Waiting Period Between Marriage and EEA Permit?

Hey all! I plan on getting married in the UK this summer through a visitor for marriage visa. After I fly home to the states, is there a minimum waiting period until I can apply for my EEA permit?

Also, has anybody had any experiences with that visa and permit? I should hopefully be okay when I apply for them, but I can't help but be nervous :S my wedding is not gonna be fancy - it is gonna be at a courthouse with our closest friends. Does that sound weird? I feel paranoid that that's not a good enough wedding...

Thing is I am still in college (in the states) and my both me and my fiance don't make much money so we're keeping it simple. We just want to be together will I be rejected because both our families won't be there? We'll have a celebration with both of them later on, it's just hard to coordinate while being in college and planning a move before attempting my masters in the UK.

Hope that made sense.

Hey all! I plan on getting married in the UK this summer through a visitor for marriage visa. After I fly home to the states, is there a minimum waiting period until I can apply for my EEA permit?

Nope, you can apply as soon as you are back in the US and you have your marriage certificate and other documents ready.

Also, has anybody had any experiences with that visa and permit? I should hopefully be okay when I apply for them, but I can't help but be nervous :S my wedding is not gonna be fancy - it is gonna be at a courthouse with our closest friends. Does that sound weird? I feel paranoid that that's not a good enough wedding...

It's pretty straightforward. For the visa, you just need to show your plans to marry, that you have enough money to support yourself for the whole trip to the UK, and that you will return to the US at the end of your trip.

The permit, on the other hand, is really just a formality - your marriage to an EEA citizen automatically gives you the right to live with them in the UK... the permit is just confirmation of that right.

Thing is I am still in college (in the states) and my both me and my fiance don't make much money so we're keeping it simple. We just want to be together will I be rejected because both our families won't be there? We'll have a celebration with both of them later on, it's just hard to coordinate while being in college and planning a move before attempting my masters in the UK.

Nope - your families have nothing to do with it.

For the visa you need to show intention to marry within 6 months (i.e. evidence of provisional booking at church/registry office for a specific date), evidence that you will return to the US and won't try to live in the UK (studies, job, home in the US to go back to), and that you have enough money for your trip.

For the EEA permit you need to show that you are married to an EEA citizen and that he is exercising his EEA treaty rights in the UK.

Just one thing though: you mention pursuing a masters in the UK, and I saw in one of your other posts about waiting to qualify for home fees before doing it... just want to make sure you're aware that you won't qualify for home fees until you have permanent residence in the UK... which won't be until you have lived in the UK for 5 years.

Number one, thanks for thoroughly answering my questions

I have one more question. We tried booking at the registry office, but when my fiance called them they said we can't book it till I'm in the country. How will I provide evidence of booking for the visa then? Should I provide our witnesses' names? A summary of the phone call?

And I know I won't qualify for home fees. I will be doing my masters part time to be able to afford it. I think I read on one of the uni websites that they allow a foreigner home fees if they have been resident for three years, but I'll double check that with the international offices.

I have one more question. We tried booking at the registry office, but when my fiance called them they said we can't book it till I'm in the country. How will I provide evidence of booking for the visa then? Should I provide our witnesses' names? A summary of the phone call?

Yes, it's true that you can't give notice to marry until you have been resident in the UK for 7 days and then you have to wait another 15 days before you can marry, however, what you can do is email the registry office, enquiring about possible dates for the wedding (and maybe book a provisional date if they will let you) and then you can print out the email and include it with your visa application.

And I know I won't qualify for home fees. I will be doing my masters part time to be able to afford it. I think I read on one of the uni websites that they allow a foreigner home fees if they have been resident for three years, but I'll double check that with the international offices.

It is 3 years, however usually you must ALSO be free from immigration restrictions (i.e. have permanent residence) before you can qualify for home fees... and you can't get permanent residence for 5 years.

Just thinking though, that it may be different for family members of EEA citizens vs. family members of UK citizens, so I would check here to find out: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php#tuition_fees

Hey Thank you.

I was looking at this link: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/tuition_fees_wales.php#home_overseas

I'm not sure if I qualify as category 3 (EU nationals and their family members) or category 6 (EEA workers and family members). Either way, I must be ordinarily resident for three years. "You are 'ordinarily resident' in the relevant area if you have habitually, normally and lawfully resided in that area from choice."

I think I should be okay tuition wise then, unless of course the laws change. Right?