Cost/timeframe, etc... for a fiance visa to the UK

Hi I'm new here.  My fiance and I have been waiting for a K-1 visa approval for a couple of months now for him to come here to the US.  However, since he has some obligations that keep him in the UK at least until Novmber, we have considered having me move there to be with him for about a year and then filing a CR-1 so we can both come back here to the States. 

I've poked around the Home Office site and found which visa I'll need to apply for and the filing fee, but I was curious if there were any additoinal costs, for instance after we're married will we need to pay an additional fee before I'm legal to work there?  Also, does anyone know how long it takes (approximately) after your marriage before you can work? 

(With a K-1 visa, the visa holder cannot work until after their adjustment of status, which can take 3 months after the wedding to complete)

Another question would be: does anyone know the approximate wage a technical trainer (CTT+, CNI) would be able to make over there.  I know if I was just doing network admin stuff (Novell, I'm a CNE) I'd be able to make more there than here, but since I just started as a trainer, I haven't been able to compare wages yet.

Thanks for any and all help you can provide!

Hey- if you get a UK fiancee visa, you'll have to get Further Leave to Remain (FLR) after you're married, which is good for two years (kind of like the conditional green card in the US.) FLR costs £335 if you apply by post (takes roughly 4 weeks) or £500 if you apply in person (you'll get it the same day.)  You can't work until you have your FLR- you can apply for it as soon as you have your marriage certificate so you could be able to work as soon as the day after you are married if you apply for your FLR in person.

Hey- if you get a UK fiancee visa, you'll have to get Further Leave to Remain (FLR) after you're married, which is good for two years (kind of like the conditional green card in the US.) FLR costs £335 if you apply by post (takes roughly 4 weeks) or £500 if you apply in person (you'll get it the same day.)  You can't work until you have your FLR- you can apply for it as soon as you have your marriage certificate so you could be able to work as soon as the day after you are married if you apply for your FLR in person.

Don't forget registration fees (especially talking about hidden costs).  Giving notice is £30 per person and registering the marriage is £40 (assuming a civil non CofE marriage).  While it is true that you can work right after you get your FRL which can be the same days as your marriage, consider the process to be able to "get married" isn't simple.  Giving notice in England and Wales plus waiting for the marriage can take 22 calendar days.  (7 day residency plus 15 days between giving notice and registering).

I would suggest you get married in the States and then apply for your FLR or Spousal Visa before moving to the UK.  That will save you the extra $494 for your fiancee Visa.

How much is it for the Spousal visa? 

We were considering having him fly out here for a week, getting hitched in Vegas, and then flying back there together.  Is there some sort of constraint on how long you have to have been married before you can apply for a spousal visa?  We've known each other for a year and a half, and have been engaged for nearly a year.  We're just so tired of having to wait to actually be together.  So tired of saying goodbye at airports...

We're just so tired of having to wait to actually be together.  So tired of saying goodbye at airports...

Seriously...

You can apply right away for the spouse visa...but I wouldn't plan on leaving the country right away just in case.  You can do it in person at the designated places...I got my work visa through NYC.

How much is it for the Spousal visa?

We were considering having him fly out here for a week, getting hitched in Vegas, and then flying back there together. Is there some sort of constraint on how long you have to have been married before you can apply for a spousal visa? We've known each other for a year and a half, and have been engaged for nearly a year. We're just so tired of having to wait to actually be together. So tired of saying goodbye at airports...

 A spousal Visa is $506, if you send it in, $494 if you go in person ( we just applied last week).    We married on the 27th of May applied for the Visa on Tuesday the 30th ( had to wait for the holiday) and I my Visa was approved on Friday the 2nd of June.. didn' t get it until Monday afternoon, but there you go.    The website says to allow 14 days, but it usually only takes 5 max.     
 Your plan sounds good, just make sure you have all of your paperwork and you'll sail through it.

Congratulation Martha...

So then, if we do it in person, it's a couple of days wait (possibly a week?) to get the approval? 

Also, I've been trying to find information on exactly what documentation is required.  I'm sort of used to the way the USCIS spells everything out for you.  Can you point me to a checklist of the requirements?

Congratulation Martha...

So then, if we do it in person, it's a couple of days wait (possibly a week?) to get the approval? 

Also, I've been trying to find information on exactly what documentation is required.  I'm sort of used to the way the USCIS spells everything out for you.  Can you point me to a checklist of the requirements?

If you do it in person, you will get it the same day if approved (and your case is straightforward like most people!)  This is the big advantage to applying in person, as it takes about a week or two by post (which admittedly is still not a long wait!)

As for a checklist, the first place to start is the guidance notes on the UK visas website - http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

Also, do a search on this forum- many people have posted their lists of supporting documentation, which can be really helpful.