Finally a forum I can relate to!

Hi all,
I've been looking for a forum like this for so long. I'm from the UK but my fiance is from the US, we are currently looking through visa options that would allow him to visit and then stay in the UK.

Welcome! 

The finance visa would allow you to do that but if you want to save a lot of red tape, time and money, it would be better for you to marry in the US and apply directly for the spouse visa.

Hey hey,
We did the fiance visa, it is quite a bit more expensive and you only have a maximum of 6 monthes to spend together and then you have to be married and applied for FLR at the end of it. I’m happy we did it, but we could have saved a lot of money just getting married and skipping that step.

It doesn't make it any easier to do anything. It just gives you a few monthes to live together before hand. He won't be able to work at all (even if it's for a US company),look for a job, volunteer, or do anything remotely like work. He'll need health insurance for those 6 months as he won't be covered by the NHS until his FLR is approved after you're married.

If he could afford to take a sabbatical from work he could come over for a few months beforehand on a visitor visa, just realise he would have to go back to the US to apply for a settlement visa. You also aren't able to get married in the UK on a visitor visa. Gotta love it. 🙄

Hi!

I'm an American woman married to a UK citizen.  I would visit the UK as a visitor (<6 mo out of 12 mo).  We got married in the USA because it was simpler/cheaper.  Now applying to join him in the UK under a UK spouse visa.

Wishing you the best!