Right to stay in UK?

bewilderedhelpneeded

Ive searched everywhere online but cannot find the answer so wondering if anyone can help?

A friend of mine met a girl in Canada who is a canadian citizen. They started a relationship and she has come over to UK to live with him. She has told him that she can stay here for 6 months but cannot work (I have confirmed this by looking on internet). This girl has told me that when the 6 months are up, she has to leave the UK (she said this could be as simple as going on holiday to another foreign country for a week) and then she will come back to the UK for another 6 months. This does not seem right to me, and I have tried to find info on the internet to back this up but can't find anything!

Does anyone know if this is correct and what she would actually have to do once the 6 months in the UK are up?

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but did not know where to put it!

pinkshoes

She'd have to marry him if she wanted to stay after the 6 months are up, then presumably get british citizenship!

EDIT: Having re-read your post, it sounds as if you don't trust her!

It works the same with anyone from the UK going to Canada - you can only get a 6 month tourist visa and can't just go and work over there.

bewilderedhelpneeded

Marrying him is not an option. Something is not right which is why I have been looking online for info but cannot find anything. So are you saying that after 6 months she will have to go back to Canada permanently? Do you know if she would have to stay outside of the UK for any period of time before she could come back?

She used to live and work in Canada and gave up a good job over there to come over here. She cannot work over here (not even voluntary work). she told me this and I have found info on the web to back this up. But I cannot find anything to say how long she needs to be out of the UK for before she can come back, if if she does come back how long she can come back for.

bewilderedhelpneeded

Added info - she is not canadian by birth but from Iraq if that helps

krlyr

It sounds along the right lines to me, I used to houseshare with two couples from Czech Republic and they had to go back to their country for a week or so before they could come back to the UK. They had work over here though, so presumably on a slightly different visa.
This page might help?
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

bewilderedhelpneeded

Thank you, I had already found that webpage and had a look which confirmed that she could not work over here but could come over for max of 6 months as canadian citizen but did not say how long she had to be out of UK for before she could return!

pinkshoes

The only other option is working for a Canadian company that's based in the UK.

My ex is currently doing the opposite (living in Canada on a tourist visa, so can't work), so I'm just waiting to see what he's going to do once his 6 months are up, which is very soon!

FBaby

She could indeed go away for a week and come back and start afresh BUT she will have to explain the purpose of her visit and how she intends to support herself. How has she been supporting herself for these past 6 months? Your friend? If he is happy to do so and she can prove it, and they can find no evidence that she intends of working (or is doing so already) they could possibly renew her stay.

The whole thing sounds a bit strange... from them being together, but haven't discussed being engaged or something...there will come the time when she really won't be able to stay anylonger. What will happen them, they will brake up? You also do come across as if you would be happy to see her going back...

VitaK

She should give her embassy a call to get there advice.

bewilderedhelpneeded

She has been supporting herself on her savings and my friend who she has moved in with is paying the household bills (he is mortgage free). I guess she could continue to support herself as she is doing now on her savings but they won't last forever and I know she is bored not working as she had a good job in Canada which she gave up to come over here.

I actually really like the girl I was just surprised when she said that she could go out of UK for a holiday and then come back for a further 6 months at a time. She knows she can't work here unless she can find a company who will sponsor her. Unfortunately my friend is still legally married (going through a divorce) which is why they cannot marry.

Tyfelt

So wait until the divorce goes through and then get married. I assume the proceedings aren't going to take more than another 6 months.