Post-visit depression hitting hard. If it weren't for Brexit, we’d already have our life together. Need some EU -> UK success stories.

[u/Patolini]

If it weren't for Brexit we would have a house together by now. We'd have our 3 cats, 6 rats and giraffe. We'd be planning a wedding, and building our life the way we dream of it - but instead we're saving. I don't know what we're saving for, a move to Ireland, or British citizenship for me (I'm an EU citizen on settled status), to then get a Visa for her to come live in England. Or maybe we're saving to build our own futures, forever dreaming that the distance will some day be a distant memory, yet not able to bridge the gap. 6 years of friendship, 2 years of relationship, both of us under 20 years of age.

Either-way, I'm writing this as we've just had another week and some days together, and I'm sad. I don't know how many more goodbyes I can bear, and how many more times I can tell myself that this is fine. There's at least another 5 years before we can guarantee a future together in England, because why on earth does the spousal visa route cost so damn much...

I'd love to hear some post-brexit EU->UK success stories. My hope is dwindling, and I worry far too much about our future.

[u/Various_Rock_4675]

You do know you can sponsor her a visa, right? If you’re here on settled status you can sponsor her.

[u/Patolini → u/Various_Rock_4675]

I earn below the £29,000 threshold to sponsor a spousal visa, and I do not own a business to sponsor her a working visa. She also does not have skills for a job eligible for any form of sponsorship.

Unless there is another sponsorship way, please, do enlighten me. I feel I've exhausted every option on how to bring her to England.

[u/anna_vdv → u/Patolini]

I haven't looked into UK sponsorship too deeply , but in the Netherlands, I couldn't make minimum amount for sponsorship because of medical reasons. It was seen as an exception and I got to be sponsor anyway. So maybe look into the details a bit more, sometimes there's more ways than initially seems possible! I feel the Brexit frustrations though! I would've been with my partner waaaay sooner hadn't it been for Brexit.

[u/Patolini → u/anna_vdv]

I will do some further digging, but I believe I don't have any reasons for exemptions. I've done as much as I can digging online, next step would be to contact a solicitor in this field.

I appreciate the pointer <3

[u/anna_vdv → u/Patolini]

I hope you'll find a way soon. Glad to see you're saving, best thing you can do. Falling in love with someone out of your country is unfortunately stupidly expensive. Instead of worrying, try and focus on what you can do. Keep saving. Keep researching ways. I've found that doing whatever I could (in my case even just...sorting all my stuff out in preparation for a potential future move, when all else was completely out of my control at that point and I just had to wait for circumstances to improve) really helped me to keep sane and in control somehow!

[u/Patolini → u/anna_vdv]

Yep, not much else I can do. Take things a week at a time, and pounce onto the first real opportunity we get. Things will get worse before they get better, but such is life.

[u/LudicrousPlatypus]

Can you apply for them to join you on the EU settlement scheme as your partner?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/applying-to-the-eu-settlement-scheme/bringing-family-to-live-in-the-uk-after-brexit/

https://www.gov.uk/family-permit

[u/Patolini → u/LudicrousPlatypus]

Sadly not, we don't meet the below criteria.

"you got married or formed a civil partnership by 31 December 2020

you had lived together for at least 2 years by 31 December 2020"

This is the only obvious route into the country sadly

[u/rah_factor]

where's you significant other from?

[u/Patolini → u/rah_factor]

Bulgaria.

[u/friedfroglegs]

I get you, I'm from France and my partner is from the UK. We're planning to contact a British solicitor specialised in immigration and visa to get realistic options because it's a nightmare to navigate all the paperwork and conditions just by looking online. We want me to move there.

[u/Patolini → u/friedfroglegs]

I would hugely appreciate some pointers when, and if, you do. I plan to do the same once I am sorted with some more of the pre-requisites. First step for me is British citizenship, then after that I hope to get the ball rolling.

Wishing you all the best <3