My Thai partner and I have been together for four years and she has twice stayed in the UK for periods of up to six months. We were planning to make this an annual event but I have recently been advised that at some time the visitor’s visa will be refused as the Border Agency considers this to be misuse of this type of visa.
An alternative would be to seek a settlement visa but here too I am advised that this type of visa is extremely difficult to obtain when the parties are not married. I have read the Immigration Rules carefully and consider that we meet all the listed requirements.
I ‘d be most grateful to hear from anyone with experience of either of these issues.