So if I want to stay with my foreign partner, which I do, I should get fucked?
Reading the conditions and stipulations of applying for the spousal visas and IDL is so depressing. The stress it adds to your relationship is toxic. It turns your joy to despair.
Theresa May, Amber Rudd, the home office; they're a cruel bunch.
Sorry, but yeah. If you can't afford the fees you're basically fucked.
The visa costs around £2,000 and it's taking UKVI 3-5 months to process them at the moment. There's also the international health surcharge which costs £200 annually, though the conservatives want to raise that to £600 per year. That needs to be paid up front.
The visas only last for two and a half years, so you need to apply for another one as you can only apply for indefinite leave after being in the country for five years.
There's also additional misc costs along the way, and lawyer fees if you want a professional to check over your applications.
All in all, going from initial visa -> extension -> indefinite leave will cost at least £9k over 5 years, and more if fees go up again next April (which they will).
PM me if you have any questions about the process and I'll do my best to help / point you in the direction of some good resources to help.
And yeah, it does feel like a punishment for falling in love with someone with the wrong colour passport. It's pretty fucked up.