Fiance Visa Issued: When is it okay to travel & marry?

So our fiancé visa has just been approved, which is awesome, but we did a priority application and it came through incredibly fast (biometrics and mailed to Sheffield on 22nd Sept - Visa in hand today on 12th Oct)

We are delighted and thrilled and excited, and would like to thank the people and experts here at uk-yankee for providing a wealth of knowledge and advice to read through. Without you the whole process would have been way way harder..... thank you so much !!!

But now we might need to change our plans.

The existing plan
Travel Date: Arrive in UK 29th Nov 2016
Marriage Date: 12th April 2017 (ceremony and venue is even booked as this created our proof of intention to marry)

My cover letter mentioned both dates and we put 29th Nov 2016 as intended travel date on the application. But the VISA says it is valid from 16th Oct 2016 to 16th Apr 2017 which creates two questions :-

1) Do we need to travel sooner, such as within 30 days of the VISA starting?
2) Do we need to change the wedding date?

Looking at her passport page, it reads like the visa is valid for travel between the FROM and TO dates, so any time during the next six months will be fine for travel?

But 12th April seems a little too close to the wire for getting the FLR(M) submitted. Even if it would be technically possible, it seems like moving the wedding to an earlier date will be the most sensible thing...

What do you think?

So our fiancé visa has just been approved, which is awesome, but we did a priority application and it came through incredibly fast (biometrics and mailed to Sheffield on 22nd Sept - Visa in hand today on 12th Oct)

We are delighted and thrilled and excited, and would like to thank the people and experts here at uk-yankee for providing a wealth of knowledge and advice to read through. Without you the whole process would have been way way harder..... thank you so much !!!

But now we might need to change our plans.

The existing plan
Travel Date: Arrive in UK 29th Nov 2016
Marriage Date: 12th April 2017 (ceremony and venue is even booked as this created our proof of intention to marry)

My cover letter mentioned both dates and we put 29th Nov 2016 as intended travel date on the application. But the VISA says it is valid from 16th Oct 2016 to 16th Apr 2017 which creates two questions :-

1) Do we need to travel sooner, such as within 30 days of the VISA starting?
2) Do we need to change the wedding date?

Looking at her passport page, it reads like the visa is valid for travel between the FROM and TO dates, so any time during the next six months will be fine for travel?

But 12th April seems a little too close to the wire for getting the FLR(M) submitted. Even if it would be technically possible, it seems like moving the wedding to an earlier date will be the most sensible thing...

What do you think?

Your vignette should have valid to and valid from dates. You must travel within those dates.

You have two options:

1.  Contact Sheffield and state that the visa was made valid for the incorrect dates.  They will instruct you to resend the passport, cancel the current visa and issue a new vignette.

2.  Change your plans. (I agree that marrying on the 12th and the expiry on the 16th is a bit close for comfort.  Ideally I recommend being married at least a month before the expiry if possibly just so you aren't stressed).

Very sorry this happened.  It was very naughty of them to not honor your dates.  Unfortunately UKVI does a great job of sucking any and all romance out of international marriages!

You have two options:

1.  Contact Sheffield and state that the visa was made valid for the incorrect dates.  They will instruct you to resend the passport, cancel the current visa and issue a new vignette.

2.  Change your plans. (I agree that marrying on the 12th and the expiry on the 16th is a bit close for comfort.  Ideally I recommend being married at least a month before the expiry if possibly just so you aren't stressed).

Very sorry this happened.  It was very naughty of them to not honor your dates.  Unfortunately UKVI does a great job of sucking any and all romance out of international marriages!

If you can get ALL of your paperwork collected before you get married (depending on what day the 12th is) you should be okay. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that short of time period. I had a little over 2 weeks between my wedding day and the expiry date and even that felt a bit rushed. 

As to what to change, I would go with whatever will cause the least amount of (dis)stress for you and your soon to be spouse. My husband and I were flexible on the wedding date, it's why my anniversary is July 5th. Never would have actually chosen that day, but it was what worked. Haha.

Thanks for your replies. We had not realised returning the visa to Sheffield was an option, but on balance I think we would prefer to keep that item under armed guard and not let it disappear from our sight. 

For the sake of comfort and reduced stress the best option seems to be to rearrange.

Oh well, there are far worse outcomes possible than a little juggling of dates & plans.

Honestly, I think that will be the easier option.   

Sometimes your visa has to be sent back to Sheffield... if they've made an error on your visa (spelling, messed up birthdate, etc). They don't make mistakes often, but they're only humans.

And I would agree. If you don't already have a ton of things planned changing the wedding date would be easier!

All the best with your upcoming plans! You'very got the hardest part handled!

Also, your registrar's office will need proof of address for your fiance to give notice of marriage. Get her on a bill as soon as you can when she comes over!! It can take awhile to get the right piece of post they'll accept.