Student visa to fiance visa?

I think my boyfriend and I are going to get engaged sometime in the new year.  I'm currently over here on a student visa though, which won't run out until I'm finished with my education here... still not for a while yet, thankfully.

Could I apply for a fiance visa while I'm still over here as a student so I don't have to go home right away once I'm finished? Also, how long does a fiance visa last? Any suggestions?

As you can probably tell, I'm a little clueless as far as visas, etc. go and I'm just starting to research options, but I was wondering if any of you could help. 

If you're on a student visa that is longer than 6 months, and you're going to be married before it expires, you don't need the fiancee visa at all.  You would simply apply for LLR (Limited Leave to Remain) after you get married without having to return to the US at all.

How long is your student visa for? Do you think you'll get married before it is up? Are you living with him now?

Sorry for all the questions but perhaps my story will help - it's a tad confusing so bear with me:

Met my DH 4 years ago when I started my student visa (it was good for 4 years as I was doing a MA/PhD).

Moved in with him after 2 years.

Got engaged one year and 3 months before my student visa expired. Set wedding date for 23 October 2004. Student visa expired 31 October 2004 BUT we had been living together for 2 full years by mid-July of 2004.

So we had choices...

You are allowed to get married on a student visa without having to get a fiance visa first - you just get a spousal visa when you get married. If you have been living together for 2 years you can apply for FLR visa without getting married. Or you could finish your student visa, go home and get a fiance visa and then get married.

We opted to do FLR visa as unmarried partners because we didn't want the stress of doing visas so close to our wedding date.

The advantage to marrying on your student visa is that you can work part time on a student visa. You cannot work at all on a fiance visa.

Depending upon your time frame and whether or not you are living with your BF or not will determine what the best option is for you.

That's probably confusing but I'll clarify if need be!

Thanks for the replies! 

Balmerhon, I finish officially in May 2006 (I guess the student visa runs out a month after that). My boyfriend and I live together at his house, for the most part, although I also have a dorm room... I'm not sure if that confuses things! Anyway, I've been here since April, so it would definitely be 2 years we've lived together by May 2006. (How are you expected to prove that, by the way?) I'm not entirely certain we will get married by that point though.

So do you think the FLR visa the best option for me?

Thanks for the replies! 

Balmerhon, I finish officially in May 2006 (I guess the student visa runs out a month after that). My boyfriend and I live together at his house, for the most part, although I also have a dorm room... I'm not sure if that confuses things! Anyway, I've been here since April, so it would definitely be 2 years we've lived together by May 2006. (How are you expected to prove that, by the way?) I'm not entirely certain we will get married by that point though.

So do you think the FLR visa the best option for me?

You can prove you've lived together by showing mail (official mail, like bills and stuff) sent to both of you at the same address (or separately, to the same address).

You can get married in the UK and apply for FLR (spousal visa) from the UK.  It's really just a matter of adjusting your status.

As Lola said, you've got to be able to prove you were living together with documents such as leases, date stamped post being sent to that address, bills in your name there, etc.

If you don't want the pressure of the fiance visa or getting married before the student visa is up, then applying for the FLR as unmarried partners is probably your best bet. But if you don't have any of the above documentation going yet, you'll need to get started on that now as you must show 2 full years of proven cohabitation. And make sure to allow yourself the time to apply for the FLR before your student visa expires.

Assuming your visa expires in June of 2006, if I were you, I'd want to show proof of living together from May 2004 - May 2006 at the very latest. Ideally you should have it from March or April or 2004.

Does that make sense?

Yep, it sure does. Thanks for all your help!