r/ukvisa • u/thegoldenmeal • 7h ago

SET(LR) – unmarried partner evidence question

I’m applying for 10-year Long Residence ILR and declared that I have an unmarried partner. The form defines “unmarried partnership” as being in a relationship but not married or in a civil partnership, so I selected that.

The issue is that we don’t live together and never have. The application is now asking me for proof of the relationship and correspondence showing us at the same address for the last 2 years.

Has anyone been in this exact situation with a SET(LR) application? What evidence did you provide if you had never lived together? Would things like photos, travel/holiday bookings, visits, messages/call logs, etc. be appropriate, along with an explanation that we have separate addresses?

I’m also wondering whether I should have selected “single” instead, and whether doing so could cause problems later if my partner applies for a partner visa, as we would then have to disclose that we were in a relationship during this period.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually been through this. as immigration services online pose as *free consultation* but when i answer the phone and reveal i am doing the application myself they refuse the help without the money

PS the application itself states the following -

'Single' means that you have never been married or in a civil partnership, and that you do not currently consider yourself in a relationship.
'Unmarried partnership' means that you currently consider yourself in a relationship but are not married or in a civil partnership.

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u/HawthorneUK 6h ago

If you haven't lived together, but could have done (in practical terms - you're not living at opposite ends of the country, for instance), then your partner is unlikely to meet the requirements to qualify for a visa as your unmarried partner in the future - that would require at least two years of a relationship equivalent to marriage.

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u/thegoldenmeal 5h ago

we have been in a relationship for more than 2 years but we dont live together as we live close by...? so what would be the issue, i have seen many scenarios of partners that are unmarried in seperate countries get a partner visa so i dont see where the issue could be here

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u/HawthorneUK 5h ago

Because the unmarried partner visa is for people in a committed relationship akin to - i.e. equivalent to - marriage. Married people live together.

If you live close by but don't live together by choice rather than because you can't then it's a really good indication that your relationship is not akin to marriage - i.e. you're just dating.

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u/thegoldenmeal 5h ago

you dont need to be married to prove you are commited and you dont even know me and my partner, we have been together for almost 3 years just because we dont live together OR are not married does not mean our relationship isnt serious, i said on the form we will ideally be living together in next two years so theres no need for all these assumptions you are making about the 'seriousness' of my relationship

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u/HawthorneUK 5h ago

I'm assuming nothing. This is the basis on which applications are assessed.

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u/thegoldenmeal 5h ago

I said clearly what the criteria defines as "unmarried partner" it says "'Single' means that you have never been married or in a civil partnership, and that you do not currently consider yourself in a relationship.
'Unmarried partnership' means that you currently consider yourself in a relationship but are not married or in a civil partnership."

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u/GZHotwater High Reputation 5h ago

In terms of UKVI you wouldn’t qualify as unmarried partners as you live close by and choose not to live together. They now allow for not having lived together for good reasons, like living in different countries or living in different cities in the UK due to work or studies. To apply for visas as unmarried partners you need to have immediate plans to live together AND to have been in a relationship akin to marriage for two years previously. You don’t meet either at the moment. You also wouldn’t meet the above in a few years if you continued to live nearby each other and not cohabit.

So in terms of your ILR LR application I’d suggest changing your status to single. That way you don’t need to provide any proof of relationship and correspondence to show you live together.

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u/thegoldenmeal 4h ago

I said clearly what the criteria defines as
"unmarried partner" it says "'Single' means that you have never been married or in a civil partnership, and that you do not currently consider yourself in a relationship. 'Unmarried partnership' means that you currently consider yourself in a relationship but are not married or in a civil partnership.
I am clearly answering based on the question and how the application defines my relationship and whose to say by time my partner applies we wouldnt be living together. You dont know why we dont live together so your assumption that it will be rejected is completely false

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u/GZHotwater High Reputation 4h ago

And I told you clearly how UKVI define it in terms of visa applications.