I Want to Marry my American Girlfriend...

[DoctorGP]

Hi,

I was wondering if someone would be able to advise me on something.

Back in April, a rather wonderful American woman came to the UK on a 6 month Visa. She had friends here from when she lived here a few years ago and wanted to catch up with them, see a few sights and generally have a bit of a holiday.

Within a few weeks of her arriving we met, hit it off and are now a happy couple - and looking to get married.

I'm not sure of whether we can tie the knot under her current Visa or if we would need to apply for a different one. Or will she have to return to the States in order to apply for it.

We're renting a place together at the moment and are looking to get a place of our own, but we want to ensure that all the correct paperwork is in place regarding her being here first.

Thanks

[Casa]

You can marry here while she is on a visitor visa but she will have to return to the US to apply for a spouse visa in order to settle here.
You'll have to comply with certain conditions, such as minimum earnings per annum of £18,600 (unless you have substantial savings between you).

[DoctorGP]

Can she apply to settle here without having to return to the USA?

[odat]

no she can't apply for settle at anyway she need to back to usa and apply for spouse visa
spouse visa 2.5 years and then she need to extension her visa another 2.5 years that 5 years in total and then she will be eligibility for settlement in uk

[Obie]

E-LTRP.2.1. The applicant must not be in the UK
-
(a)
as a visitor;
or
(b)
with valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less,
unless that leave is as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, or was granted pending the outcome of family
court or divorce proceedings
E-LTRP.2.2. The applicant must not be in the UK
–
(a) on temporary admission or temporary release, unless paragraph EX.1.
applies; or
(b) in breach of immigration laws (disregarding any period of overstaying for
a period of 28 days
or less), unless paragraph EX.1. applies.

Exception 1

[Casa]

You can marry here while she is on a visitor visa but she will have to return to the US to apply for a spouse visa in order to settle here.
You'll have to comply with certain conditions, such as minimum earnings per annum of £18,600 (unless you have substantial savings between you).

Also ensure that she doesn't overstay her visitor visa before she returns to the US or it will adversely affect her spouse visa application.

[catbusstop]

Also plan for it to take time. My wife and I applied for a settlement visa for her to come and live here permanently back in mid-April and we're still waiting now.