Is it worth getting marriage visa then changing to spouse vi

[barnoonan]

HI

My fiancee and I were planning on getting married in the UK this Sept (she is from SAfrica and I am from UK). We were going to apply for a marriage visa and get the legal side done in UK but we are planning on getting properly married (i.e. ceremony etc) in South Africa next jan.

The plan was then to reapply for a settlement/married partner visa and move to UK.

The reason for doing the marriage in the UK first was to "start the clock" on the marriage as soon as possible so that we she can achieve permanent residency etc in UK and finally get the passport. If we wait until Jan then that is 4 months which might count.

Is this going to speed the process in getting permanent residency at all or is it a waste of time and should we just get married in South Africa once

Thanks in advance

[Pyromaniac]

You can only get married once I think !

If you marry in the UK - registry office for example then your fiencee can apply the next day if you wish for FLR(m) - which will start the (at present 2 year) clock for the ILR journey. But you will have to pay for the fiencee visa and also the FLR(m) visa after that.

If you marry in SA then she needs to get a Spouse visa from there, and can come over as your wife (if granted) - missing out paying for one of the visas. I believe in case the clock for ILR starts when she is admitted to the UK.

If you go to the BIA website you can download the form and instructions to show what is required for FLR.

Dont take my words as fact though - someone more knowledgable than me who knows what they are talking about might tell me I am wrong !

[barnoonan]

Well one would be legal one would be religious. The legal one done in the UK.

Thanks. So it is possible to reapply for a settlement visa as soon as married? While still in the UK?