New Member Visa help

Hello,

I just joined and have been reading over many of your posts.  It's comforting to see that I am not the only one going through this.  

Late June I came over to live with my boyfriend for three months.  I didn't work (Just volunteered at a primary school) I also didn’t overstay my six months.  I went home for six weeks to spend time with family.  When my boyfriend came back to get me he proposed. When I was coming back in this time, the customs agent gave me a very hard time.  I know this is her job, I can respect that, however, I am not doing anything wrong, but I was made to feel as if I was.  I explained that I was engaged to an Englishman and that he was supporting me while I was there.  She then told me I was spending too much time there and she was not supposed to let me in.  She then gave me a special stamp along with the regular one with her id # I suppose.  So, now I'm worried that if I leave the country they will not let me back in.  My ticket back is for February, we have moved up the wedding date to May 30th (That scares me, I'm only a week engaged) I don't think I want to apply for a fiancé visa and pay all that money only to have to pay even more for the spouse visa.  Should I just forget going back in Feb. (I don't think I could leave him till May) and go back end of March beg. of April?  

I'm not too scared about getting the Visa, he has a great job, owns his house and neither of us has ever been married, or has kids and I had a great job before I left.  I also live in NY  (Consulate) so I'm lucky that way.  
Anyway, any suggestions would be great!

Thanks again,

Stacey

Hi Stacey

I was going to say you need a fiancee visa but that is for people who are going to get married here not for people 'visiting' their fiance, albeit a long visit. If you have the funds to support yourself (or your fiance does) I am not sure what the problem is. I think you should contact the Home Office and ask what sort of visa you should be on in your circumstances (you can do so anonymously). What was the "special stamp" they put in your passport?

She then told me I was spending too much time there and she was not supposed to let me in.

That was rather rude!

I'm curious as to the special stamp, too.  Did she stamp you for 6 months or for a shorter time?

Are you getting married in the UK or the US?

Hi again,

OK, the stamp says on the top in pen "DNA or DWA 32 025" (I think it is her number id)
below that  in stamp it says "Leave to enter for/until" (until is crossed out)
below that in pen it says "Six Months"
below that in stamp "No work or recourse to public funds"

So basically I think it means a customs officer talked to me about coming in too much.

It was rude, but she did let me in.  but now I'm afraid if I leave again to plan this wedding they will see that and not let me in.  Why is it that love is so hard?

We are getting married in NY, so he has to come over to get the marriage license, but that is also a question, how long are they good for and how long in advance do you need to get it before you can marry?  He is coming a day or two before the wedding, I don't think that is enough time.  This is so much work, but worth it!!!!

Stacey...you said you went home for six weeks to visit family, then what, You turned around and came right back? While that in itself is'nt all that unusual I'm thinking you just ran into an overzealous immigration officer.... but something piqued her interest and the identification stamp she put in your passport MAY cause you to get questioned again if they see a pattern of frequent visits with little time spent back in the States. There's really no way around the visa issues and if I'm not mistaken they've changed the rules last April governing marraige while there under the Visa Waiver rule so while you're here in the States now why not just apply for the fiancee visa at the British Consulate in New York before you go back in February, seems to me that they'd have nothing to say to you if you had that.

Sorry.....did'nt see your reply before mine. I believe you've got 90 days to use the visa from date of issuance.

Hi again,

OK, the stamp says on the top in pen "DNA or DWA 32 025" (I think it is her number id)
below that  in stamp it says "Leave to enter for/until" (until is crossed out)
below that in pen it says "Six Months"
below that in stamp "No work or recourse to public funds"

So basically I think it means a customs officer talked to me about coming in too much.

It was rude, but she did let me in.  but now I'm afraid if I leave again to plan this wedding they will see that and not let me in.  Why is it that love is so hard?

We are getting married in NY, so he has to come over to get the marriage license, but that is also a question, how long are they good for and how long in advance do you need to get it before you can marry?  He is coming a day or two before the wedding, I don't think that is enough time.  This is so much work, but worth it!!!!

