Hi all, Here's my situation: I have done some of this research already, but its so confusing and unclear, so the opinions here would really help!
My Visa: Tier five Religious Worker, ends July 31, 2021. Doing work in a church in Dundee. I am locked into this work as long as I am on my visa - cant quit, as will terminate reason for visa. I have been here since Aug 02, 2019.
Her Work: British Citizen working in church in Edinburgh. Flexible work- can quit if necessary, but not our desire. She has a loose agreement to continue until Summer 2021, but further employment seems likely.
Our desire: Get married asap - before visa expires, and transfer to FLR(M), with her as sponsor.
The nature of our work is such that neither of us make 18,600 on our own and we live in different cities. A few questions:
First one is simple: Can I switch from Tier Five Religious Workers Visa to a FLR(M)?
This (old and random) forum says I can switch:https://www.expatforum.com/expats/britain-expat-forum-expats-living-uk/1370058-switching-tier-5-spouse-visa.html1.
Does the financial requirement apply SOLELY to her as sponsor, or am I also able to contribute? Since I would remain in the country and we would be married before my visa expires, my research leads me to lean towards the idea that we can
both contribute income to make the financial requirement of 18,600. Is that fair?
This leads me to believe it is combined income:https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/proof-income2. After are married, she would move to Dundee, at least until my two year work commitment is done in Dundee, before we hope to resettle in Edinburgh.
Will we have difficulty with the paperwork with all the moving around, or will it be OK as long as we are living at the same location?I know we will need to show income for past six months-does change of address complicate things, or will it just be irrelevant to the application?3. I am quite confused on the timeline for a FLR(M).
Can we (theoretically) get married and submit FLR(M) as little as weeks before my tier five visa expires, or is there a longer buffer period necessary? [ I ask because ideally, we could minimise the time we are in Dundee, and she could continue working in Edinburgh commuting from Dundee]
The gov website says
"When you can apply to extend or switch:
You can extend or switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires." Would that an application can go in anytime as long as it is before visa expires? https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visaThank you all. Any citing or links from the gov directly would be very helpful, as, in classic relationship style, we are finding differences and bickering over them, haha!
[I have more technical questions down the road (such as what category my income counts as on the form, since I work for a charity) but this is helpful for now!]
Really appreciate the help in advance!