Hi all i am Nick, 52, from London Just a quick question My girlfriend and i have been together just over a year, i am going back for a 3rd visit later this year, but next year I would like her to visit me here in London I want to ask her to marry me, but i would like to marry her here in London, so she would have to get a Marriage visa. Which is easier marrying in the Philippines or in the UK? Reason is my mum is elderly and will not be able to fly to the weeding if held in the Philippines
Hi Nick and welcome. I took the view that my wife's family were more important than mine and the wedding there would be a big send-off before she would go to live in the UK. It is a big move for a lady to move across the world. I know we are all different though and our priorities are different.
My nephews girlfriend came here last april?They still aren't married but she has an extension,they live in London,good luck with your plans.
Hi Nick and welcome your right you need a marriage visit visa if you are going to ask her to marry you whilst in London but to complete the application she is going to become aware that a proposal is on the horizon,the downside to a marriage visit visa is she needs to return home after the visa runs out and apply fora spouse visa. The other option is a fiancee visa where she comes across you marry within 6 months and she can remain in thee UK while you apply for a spouse visa. I married in the Philippines and from my point of view it was very straight forward, it is a very big thing for a lady to get married in front of her family,and you need to consider this point carefully,not forgetting your dear old mum. An option to suit both would be marry in the Philippines and have the wedding blessed over here (mum will understand ) once your wife gets her spouse visa.
My nephews girlfriend came here on a fiancé visa,she has been here 9 months without marrying,and has an extension.
I am just quoting what the guidelines say ,there will always be exceptions presented to the UKBA for their consideration.
If only want visit visa then marriage visit visa might be easier to get as has definite reason for visit although have to convince ukvi that will leave. Think it is possible to marry on normal visit visa just takes longer to arrange and ukvi could take dim view of not getting right visa on future visa application. Registars tend to be a bit more suspious of people doing it as well. Technically no reason why after arrival dont have sudden urge to get married. We went for UK wedding on marriage visit visa as I thought it was easier to organise and less hoops to jump through and also gave wife opportunity to see what life was like in UK- we used virtually all of the six months duration. That said would go for option that works best for both of you.
I think anyone would struggle to convince a "sudden urge to get married"given that you have to give a number of days notice of your intention to marry! I thought you and your good lady got married on a Marriage visit visa not a visit visa? It is IMO wrong to try and short cut the system as it may jeapordise future applications and also give UKBA reason to further tighten their guidelines
We did and we had marriage visit visa and if want to get married then that is the best way to go as gives added weight to arguement to get a visit visa as can show some preparation work for it. That said I have read of people getting married on a visit visa. Issue with doing that is that takes longer to get the marriage approval and I think registrar's have to consult with home office to check if ok so notice period is definitely longer. Getting married on visit visa is probably possible but increases the hassle factor.
In post7 you say you got married on a visit visa now you are saying you got married on a marriage visit visa! I dont understand your logic that getting a marriage visit visa is a good way to go to get a visit visa as the 2 are not the same, you dont need both. The op understand he needs a marriage visit visa to marry his girlfriend