That is the normal visitor's visa stamp, all visitors stamps say that, Stu had exactly that in his passport when he came in on his fiance visa. I don't think you've got anything to worry about but it might put your mind at rest to give the Home Office a quick call and run the scenario past them.

Marlespo applied for the Fiancee Visa for her next trip over after having a hard time with Immigration even though at the time she wasn't intending to get married here (though she ended up doing just that!).  She got it to 'keep the hounds at bay' as it were.

But that was BEFORE you had to pay for the FLR as well.  So I understand your reluctance to pay for the Fiancee Visa when you're not getting married in the UK, using it simply to get in without any bother.

Doesn't sound like your passport is stamped too different, though.  Sounds more like she had an old stamp!  I know my husband has two different kinds of stamps from entering the US (always through Miami) - some actually give a *get out* date and the others simply say '90 days.'  So maybe she had the UK equivalent of the old *get out* date stamp and has to write in the 6 months bit all the time.

You're planning on going back in February.  You have the full six months.  I would really see about doing whatever wedding planning you can from here, stay as much of the six months as you can, and then go back in time to finish up the preparations for the wedding and wait for your fiance to join you.

Britwife: Hmmm, I've never had that stamp before, but I guess it's OK since she did stamp it and it says I can stay for 6 months.  Oh, I forgot to mention, she took a lot of notes on the back of my form, taking down Richards name and such.  I guess I just need something to worry about.  Richard thinks that if I had called him over, he was waiting on the other side it would have helped.

Celtic: are you in the UK now, or Boston?  I lived in Boston for 11 years (It's so much like England) I went to college there and stayed for seven more years.  I loved it there!

Yeah here in good old Boston for the time being .....Where'd ya live and go to school?

Here are some links for the requirements for getting married in NY:

www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr/married.htm

www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/new_york/index.shtml

www.theweddingexperience.com/legal-new-york.html

Hope they help, too.

Peedal: Thanks so much!!!!  Those answered all my questions except for the fact that it says we don't get the marriage crtificate back for 15 days.  We have to get the visa the following tuesday (2 days) We will not go on a honeymoon till after the summer since Richard has deadlines for work.  Hmmm, trouble.

Celtic: I went to Lesley College in Cambridge (All Womens) and then lived in Allston, Somerville, Boston, Arlinton, and Somerville (In that order) I missed my family too much and moved back to NY, hmmm now I've moved even further, how silly!

Small world Stacey, I'm a born and bred Cambridge boy ....my mum owned a house (her 1st and only) just up alongside the Cambridge City Hospital just around the corner from Leslie. I tended bar at Charlies Kitchen up the square for years back in the late 80's/early90's and used to enjoy a quiet Guinness in the Forest Cafe on Mass. Ave

Small world Stacey, I'm a born and bred Cambridge boy ....my mum owned a house (her 1st and only) just up alongside the Cambridge City Hospital just around the corner from Leslie. I tended bar at Charlies Kitchen up the square for years back in the late 80's/early90's and used to enjoy a quiet Guinness in the Forest Cafe on Mass. Ave

Wow! It is a small world!  I have actually never been in either of those places, but pass them all the time;)  I'm a big fan of the Border Cafe, I go back every time sometimes twice!  Anyone in the Cambridge/Boston area loves it there.  Where do you live in the UK?

Well like I said I'm here now for the time being but I've lived in Northamptonshire when I have lived there.

My hubby is from Boston! (Watertown). He went to college at UMassBoston.
Just a suggestion, but one that might put your mind at rest: Why not have a registry office quickie wedding in the UK, and a blessing (or party if not religious) in New York at a later date. You can get a fiancée visa in January, which will be valid for 6 months, thereby ensuring your February trip will be fine, and with it being a multiple entry visa, you can go back to the US and come back to the UK again no probs. Hubby's family may like the idea of the registry office ceremony if they are unable to travel to New York, and your own family will of course have the blessing/reception in NYC to attend! I know this way you'd have to pay the £250 twice, but as you said, you both have good jobs so it shouldn't be too much of a burden.
Just an idea anyway.