soon as he got his permanent employment, which happened to coincide with our 2 years together.

pkessler... how did that work exactly?  If you don't mind explaining...

see above... 

Dang, Pam, after reading SO many stories of people who've been sent back on this board, it would seem you got very lucky.

For the advisers on the board, however, I wonder, in the future, if the Unmarried Partners Visa won't be more heavily scrutinised, especially now as couples can opt for the new partnership ceremony.

Dang, Pam, after reading SO many stories of people who've been sent back on this board, it would seem you got very lucky.

For the advisers on the board, however, I wonder, in the future, if the Unmarried Partners Visa won't be more heavily scrutinised, especially now as couples can opt for the new partnership ceremony.

From what I understand, they are doing away with it all together, which I think is a shame. I am not in any way opposed to marriage, but for us being married isn't a proof of our love, it is just something we were going to need to do to be together, which is what we want forever anyway. With the UP visa we can do just that and if we decide to actually get married legally down the road that is our choice.

I hadn't realized how lucky I was until I read a lot of the posts on this board, but I was always honest and kept it simple. Also, my partner is Swedish and maybe that had something to do with it since I wasn't coming to see someone that was already settled here. Who knows..

From what I understand, they are doing away with it all together

Hadn't heard that.  But I guess they have to stick to official ceremonies, especially as it is possible to have one's partnership officially recognised w/o having to marry.

Hadn't heard that. But I guess they have to stick to official ceremonies, especially as it is possible to have one's partnership officially recognised w/o having to marry.

From what I understand, the Civil Partnership is only for same sex couples, though.

From what I understand, the Civil Partnership is only for same sex couples, though.

Ah!  I don't know.  I had thought that Unmarried Partners visa was originally designed for same-sex couples as well, as they could not legally marry at all and therefore could never come in as a spouse, so I could sort of see why the new partnership ceremony would replace it. 
 

Ah! I don't know. I had thought that Unmarried Partners visa was originally designed for same-sex couples as well, as they could not legally marry at all and therefore could never come in as a spouse, so I could sort of see why the new partnership ceremony would replace it.
 

Yep, I think you are right about the UP visa being originally for same sex couples, but also maybe because unmarried partners of the opposite sex are legally recognized in other EU countries. Just speculating though. All that aside, I am really pleased about the Civil Partnership for same sex couples. IMO, It seems very overdue. But we don't need to get into that topic again. 

The only other option I can think of for you is if you have the right to claim citizenship from another EU member nation.  Then, you can legally live and work in the UK.  Usually, that's done through your ancestry.