Getting married on a Tier 5 Visa - is it possible?

[shaun9991]

Hello,

I am a 25 year old New Zealander who has a Tier 5 YMV valid until December 24th 2011. My fiancee is French, and we hope to get married so we are able to stay together and live our futures in London. However, in August I had to return to New Zealand as my father is terminally ill. Realistically, I will be returning to the Uk sometime in late October/early November. From there we will look to get married as soon as possible - and I'm wondering in fact if it is indeed possible to get married whilst living in the UK on a Tier 5 visa, to a European citizen. If so, will it then be possible for me to apply for the EEA2 residence card from within the UK? If so, can I remain in the UK whilst this is being processed, even though my Tier 5 will have expired? Or should I just apply for a Fiancee visa and date it as starting shortly after my current visa expires. If it is not possible to switch from the Tier 5 Visa to a EEA related visa from within the UK, would it then be possible to go to France when my tier 5 expires, and apply using the VAF5 form from there - as I can not afford to be travelling between NZ and Europe all the time. Any help would be hugely appreciated - this has been a cause of much stress and many weeks of research have left me confused as to what we can actually do.

Thanks very much.

[vinny]

Possible for Tier 5 holder to marry. Subsequently, apply for EEA2, if French spouse is a qualified person or holds PR.

[shaun9991]

Thanks very much for clearing that up, much appreciated.