Fiance visa...please help

Hello all!

I am very new here and so grateful for this board. I will be applying for the fiancé visa from the US (need to get everything ready to go within the next 2-3 weeks!) I am in desperate need of some advice/answered questions!

1.) When filling out the online visa form on the gov.uk website....what is the fiancé visa actually called?? I didn't see it listed as an option.

2.) In what order would you suggest gathering things? Right now I am gathering relationship evidence and I feel like I am going in 100 different directions trying to find a reliable list of the required documents.

3.) I have heard/read that documents cannot be older than 14 days or 1 month...which one is it?

4.) For the marriage within 6 months requirement...does the marriage have to occur in the UK? We have a full blown wedding being planned in the US this August, so we may need to go the secret marriage route!

My fiancé is in the British army and was just told that he will be on assignment from Feb. to April, so I need to gather both of our documents ASAP.

Any help will be so appreciated, thanks so much in advance!
Ellen

I think you need to take a step back, and a deep breath.

The correct name for the fiancé visa is the marriage visa but if you are planning to marry in the US, the fiancé/marriage visa is not the right one for you as the whole point of that visa is to marry in the U.K. and remain there.
I would wait until after you are married and apply directly for the spouse visa.

Thanks for your reply, I definitely need to take a few deep breaths!

So we do wish to remain in the UK, just leave to get married in the states. I was hoping to move to the UK in May, have a few months to live with my fiancé before we get married, get familiar with the area, learn to drive, etc. and then start a job as soon as I am eligible. I realize we have gone about this all the wrong way...but I'm still hopeful that I can make this work.

Thanks for your reply, I definitely need to take a few deep breaths!

So we do wish to remain in the UK, just leave to get married in the states. I was hoping to move to the UK in May, have a few months to live with my fiancé before we get married, get familiar with the area, learn to drive, etc. and then start a job as soon as I am eligible. I realize we have gone about this all the wrong way...but I'm still hopeful that I can make this work.

One option might be to go to the UK as a visitor,  you wouldn’t be able to work and you would need health insurance and you would need to be prepared to provide evidence of intent to return to the US.

Then, after you marry in the US, you could apply for the spouse visa.

One option might be to go to the UK as a visitor,  you wouldn’t be able to work and you would need health insurance and you would need to be prepared to provide evidence of intent to return to the US.

Then, after you marry in the US, you could apply for the spouse visa.

So I can be in the UK without any visa for up to 6 months right? Then return to the US to get married, but then I would have to stay in the US while applying to the spouse visa?
I do appreciate your help!

So I can be in the UK without any visa for up to 6 months right? Then return to the US to get married, but then I would have to stay in the US while applying to the spouse visa?
I do appreciate your help!

Well the stamp you get at the border is a visa and they don’t have to give you 6 months but essentially, yes.
And yes, you would have to apply from the US for the spouse visa but it would be much cheaper as one less application to pay for.

Well the stamp you get at the border is a visa and they don’t have to give you 6 months but essentially, yes.
And yes, you would have to apply from the US for the spouse visa but it would be much cheaper as one less application to pay for.

I see. Thank you for helping to think of alternatives. My fiancé and I are committed to giving this a try, as crazy as it seems. We are prepared to pay for both the fiancé and spouse visas. We don't want to spend any more time apart than we have to. Do you have any suggestions for my other questions?
Thank you!

I see. Thank you for helping to think of alternatives. My fiancé and I are committed to giving this a try, as crazy as it seems. We are prepared to pay for both the fiancé and spouse visas. We don't want to spend any more time apart than we have to. Do you have any suggestions for my other questions?
Thank you!

If you are not going to marry in the U.K. then the fiancé visa is not the one for you. It’s purpose is to allow you to marry in the U.K. and remain there so you have to marry in the U.K.

Your financial documents have to be dated within 28 days of the online application.

You will need to also provide relationship and accommodation evidence.

Congrats on your engagement!

If you want to get legally married in the US in August, then the marriage visa is not for you (as Larrabee has explained). If you want to get legally married in the UK, you're looking at some strange timetables to do the marriage in the UK, get your FLR(m), and make it back in time for a wedding party in the states in August. Also a lot more headache.

For example: if you arrive on a fiancé visa on May 1st, you have to wait 7 days to give notice to marry. You'll then undergo a minimum of 28 day wait, but it could be as long as 70 days, to get married (which, if that happens, would put you into August). You'll then have to sort out the FLR(m) likely in person ASAP to make sure you have your passport and BRP to travel back to the states for the wedding party. There's a lot of places in the process where things could go wrong in the timing and prevent you from making it back to the States for your pre-planned celebration. Theoretically, I'd imagine it's achievable but I would strongly advise not taking the risk and stress on! (Also, experts here may have much more insight to this scenario than what I've learned thus far)

As suggested, it might be worth looking into coming over for a visit for a few months (say, May-July) to test everything out and then apply for the spouse visa from the states right after you marry. It will mean a little bit of time apart potentially, but it's probably the most straightforward route.

Well the stamp you get at the border is a visa and they don’t have to give you 6 months but essentially, yes.
And yes, you would have to apply from the US for the spouse visa but it would be much cheaper as one less application to pay for.

I'm sorry to go backwards, but I'd like to talk to you about this option more if you don't mind! I've convinced my fiancé to consider it. We would basically be paying to price of the fiancé visa just to be together for an extra 8ish weeks. Thank you again for suggesting it!

Congrats on your engagement!

If you want to get legally married in the US in August, then the marriage visa is not for you (as Larrabee has explained). If you want to get legally married in the UK, you're looking at some strange timetables to do the marriage in the UK, get your FLR(m), and make it back in time for a wedding party in the states in August. Also a lot more headache.

For example: if you arrive on a fiancé visa on May 1st, you have to wait 7 days to give notice to marry. You'll then undergo a minimum of 28 day wait, but it could be as long as 70 days, to get married (which, if that happens, would put you into August). You'll then have to sort out the FLR(m) likely in person ASAP to make sure you have your passport and BRP to travel back to the states for the wedding party. There's a lot of places in the process where things could go wrong in the timing and prevent you from making it back to the States for your pre-planned celebration. Theoretically, I'd imagine it's achievable but I would strongly advise not taking the risk and stress on! (Also, experts here may have much more insight to this scenario than what I've learned thus far)

As suggested, it might be worth looking into coming over for a visit for a few months (say, May-July) to test everything out and then apply for the spouse visa from the states right after you marry. It will mean a little bit of time apart potentially, but it's probably the most straightforward route.

Thank you for your advice! I think you and Larrabee are both right. My fiancé and I were being naive!

I'm sorry to go backwards, but I'd like to talk to you about this option more if you don't mind! I've convinced my fiancé to consider it. We would basically be paying to price of the fiancé visa just to be together for an extra 8ish weeks. Thank you again for suggesting it!

You would be applying for a visa that you didn’t even qualify for. Part of the evidence required is to show plans to marry in the U.K. and you wouldn’t be able to provide this. 

You would be applying for a visa that you didn’t even qualify for. Part of the evidence required is to show plans to marry in the U.K. and you wouldn’t be able to provide this. 

Well we were considering making a hasty plan to marry in the UK, which I now see is rather ridiculous  I feel like such a huge weight has been lifted! I can't thank you enough.

Well we were considering making a hasty plan to marry in the UK, which I now see is rather ridiculous  I feel like such a huge weight has been lifted! I can't thank you enough.

Really happy we’ve been able to help. 

Hasty is dangerous when it comes to visas. It’s really important to take your time and do your research carefully before applying!