getting married on a visitor (tourist) visa

Thanks PeuAPeu, I hope I can help them, too! Or I should say I hope they come to this forum and help themselves.

I did it the same way, applied for the fiance visa from the US after meeting my husband while I was in the UK on a tourist visa the year before. Friends or not, it is kind of annoying when people think the rules don't apply to them just because they don't like the rules. No one likes these rules except the Home Office, but so what? I'd rather go through some headache and secure my future than take risks, especially these days. I read in another forum that while the HO may allow a marriage on a visitor visa, they are then denying the spouse visa on the grounds that the applicant broke the immigration rules by getting married on the wrong visa in the first place. Scary stuff.

As the old saying goes, "there are none so blind as those who will not see".

Based on my observation of posts here and other forums, many of the folks who want the rules altered to suit their situation moan the loudest, and truly believe that their situation deserves special consideration.

As madlizzie said, no one likes these rules except Home Office....

As madlizzie said, no one likes these rules except Home Office....

And I don't think anything's going to change to our advantage no matter what happens tomorrow.

And I don't think anything's going to change to our advantage no matter what happens tomorrow.

Yes, I'd agree with that.  I try not to think about it too much, but it's lowering to realize my position in both the US and UK is not one with any clout.  The US is unlikely to bother giving expats a fairer set of tax rules and the UK unlikely to give immigrants a more reasonable process for gaining residence here.  There is no political advantage in either case....

... but I try not to think about it too much. 

Well lesser of evils, no? What will these guys in charge come up with next to try and meet their arbitrary numeric goals?

Here's the update to my original post about marrying on a visitor visa: the HO would not allow the marriage. The happy couple were told that she (the US citizen) has to go home and re-enter the UK on the correct visa, be that fiance or spouse.

How did they react?

Are they going to let you help them with advice now?

How did they react?

Are they going to let you help them with advice now?

They are ruffled, but undeterred. Also oblivious to what actually comes next. I haven't been asked for any further advice, and if I am I'll do what I did in the first place and point them to these forums, where there are people who know far more than I do about this part of the process. 

Thanks for the update.  While I feel for the couple, I'm glad the HO is trying to be consistent.  Hopefully they will do their research and go about things properly.  I wonder if this will impact her for citizenship?

What is happening with the July wedding?

I'm guessing that might end up turning into an expensive lesson.

Thanks for the update.  While I feel for the couple, I'm glad the HO is trying to be consistent.  Hopefully they will do their research and go about things properly.  I wonder if this will impact her for citizenship?

What is happening with the July wedding?

The July wedding is off. They are making the very reasonable plan for her to fly back to the states and for him to join her in a few months for the wedding there. I'm not sure if this will impact any of her future applications. I guess we'll find out!