Family Visa UK help!

[TL5451]

My fiancee is an American citizen and I am British.

We plan to marry in the UK then permanently live here. My understanding is that she must apply for a Family Visa as a fiancee, get married in the UK, then apply for the Family Visa again as a spouse.

If this is the case, wouldn't it just be cheaper for us to marry outside of the UK then apply for the Family Visa as a spouse since we'd have to pay £1,523 x 2 for each Family Visa - one as a fiancee, then another as a spouse?

Or do I have it wrong and we apply for the Family Visa as a fiancee then just extend her stay but as a spouse? Is there a cost for applying for an extension? How long is the extension?

So confused, please help.

[TL5451]

I received a message stating that we'd have to pay for:

1. Family Visa as a fiancee (£1,523)
2. Then we'd have to apply for a Family Visa as a spouse from inside the UK (£1,033)
+ any NHS surchage fees

If this is definitely true, then isn't it just easier and cheaper for me to marry her in the States then apply for a Family Visa as a spouse? That way I wouldn't have to pay over a grand for each visa which is virtually the same visa.

The only difference being I'd pay £1,523 for her to come to the UK to marry me, then pay another £1,033 to apply for her to stay in the UK for a further 2.5 years. Seems cheaper to just get married and pay the original £1,523.

[Casa]

I received a message stating that we'd have to pay for:

1. Family Visa as a fiancee (£1,523)
2. Then we'd have to apply for a Family Visa as a spouse from inside the UK (£1,033)
+ any NHS surchage fees

If this is definitely true, then isn't it just easier and cheaper for me to marry her in the States then apply for a Family Visa as a spouse? That way I wouldn't have to pay over a grand for each visa which is virtually the same visa.

The only difference being I'd pay £1,523 for her to come to the UK to marry me, then pay another £1,033 to apply for her to stay in the UK for a further 2.5 years. Seems cheaper to just get married and pay the original £1,523.

Yes. it would be. However, you need to factor in the cost of your return flight to the USA, but even then it should be the cheaper option.

If you marry in the USA you will also pay the £1,200 NHS surcharge with the visa fee.

[TL5451]

I received a message stating that we'd have to pay for:

1. Family Visa as a fiancee (£1,523)
2. Then we'd have to apply for a Family Visa as a spouse from inside the UK (£1,033)
+ any NHS surchage fees

If this is definitely true, then isn't it just easier and cheaper for me to marry her in the States then apply for a Family Visa as a spouse? That way I wouldn't have to pay over a grand for each visa which is virtually the same visa.

The only difference being I'd pay £1,523 for her to come to the UK to marry me, then pay another £1,033 to apply for her to stay in the UK for a further 2.5 years. Seems cheaper to just get married and pay the original £1,523.

Yes. it would be. However, you need to factor in the cost of your return flight to the USA, but even then it should be the cheaper option.

If you marry in the USA you will also pay the £1,200 NHS surcharge with the visa fee.

Hi, thanks for your response.

Where can I read more about this 1,200 surcharge?

[TL5451]

I thought the NHS surcharge fee was a total of GBP 400 per year for non-EUs. https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigrati ... w-much-pay

[Casa]

I thought the NHS surcharge fee was a total of GBP 400 per year for non-EUs. https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigrati ... w-much-pay

It is, but the initial Spouse visa is issued for 33 months and calculated accordingly.

In the link below choose:
Applying alone (not the 'joining someone' option)
Settlement
Wife
https://www.immigration-health-surcharg ... ecker/Type

[TL5451]

I thought the NHS surcharge fee was a total of GBP 400 per year for non-EUs. https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigrati ... w-much-pay

It is, but the initial Spouse visa is issued for 33 months and calculated accordingly.

In the link below choose:
Applying alone (not the 'joining someone' option)
Settlement
Wife
https://www.immigration-health-surcharg ... ecker/Type

Ah, thank you. Although it's GBP 400 per year for some reason I believed we would pay the NHS cost as each year comes around, instead of all in one go.

This clears everything up now. Thanks.

[DanaMarie]

The outright difference in price is about £800. Here's how it all breaks down (rounded amounts) -

A spouse visa costs £1500 + £1200 IHS fees, equaling £2700.

Fiance is £1500. NO IHS fees
FLRM after marriage in the UK is £1000 + £1000 IHS fees.
Total £3500

£3500 -£2700 = £800

[TL5451]

The outright difference in price is about £800. Here's how it all breaks down (rounded amounts) -

A spouse visa costs £1500 + £1200 IHS fees, equaling £2700.

Fiance is £1500. NO IHS fees
FLRM after marriage in the UK is £1000 + £1000 IHS fees.
Total £3500

£3500 -£2700 = £800

Thanks, this pretty much cleared it up. I wasn't sure how much it cost to do FLRM. I suppose it's roughly a similar cost since I'll be paying 800 GBP in flights/hotels/wedding costs anyhow. But this is a great answer so thanks.