Destiny and Luck
I received the statement of results for my English exam I took last month. Much to my delight, I passed it! It was one of essential tests for me to get 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' in the UK. I am so happy. I am grateful for my education-minded teacher who offered some free extra lessons to us, for my mates who always supported me and also for my husband. Thank you very much.
As I mentioned before, the British Immigration Rules are very fluid. I need to be in the UK for 2 years before I can apply for settlement, because I am under the old rules. But under the new rules (it came into force on 9 July 2012), you will need to be in the UK for 5 years.
Now that I think about of it, it was very tricky, to be honest. After we got engaged in UK, we contacted a solicitor. I flew back to Japan on November 2011, took an English test on December, while we were collecting documents from the authorities, banks, translation agency and so on. For good or bad, fiancé was assured of leaving a job at the end of February 2012. That means we had to speed up the process of visa, otherwise went back to the drawing board. We wanted and needed to apply for visa before March. In other words, we could apply to come to the UK before 8 July 2012, because of his circumstances.
If I took other English test in Tokyo and waited for the result, if he hesitated to propose me, if I made up my mind to visit the UK a couple months later (it was after the great earthquake and decision was really difficult for me), there was a distinct possibility that I could be under the new rules. What will happen in a few months or years, nobody know.
Anyway, I am here in the UK, passed the exam, am one step closer to apply for settlement surely and steadily. International marriage (in the UK, especially for non-EU citizen) is not easy...
As I mentioned before, the British Immigration Rules are very fluid. I need to be in the UK for 2 years before I can apply for settlement, because I am under the old rules. But under the new rules (it came into force on 9 July 2012), you will need to be in the UK for 5 years.
Now that I think about of it, it was very tricky, to be honest. After we got engaged in UK, we contacted a solicitor. I flew back to Japan on November 2011, took an English test on December, while we were collecting documents from the authorities, banks, translation agency and so on. For good or bad, fiancé was assured of leaving a job at the end of February 2012. That means we had to speed up the process of visa, otherwise went back to the drawing board. We wanted and needed to apply for visa before March. In other words, we could apply to come to the UK before 8 July 2012, because of his circumstances.
If I took other English test in Tokyo and waited for the result, if he hesitated to propose me, if I made up my mind to visit the UK a couple months later (it was after the great earthquake and decision was really difficult for me), there was a distinct possibility that I could be under the new rules. What will happen in a few months or years, nobody know.
Anyway, I am here in the UK, passed the exam, am one step closer to apply for settlement surely and steadily. International marriage (in the UK, especially for non-EU citizen) is not easy...
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