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Topic: Certificates of Approval  (Read 1580 times)

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Certificates of Approval
« on: September 16, 2009, 09:53:45 PM »
I may be jumping the gun so to speak, but I just want to know every step I take once I am in the UK and its time for our wedding.  I will be coming over on a fiance visa. I was reading on the UK Border Agency site about certificates of approval.  So once in the UK (fiance visa in hand)...how do we marry?  I am assuming its not as easy as planning a wedding at the church and that being that.  Where do I go to tell them we plan to marry or register?  And the COA, do I do that online once in the UK, or do I physcially have to go somewhere to do this?  All these things are so confusing to me..sorry to bug everyone with so many questions.


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Re: Certificates of Approval
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2009, 10:04:36 PM »
You don't need a COA to get married if you have a fiance visa - a COA is only for people in the UK on a different visa (i.e. student visa or work permit) who wish to marry a UK citizen while they are living in the UK - i.e. they didn't move to the UK in the first place with the intention of getting married to a UK citizen.

Once you have your fiance visa and have landed in the UK, all you have to do is arrange the wedding and get married. I believe you have to give notice of marriage and do a couple of other things first before the actual ceremony, but you don't need to worry about getting a COA or anything in order to get married... you're good to go with just your fiance visa :).


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Re: Certificates of Approval
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2009, 10:18:12 PM »
Where do I give notice?  And few other things??


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Re: Certificates of Approval
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2009, 10:35:40 PM »
Where do I give notice?  And few other things??

I don't know the exact details of the process, but I think you have to give notice with the church/registry office (?) and then wait so many days before you can marry (15 days, I think?)... ah, here's some info on the UKBA website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/gettingmarried/registering/


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Re: Certificates of Approval
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2009, 02:05:44 PM »
Once you have the fiancee visa, the hard part is over! As was said before, you don't need a COA, just the fiancee visa. Your fiance can make a tentative booking with the registrar for the date you want to get married and after you have that, you have to register your intent at a register office designated to handle marriages between foreign nationals and British citizens.

Simply find the website for the county council in which your fiance lives and phone up the nearest one explaining that you want to register your intent to marry and that you are a foreign national. From that they should be able to guide you to the correct registry office where you can give your notice, usually a minimum of around 17 days before the wedding. You both must be present as you will have to answer simple questions about yourselves and each other (just names, birthdays, etc). After this, your notice goes up on a board and after it's been up for two weeks or so, you are good to go for either marrying at a register office or other council approved location of your choice! Things are a bit different if you want to get married at a church, but unfortunately I can't offer much advice on that as we were married in a hotel.
Aug 2007 - Began relationship with DH while both in Canada
1 Aug 2008 - Got engaged
11 May 2009 - Fiancee Visa approved
17 May 2009 - Moved to the UK
12 July 2009 - Wedding Day!!!
21 Sep 2009 - FLR (M) approved in Liverpool





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  • dailydoseofash.blogspot.com
    • Daily Dose of Ash
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Re: Certificates of Approval
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2009, 02:10:02 PM »
Although this link http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/registration/marriages/default/default.asp is for weddings in Cumbria (county) where we live and were married, it might be of some use!
Aug 2007 - Began relationship with DH while both in Canada
1 Aug 2008 - Got engaged
11 May 2009 - Fiancee Visa approved
17 May 2009 - Moved to the UK
12 July 2009 - Wedding Day!!!
21 Sep 2009 - FLR (M) approved in Liverpool





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