Key Points
- Decision makers look for a consistent history.
- Shared responsibilities and plans count for a lot.
- Unusual features are not a problem if they are explained.
- Present evidence in date order.
Factors that support a genuine relationship
- A relationship of some length before the marriage
- Time spent living together or visiting each other
- Shared financial responsibilities
- Children together, or involvement in each other's families
- Knowledge of each other's lives and circumstances
- Definite, practical plans for living together in the UK
Features that attract questions
None of these means refusal. Arranged marriages, large age differences and long-distance relationships are all capable of being genuine. Explain the background and support it.
- Marriage very soon after meeting
- Few visits or little contact
- No shared language
- A sponsor who has sponsored a partner before
- Either partner with a poor immigration history
Presenting the evidence
Arrange evidence in date order with short captions. A timeline of the relationship on one page, cross-referenced to the documents, makes the decision maker's job easier.
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.