Post
by yankeegirl » Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:49 pm
It is true that you can marry on a visitor visa, theoretically. However, in order to do so, you would need to apply for a Certificate of Approval through the Home Office. The fee for this is £295. Alternatively, you can apply for a fiance visa (£500) or a visit for marriage visa (£63).
Now, if you enter on a visitor visa, apply for the COA, and then marry, you will still have to return home to apply to re-enter as a spouse. This must be done before your stay as a visitor expires so as not to overstay, as the British government are implementing madatory bans on overstayers effective 1 April. You will not be able to work until you re-enter as a spouse. Marrying in the UK is not as simple as in the US, there's additional paper work and longer waiting periods.
If you enter as a fiance, you will not be able to work on the fiance visa. The visa is valid for 6 months, and once married, you can then apply for further leave to remain as a spouse from within the UK which is valid for 2 years). The cost of this application is £395. As soon as you have FLR, you will be able to work
Alternatively, your partner can go to the US and you can marry there, and then apply for the two-year spouse visa from the British consualte and be able to work as soon as you come to the UK. Since you are planning to settle in the UK, your partner can just enter the US on a visa-waiver, no fiance visa is needed, and depending on where you live, the waiting period can be none to a few days. My husband and I did this. We got married in NYC 24 hours after applying for the marriage license. You can then also plan to have a church blessing or some type of ceremony to celebrate with friends/family after you arrive here.
