In-Person Marriage Visa - NYC advice!

Hi!  I'm new, and I'll get around to posting in the newbies welcoming forum in a bit, but first - I'd like to go ahead and solicit advice from the "been there - done that" (or otherwise more informed than myself at this present point) crew.

I am a US citizen, engaged to a UK citizen (if it makes any difference, I'm female and he's male).  I am moving to the UK.

I know what we need to submit for the fiancee visa, and know that the marriage visa only differs in that we need a certified copy of the marriage license (as far as I know, the county we are thinking about marrying in keeps the original?).

I know that we have to prove suitable accommodation, money that he can support me, that we're both employable, that we've met before, that we keep in contact, and all the other lovely particulars as listed on the UK visas site.

HOWEVER! In hopes of saving $494, we are contemplating getting married in the US (instead of the UK) - and applying for my marriage visa in person in the NYC office.

The way we would go about accomplishing this is filling out all the paperwork on-line beforehand, as well as paying the fee beforehand. We'd set up an appointment at the NYC office for the 7th of June (sometime after 9:30am) - and from what I understand, we'd more or less stay at that office all day.

Here's the tricky part - we'd be stopping in NYC from the 7th-8th of June - we'd arrive on the 7th at 7:35AM, and leave the 8th at 8:55PM - it just so happens that this is actually cheaper than flying direct from where I live to where I'm moving (and where he currently lives) - Raleigh NC to Bristol UK - so it's very convenient for us to stop in NYC and see friends - and obviously apply for the marriage visa in person.

I'm curious to hear from anyone who knows exactly how the system works at the NYC consulate, or anyone who has applied in person on their way out of the country.

Would it make a difference if we had a certified copy of the license?  I'm planning on having a few pictures taken as I've heard that this is sometimes asked.

Would it make a difference that we were planning on leaving on the 8th - could they make the visa good for the 7th (if it's approved on the 7th) or the 8th - or would this be impossible?

Obviously, saving $494, getting married in the US (which I understand makes it easier for him to come here if we move back), and being able to work from the point I enter are all GREAT benefits - but is this even possible?!

Also, our application would be quite normal as far as I know, no kids, no divorces, I've got a ring and everything, he has an inheritance which MORE than covers living expenses for 6 months (as required by the fiancee visa) - his mum is very willing to help out if necessary (she's got more than enough money for 6+ months as well, on top of his) - we're both college grads and employable, I fulfilled the terms of my UK student visa over a year ago and have been back twice since, I have bank statements linking us to the same address when I was there for my student year, these accounts are still open so they're really mine (though I don't know if that matters) - from everything I've seen/heard it's a very straightforward case... but my real fear is that for some reason we aren't a straightforward case and I'll miss my flight on the 8th.

ANY advice or personal experiences are welcomed - I'm def. wanting to save money, but I'm very nervous about potentially booking a flight I can't ever take and being stuck in NYC (albeit with friends) for awhile.

Help? 

oh come on - no one has an answer if applying in person is OK or not?   :\\\'(

no helpful stories to share about "I went in person and it was quick and easy!" 

kidding (but not really) - i just want to know of any major objections, and if there might be anything I haven't thought of yet that would be an obstacle. 

Katie, you'll be fine.  There are lots of people here who have done exactly what you're planning (and they'll probably all be on here tomorrow morning telling you so!)  There's no reason your application shouldn't be approved on the same day- as you said, your case is very straightforward.

Katie, you'll be fine.  There are lots of people here who have done exactly what you're planning (and they'll probably all be on here tomorrow morning telling you so!)  There's no reason your application shouldn't be approved on the same day- as you said, your case is very straightforward.

you're so nice when you tell me to have some patience 

how's your break going?

Click the little world icon to the left -- it'll give you a rundown of my experience applying at the NYC consulate.  Based on what you've written, you shouldn't have any problems.   

I just moved to Bristol two weeks ago!

wow - thanks for the story - seems quite similar to ours, it's good to know that you didn't have problems either!

whereabouts in Bristol did you move to? 

I received my fiancé visa last year at the NY Consulate.  It was not crowded at all.  The staff were very efficient and really nice.  It was easy peasy.

Okay.

"I went in person and it was quick and easy!"

