It seems like you have a good understanding of what is necessary, but visas are always a bit tricky. The Guide to London has recently been updated and has a section on visas exploring your options. There is also a FAQ section with information on UK visas, and a recent article about gaining entry to the UK.

It does seem as if the fiance visa is the best fit, but I understand why you would have issue with it. Other options include studying or working. Would either of those be an option?

 

Hi EquiLo

Is any one of your grandparents British? If so you could have an ancestry visa: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... -ancestry/

If not, Tier 4 as a student or Tier 2 as a worker are the only realistic options. However the requirements for either of those categories are onerous. If you don't have a degree you can rule out Tier 2 immediately, and even if you do, you'd need to find a suitable sponsor who can offer you a job.

However, what you can do is to come to the UK as a visitor for up to six months, live with your fiance as a visitor, and then go back to South Africa to apply for entry clearance as a fiancee if that's what you still want to do. You would need to be VERY careful about how you apply for the visit visa - the requirements include that you definitely intend to return to South Africa, so you would need to make it clear that this is only a visit and that if in the future you wanted to come to the UK more permanently you would return to SA to apply through the proper channels.

That doesn't help your work situation though, as visitors are not allowed to work.

If you are wealthy you can apply as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur (you have to show funds of £200,000 to do this though, so few people can manage it.)

Regarding your mother - if she has been outside the UK for more than two years she will have lost her indefinite leave, although she can get it back if she and her husband return to the UK.

 

Hiya, no you can't do this because one of the criteria for the visitor visa is that you intend to return - and if you apply for any other visa while you're here on a tourist visa they will assume you had no intention to return and label you a "deceptive entrant" which means they will curtail your leave and not let you back in! You would absolutely have to return unless there were incredibly exceptional circumstances (eg some people in the recent Arab Spring uprisings have succeeded in doing this when their country began a civil war while they were here on a visit.) However if you do visit and then return, this will be a point in your favour as it will show that you've spent time together & met his family etc, as well as showing that you are a person who complies with the immigration rules.