HI all.
Thank you for your comments and yep I totally agree a partner visa is what we were initially after as makes way more sense, so that we could come and go as we please over our life together, but we are only here a year and the processing time, when I have spoken to agents say it can be between 12- 24 months and then I have to stay an extra year to be granted one, which is why we haven't gone down that route as thats not possible.
Its a bit of a tricky situation but I think we are getting there! Ha!