some people on here, had a harder time than others, my misses had to wait near 3 months to get her spouse visa and thats only becuase i complained to the embassy.
doing it 'without papers' or illegally, soon can get you banned from coming to the UK for a number of years, also you will have trouble getting ILR and will always be looking over your shoulder if you get caught.
VV are harder to get becuase some people overstay or don't go back, but people also do that on a student visa.
