Switching Into Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)
You can switch into spouse visa (10 years route) if you are in the UK and you are married to a qualified UK sponsor and you cannot meet all the requirements of the Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules for switching into spouse visa under 5 years route.
Specialist Spouse Visa Solicitors
Our expert team of spouse visa solicitors in London, Manchester and Birmingham specialise in applications for switching into spouse visa (10 years route). Our specialist spouse visa solicitors have successfully helped thousands of clients with the applications for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route. Our best team of spouse visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee immigration services concerning your application for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route. Ask a question to our expert spouse visa solicitors for free immigration advice or submit an online request to book an appointment for detailed legal advice for your application for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route.
Requirements For Switching Into Spouse Visa 10 Years Route
For a spouse visa application under 10 years route to succeed, there are following main requirements:
- The applicant must meet the immigration status requirement which means the applicant must either be lawfully in the UK with leave to enter or remain which was originally granted for longer than 6 months and must not be in the UK as a visitor OR the applicant must be on immigration bail in the UK and EX1 should be applicable to the applicant’s application;
- Requirements of EX1 to the Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules must be duly met;
- The evidence of relationship between the sponsor and the applicant including evidence of valid marriage, regular contact and cohabitation;
- Both the applicant and the sponsor must be aged 18 or over;
- Your UK spouse must also either:
- be a British or Irish citizen; or
- have settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain (ILR), settled status or proof of permanent residence in the UK; or
- be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status – they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; or
- have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa; or
- have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
- Suitability criteria as set out in Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules.
What Is EX1 Criteria For Switching Into Spouse Visa 10 Years Route?
To succeed in an application for switching into spouse visa under the 10 years route, the applicant must meet the requirements of EX1 of Appendix FM under the Immigration Rules. The requirements of EX1 can be satisfied by showing that either:
- the applicant has a parental relationship with a child under 18 who is in the UK and who is:
- British Citizen; or
- holding ILR; or
- has lived in the UK continuously for 7 years; and
- it is unreasonable to expect such child to leave the UK.
OR
- the applicant has a genuine and subsisting relationship with the UK spouse who is a British Citizen, settled in the UK or in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection, and there are insurmountable obstacles to family life with that partner continuing outside the UK. Insurmountable obstacles mean the very significant difficulties which would be faced by the applicant or their partner in continuing their family life together outside the UK and which could not be overcome or would entail very serious hardship for the applicant or their partner.
Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours) For Switching Into Spouse Visa
As one of the expert immigration solicitors based in London, Manchester and Birmingham, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours of the enrolment of biometrics at a designated service centre.
Our specialist spouse visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application to the Home Office, UKVI through Super Priority Service (SPS) and get a decision on your spouse visa application within 24 hours. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your spouse application for months (sometimes years).
Switching From Spouse Visa 5 Years Route To Spouse Visa 10 Years Route
A person who is already in the UK with leave to remain as a spouse under 5 years route can switch into 10 years route if he/she is unable to meet all the requirement to qualify for renewal of leave under 5 years route. Most of the time, the applicants who cannot meet the financial requirement of earning £18,600 gross per year or more would apply for switching into 10 years route.
Re-Applying For Switching Into Spouse Visa After The Refusal
If your application for switching into spouse visa has been refused by the Home Office, UKVI and you believe that the decision to refuse your application is valid and lawful and therefore cannot be challenged successfully by way of appeal, you have the option to re-apply for switching into spouse visa. We can provide the required legal help and assistance with re-applying for switching into spouse visa through our Super Priority Service.
How Can We Help?
Our expert team of spouse visa solicitors specialise in UK spouse visa applications under 10 years route. If instructed to represent you regarding your application for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route, our specialists team of spouse visa solicitors. will carry out all the work on your application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your spouse visa application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our spouse visa solicitors will include the following:
- Assessing your eligibility for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route by considering all your personal circumstances;
- Advising you on the weaknesses and strengths of your spouse visa application under 10 years route;
- Advising you on the relevant documents to be submitted in support of your spouse visa application under 10 years route;
- Assessing your documents to ensure that the documentary evidence is as per requirements of the Home Office UKVI immigration Rules;
- Completing and submitting the online application form FLR(FP) to apply for switching into spouse visa under 10 years route by gathering all the relevant information from you and your spouse;
- Helping you with paying the spouse visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the spouse visa application;
- Booking your appointment with the UKVCAS application centre for verification of documents and enrolment of biometrics;
- Where necessary, preparing detailed witness statement of the applicant and/or the sponsor explaining the background of their relationship and other relevant factors pertaining to the spouse visa application;
- Preparing a detailed cover letter to introduce and support your spouse visa application under 10 years route;
- Uploading online all the relevant supporting documents before you attend your appointment for enrolment of your biometrics;
- Liaising with the Home Office UKVI for a timely decision on your spouse visa application.
- Agreed/Fixed Fee
Costs: Average cost from £3,700 (plus VAT at 20% )
Who Will Carry Out the Work?
- Director assisted by a Solicitor
- Associate and Assistant Solicitor assisted by Paralegal and Caseworker
- Casework supervised by Solicitor and Director
- All work supervised by the Director
Estimated Time:
- On average, 15 hours to complete
The exact time required depends on the specifics of your case, such as:
- The amount of supporting evidence needed
- Your language(s)
- Whether you are applying with dependants
- Complexities like past refusals, criminal convictions, or adverse immigration history
Providing sufficient evidence at our first meeting and clearly meeting the applicable Immigration Rules may result in lower costs.
Services Included:
- Initial consultation to consider options and assess the most appropriate application
- Advising on immigration rules/guidance and required evidence
- Advising on submission methods (priority, premium, standard)
- Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
- Assisting with obtaining further evidence, including engaging with third parties (medical experts, banks, employers)
- Preparing the application with supporting evidence
- Preparing detailed representations with an index and finalising the application
- Submitting the application and providing updates on progress
- Advising on the outcome of the application, implications of status, and next steps
Exclusions:
- Home Office fees for making the application, which you will pay directly. Find the updated list of Home Office Fees.
- Other expenses such as VAT and disbursements for medical/expert evidence or barristers.
- Advice and assistance with appeals or reconsiderations if your application is refused.
We will notify you promptly and before incurring any such fees if they are applicable.
Home Office’s application fees
Each application to the Home Office, attracts a specific Home Office’s fee.
For the current fee for your application , please click the following link Uk Home Office’s current application fees
Our timescale to Submit your application:
- Applications typically take six to eight weeks from instruction, depending on the complexity of the applicant’s immigration history. We will inform you as soon as possible if it is likely to take longer.We’ll ensure that your application is submitted on time before your existing leave to remain or leave to enter expires.
The Home Office’s current timescale for Processing your application:
- We cannot guarantee the Home Office’s processing time. However, the currently Home Office’s processing time is between 4 to 6 months in average.
Please note that the estimated hours and fees are based on the provided information. All applications vary, and we can provide a more accurate estimate once we have more details about your specific case.
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