Hello, I hope someone can quickly help me with this!
I am a UK (born) citizen and have recently married a Mexican lady (in Mexico - legally and religiously with all documents apostilled etc) whom I met whilst she was studying in England. We now wish to live (and work) in the UK together...
Some other facts: she was a full time student here between 2005 and 2009 (4 years) and since March 2009 has been in Rio de Janeiro studying further.
What is rather devastating to see is that there appears to be a £585 fee to do this. Confusingly however I have an Austrian friend who moved to Britain and "imported" (for want of a better word) his Russian wife at next to no cost (£67 6 month visa then £0 to extend this). How can this be? He did the typical visa thing through the border agency site, but have I missed something - how can it be cheaper for an Austrian than for a UK citizen? Is there something else I should be applying for (we are using an VAF4A - Settlement visa form)?

You can't go for settlement visa if she doesn't have PR status as yet... read here: UK Border Agency | Partners and other family members (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/)

It's obvious that you got wrong information.. if I were you, I would consult immigration attorney for an hour, ask all the questions needed, and then make a decision... you will see the whole procedure differently.

You can't go for settlement visa if she doesn't have PR status as yet... read here: UK Border Agency | Partners and other family members (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/)

It's obvious that you got wrong information.. if I were you, I would consult immigration attorney for an hour, ask all the questions needed, and then make a decision.... you will see the whole procedure differently.

Hi lawanwadee, thanks for the (quick!) reply. I have spoken to a couple of immigration lawyers and between them and the border agency site it appears that firstly I need to get my lady a settlement visa and then she can apply for permanent leave to remain (the PR status I think you mention) a few years down the line. I was wondering if the fact she had been in th UK for 4 years prior to the last year would change things away from having to spend nearly £600 just to get my own wife into the country!