generalized marrying overseas questions

Hypothetically speaking, if 2 people  from  different countries (yes, the US and UK) met and fell in love and decided to tie the knot...

what formal measures would need to be observed?

would the US partner need to file some kind of declaration before the wedding if it was to take place in the UK?
Is it easier to marry in the US or UK?
Could they get married in a third country of which neither is a citizen?

And anything else which might be pertinent...
Thank you

I think in either case getting married in either US or UK...the requirements are general......

if divorced you have to show divorce papers....
widowed you have to show death certif.


getting married in other countries mmm we always check with the embassy of the coutry you want to get married in.....some of the wedding brochures like Virgin and Tradewinds list some of the requirements of getting married in other countries..but keep in mind those brochures are printed months in advance and requirments can change

If you get married in the UK, you'll need to go back to the US to apply for your fiancee' visa.  Once you have that, you can come over for the marriage.  You'll need a certificate of approval and will have to give notice, etc.  (others will know more about that).

If you marry in the US, the UK fiance will not need a visa as you won't be living in the US after the wedding.  You can apply for your spousal visa from the US after the wedding and can move to the UK and work straight away.

If you marry in a third country, you'll need to make sure that the wedding will be recognised as legal by the US/UK authorities.

well, I wondered if there would be any formal procedures, say, for someone who had entered the UK on a visitor VISA...
I know there is someone on this forum who did marry on a visitor VISA but she said the "rules" have changed a lot since then...where would I find those "rules"

this is all very hypothetical
 I am only  trying to garner knowledge for future reference

well, I wondered if there would be any formal procedures, say, for someone who had entered the UK on a visitor VISA...
I know there is someone on this forum who did marry on a visitor VISA but she said the "rules" have changed a lot since then...where would I find those "rules"

this is all very hypothetical
 I am only  trying to garner knowledge for future reference

You can't get married on a visitor's visa.

If you get married in the UK, you'll need to go back to the US to apply for your fiancee' visa.  Once you have that, you can come over for the marriage.  You'll need a certificate of approval and will have to give notice, etc.  (others will know more about that).

If you marry in the US, the UK fiance will not need a visa as you won't be living in the UK after the wedding.  You can apply for your spousal visa from the US after the wedding and can move to the UK and work straight away.

If you marry in a third country, you'll need to make sure that the wedding will be recognised as legal by the US/UK authorities.

so we could not  get married until AFTER I have already been granted a fiancee VISA?
how long does that generally take?

and also , did you mean to say "you won't be living in the US after the wedding"?

You can't get married on a visitor's visa at all.  You need to get a fiancee' visa from the US if you're planning to marry here.  If you apply in person, you could get it the same day.  If you apply by post, could take 2-4 weeks, depending on your circumstances.

Yes, sorry, he won't need a visa if you're not planning on living in the US after the wedding...will correct that.

Lola's right.  You used to be able to get married on a visitor's visa and then apply for further leave to remain/spousal visa whilst remaining in the UK (I did this in 2002), but not anymore.

 It's either go back to the US and apply for fiance visa, then get married in the UK and switch to spousal/further leave to remain(marriage) visa, or he goes to the US w/you, you get married and apply for the spousal visa there (before you can come back to the UK). 

Regardless if you get married in a third country, you'll STILL need to go back to the US and be granted a spousal visa from a British Embassy before re-entering the UK.

okay...thanks,  I think I've got what you're saying as:

it is easier to get married in the US and then get your spousal VISA

Thank you.

Yep, as far as paperwork goes, getting married in the US is easier.

btw... totally irrelevant to your thread, but it's a peeve of mine, so i feel compelled to say it.... it's only a 'visa', it's not a 'VISA'.   (it's not meant to be written in upper case letters)

Sorry... i know that's pernickety, but... it just bugs me!

Good luck with your future plans... whatever they may be...  

btw... totally irrelevant to your thread, but it's a peeve of mine, so i feel compelled to say it.... it's only a 'visa', it's not a 'VISA'.   (it's not meant to be written in upper case letters)

Sorry... i know that's pernickety, but... it just bugs me!

Good luck with your future plans... whatever they may be...  

 ........really....WGAF, does it pronounce any differently........Jesus man.

CAPS LOCK ON = SHOUTING. no need to shout 

Yep, as far as paperwork goes, getting married in the US is easier.

cheaper, too, b/c you only pay for the one visa, not a fiance + spousal visa.

........really....WGAF, does it pronounce any differently........Jesus man.

it's just that 'visa' is for visas, and VISA is normally used for the credit card of that name.

Fcksake man , i did apologise about it, and agreed that i can be a pernickety ars*****, but why dont i have the right to comment on what bugs me when other people are allowed to?   Im sure that Lioness understands that.