09 July 2012 New Immigration Rules came into force on 9 July 2012 which changed the length of time that family members must be in the UK before applying for settlement. The Rules apply to partners of: British citizens; someone settled in the UK; someone in the UK with refugee leave; or someone in the UK with humanitarian protection. If you applied to come to the UK or for permission to stay here on or before 8 July 2012 and that permission was granted, you will need to be in the UK for 2 years before you can apply for settlement. If you applied to come to the UK or for permission to stay here on or after 9 July 2012 for the 5-year family route and that permission was granted, you will need to be in the UK for 5 years before you can apply for settlement. You will initially be given leave to enter for 2 and a half years, and then you can apply for another period of 2 and a half years. If you applied on or after 9 July 2012 to come to the UK or for permission to stay here for the 10-year family route, or for permission to stay here on the 10-year private life route and that permission was granted, you will need to be in the UK for 10 years before you can apply for settlement. You will initially be given leave to enter for 2 and a half years, and then you can apply for three more periods of 2 and a half years. Source:- http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsfragments/65-fam-set
