u/Careful_Matter5071

Can anyone who has done this share any tips and give an indication of how long it will take?

My brother, mother, and I will all apply together from the UK. Lineage through my maternal grandmother who was a Jewish refugee.

Any guidance on having the best and most efficient application would be appreciated. Currently gathering documents (taken a long time to track down her birth certificate but had a recent breakthrough) and then will certify them and be good to go.

Additional context, I currently live in France and my visa is up next April. I’m guessing it takes longer than that…

I (m33) have never really had much time single. Been in long-term relationships since I was 14. The longest gap was 9 months in 2024/2025 and I had some amazing experiences in that time.

I met my gf (f26) just before moving abroad which was one of the first things I was doing truly for myself. It was one of those where love shows up when you’re not looking for it. We were very honest that we didn’t know how it would work but it fet too good not to try. We’ve been together long distance for about a year and it works really well and we have a good relationship but I have the nagging feeling that this wasn’t what I intended from this adventure. I spend a lot of time travelling between two countries and don’t feel fully settled here even after a year.

I’m conflicted because we’re really good together and there’s nothing wrong with us. I love her, my friends and family love her and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so comfortable with a partner. I just don’t know if I’m ready for this level of commitment again.

I’ve had therapy and counselling. Most recently when single in 2024. My therapist said that I’ve never really had time in my life where I’m making decisions without considering how it affects someone else and that I’ve missed a part of growing as a person there. Since that, I have had a couple of months off work solo traveling and a few months living single where I currently live to decide if I wanted to move. I was really enjoying exploring this freedom and the openness and possibilities of moving somewhere else and doing things for myself.

I have seen posts where people have been unkind about this kind of thing, especially to men my age who aren’t sure about commitment. Please know that I have been perfectly committed in the past and always been faithful. This isn’t because I want to be a f*ckboy forever, it’s more of a sense of not wanting to regret or resent the timing of everything. Many of my friends are settled and having kids and I feel like I’m in a completely different place…

Tl;dr I’m not sure how to navigate a fairly new relationship having never really had any time alone.