How long does it take to get a spousal visa?

Hi.

Me and my fiancee are planning to get married in America this spring, and then move over to Britain.
I am a UK citizen and she is American. I work in the UK, and she is in her last year of her degree in the US. We had investigated the process earlier when we first decided to get married last year and this seemed to be the simplest way, but I'm concerned regulations might have changed since then.

At the moment we were going to leave 4 weeks between getting married and moving over. Will this be sufficient time to get the spousal visa.

cheers

Ian

Yes, that's plenty of time.  If you go in person, you'll get the visa the same day (barring any problems).  Otherwise, it takes about 2 weeks. 

Thank you very much, that's reassuring.

Another question - if my wife applies after she has taken my surname, will see have to update her US passport at the same time, or will she be able to travel using her maiden name?

It would be easier if she got her passport changed before you applied for the visa because amending passports isn't as easy as it used to be.  It's not necessary though.

They do not amend passports in the US anymore.  You HAVE to get a new passport (unless you were issued a passport within a year of when you want to change it).  They are implementing new passports and therefore, are trying to get all new passports issued.  So, no more amending, you have to apply for a new one.

I should also say that I applied for my new passport and received it within a week of when I mailed it.  I did pay the $127 for expedited service (along with mailing it next day delivery and back).  But, if she plans on changing her name, she'll need to get a new passport before she applies.

At the moment we were going to leave 4 weeks between getting married and moving over. Will this be sufficient time to get the spousal visa.

cheers

Ian

I'd say it depends on how quickly you will be able to get your marriage certificate. I did this last May and got my visa 3 weeks after getting married but my husband and I had to travel to a different state to get married in a county that would issue us a certificate the same day. Others said that we'd receive it in the mail in several weeks. So, just check with the county office and see how soon you will be able to get a copy.

Thanks, we've checked the marriage process out, and we can get the certificate the same day. Only issue is we both have to have a syphilis test! before hand.

At least you don't have to take a blood test as well!!

Good luck

Chris and I are getting married in Boston we get our marriage license same day and no blood tests or any other tests. Oh sorry it takes 3 days so we are applying for the marriage license on the Thursday get it Monday due to it being a weekend and married on the Tuesday.
Applying for the visa on the Wednesday I hope we are going to New York.

When are you and Chris getting married?

We fly back April 06 and getting married May 7th or there about I can to hand remember the day that falls on LOL and Chris's mom has arranged most of it as we are both in the UK at the moment and whilst we have managed a few things we had to ask her to go into places and actually book, the only thing we are going to worry about is clothes lol and believe me the way its going it could be jeans I have found 1 dress it is in New York but I am loth to buy as I can not contact the store errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr we can not dial free numbers direct or via a card.

I am also setting up a business so at the moment with all this paper work and visa stuff and the 4 children and everything else I am extremely busy, I am hopping that everything will suddenly settle LoL but I wont relax till we have got married and got the visa Chris needs.

Hello All, I am new to this as of today. I am an American woman planning to someday marry a man from Scotland and make Scotland my new home. I am currently looking up all of the VISA options. Can anyone suggest what is the best route to go, fiance/finacee's VISA, or marry first. Any advice would be much appreciated. And good luck to you all!

I think most people will telly uo that it works out easier, quicker and usually cheaper to marry in the US then come in on a spousal visa.

Best of luck.


Victoria

I am also setting up a business so at the moment with all this paper work and visa stuff and the 4 children and everything else I am extremely busy, I am hopping that everything will suddenly settle LoL but I wont relax till we have got married and got the visa Chris needs.

I know what you feel like! It'll be such a weight off my mind when I get my visa
But, then I'll be worrying about taking my dog with.  So...maybe after I get a job in the UK I'll be okay?