Just double checking with fiancé visa I would have to leave after the six months and apply for a spouse visa or can I do that from within?
No, the fiance visa allows you to stay in the UK - you would just have to switch from the fiance visa to an FLR(M) visa from inside the country after you are married.
The different visa options:
Fiance visa to marry in the UK- apply for 6-month fiance visa (£1,195)
- move to the UK
- you cannot work or study in the UK and you will not be covered by the NHS so you will need private health insurance
- marry within the 6 months (it can take a while to get married - minimum of 35 days residency before you can, possibly up to 77 days)
- switch to FLR(M) visa inside the UK (valid 30 months) (£811 + £500 IHS surcharge)
- you can work, study or use the NHS once you have the FLR(M) visa
Total visa cost = £1,195 + £1,311 = £2,506
Plus one flight to the UK
Marry in the UK on a Marriage Visitor Visa- apply for a 6-month Marriage Visitor Visa to visit and marry in the UK (£87). You must show you will return to live in Canada after the wedding and won't try to stay in the UK
- fly to the UK
- you cannot work, study or use the NHS, so you will need private health insurance
- get married (as above, can take a while - you may have to stay in the UK for 3-4 months)
- return to the Canada
- apply for a spousal visa to move to the UK (£1,195 + £600 IHS surcharge)
- move to the UK
- you can work, study and use the NHS immediately
Total visa cost = £87 + £1,795 = £1,882
Plus three flights (to and from the UK, and back to the UK again)
Marry in Canada (or the US), then apply for a spousal visa- he flies to you
- you get married in Canada (or the US?)
- he flies home
- you apply for a spousal visa
- you move to the UK
- you can work, study and use the NHS immediately
Total visa cost = £1,795
Plus 3 flights (him to and from Canada, you to the UK)
