It seems that every year the immigration laws change or your country is not getting along with another country. Sometimes it seems as if the country that you were not getting along with is your friend now. While all of this is going on, you fell in love and now you want to bring your new partner to your country, but what are the rules? Here are a few things to keep in mind if your romantic partner is coming to your country.
Do They Need a Visa?
With a quick Internet search, you can find out what the visa laws are for your country. Each country has a different relationship with every other country in the world. For example, in Europe certain countries can enter any of the EU states and travel around while other countries need a document for every country. Research what your partner’s country needs to enter your country and what restrictions are placed on that paperwork. Are they only allowed to stay 90 days? Can they just show up or do they need a visa to enter and stay for a certain amount of time? It’s best to know all these answers.
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Once someone enters the country and stays for a while, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. This law states that if you have been living and working in a specific country for a number of years, you can continue to stay without certain laws affecting your status. Your partner may be eligible for this, so if they are planning a more permanent move, look into getting an ILR application and get the process started.
Consult an Immigration Lawyer
A consultation can be free of charge. Sit down with a reputable lawyer who deals in immigration law, and they can easily tell you what you need to do and what laws will affect your partner. If you really like this lawyer and they seem to work well with you, you now have potential counsel to help you if you and your partner decide to get married or if a short stay turns out to be a permanent move. The more help you have with understanding the law the easier it will be for you and your partner to have a smooth relationship.
Spouse Visas
If you are planning on getting married, know the rules and laws regarding spouse visas. In some cases, if your fiance is not a citizen of your country, they may have to leave and come back on a different visa if you are getting married. If you are planning on getting married in their country and returning, they may need a different kind of visa to come back with you as a spouse. There are a variety of scenarios that may affect being able to travel together, so consult that lawyer or do a search on your own to make sure that you can come and go as you please legally without any hiccups.