This was about a week and a half ago...I did the payment online and went to the Consulate with my application form, papers from my mother-in-law (since both my husband and myself lived in the US until today and neither of us have jobs we needed to have her say she would support us), and my husband.  I had a 9.15 appointment.  There were two people ahead of us and it went very fast.  At the window they took my paperwork (MIL's bank statements, mortgage letter, payslips, my CV, copy of my degree, and application), shuffled through it a bit, asked for my passport, and told me to come back at eleven to get my visa.

They were VERY nice there. Not at all like the US consulate in London people, when we were getting Russ's visa.  (He came over to the US on a fiance visa, we married, then changed our minds about where we wanted to live!)

I applied for a marriage visa in NYC with similar timing and it was no problem.  It was June 2004, but I doubt much has changed.  We got married in upstate NY, then my husband went back to England.  I gave myself 3 days in NYC to get the visa before I went to the UK as well, but it only took an hour or two, so I didn't need the extra time at all.  It should be no problem for you, but personally, I would build in an extra day in NYC if you can just to be absolutely sure.  I believe you can travel on the visa from the day they issue it.

wow - thanks for the story - seems quite similar to ours, it's good to know that you didn't have problems either!

whereabouts in Bristol did you move to? 

I guess its Filton?  Although, our postal code says Horfield.  Im still figuring out the area!!! 

I guess its Filton?  Although, our postal code says Horfield.  Im still figuring out the area!!! 

I have to hijack to say you are about 5 minutes from where I will be

the 70 runs from that area into the center - you're up by UWE sort of - and a huge B&Q if I'm not mistaken.

I prefer the area around St. Andrews/Cotham - but then again that's a more student-y area and I lived around there as a student soooo i'm a bit bias

I'd really like to live in Clifton if it wasn't so expensive!

i guess i don't understand how you'd be saving the $494.

don't you have to pay that in order for the application to be processed no matter whether you apply online, in person or via post?

 

i guess i don't understand how you'd be saving the $494.

don't you have to pay that in order for the application to be processed no matter whether you apply online, in person or via post?

 

Just to fully explain myself and not leave anything out - here's the LONG version:

We can apply for 2 visas - either a fiancee visa, or a spousal visa.  Both cost $494 to apply for.  If we decide to apply for the fiancee visa this is what will happen:

I'll apply through the mail, and pay the $494.  Assuming everything goes well, I'll get my lovely colorful visa back in about 2 weeks time (it seems the turnaround is the same for a fiancee visa as it was for a student visa, so i'm basing the time off my experience applying for a student visa).  I'll then EITHER get married to my lovely fiancee in the US before we leave, or the UK after we get there - probably the former as my boss (who is ALSO married to a Brit) said that made coming back here LOADS easier if we wanted to later - plus it's cheaper and none of thos 3-week period from the time I arrive until the time we can get married. 

ONCE we're married and have the certificate to hand, we'll then go to London - and apply for my spousal visa - another $494 in visa fees, plus the 40 odd quid it will take us to get to and from Bristol.

On top of that, I'll be not able to work for 3 weeks, and probably won't be able to start working somewhere for 5-6 (i'm using a conservative estimate here) - that is stretching my budget as we're moving into a flat in July, so we'll have the deposit and all other associated moving costs + usual bills coming due in mid-june to early-mid july - before I'm expecting to be able to get ANY sort of work (even temp work). 

If we apply for the marriage visa this is what happens:

We would get married in the morning, bring the certificate across the street to have them do whatever they do and get a certified copy for us - then go to the beach for a weekend (we're doing that no matter what ).  We'd fly to NYC instead of going direct to the UK (which - by sheer coincidence, is the same price for him, and potentially cheaper for me) - and we'd stay in NYC for 2 days.  We'd arrive one morning, drop our stuff off at my friends flat in Manhattan, go to the Embassy in time for our appointment (our flight arrives at 7:30am - so we'd probably make it for 11:00ish or noonish - no later).  OR we would wait and enjoy ourselves that day, then make an early appointment the next day. Again - pending everything going well, we would fork over the $494 for the marriage visa - and hop on a plane (either that day or the next) to go to England.

The reason we'd save $494 is becuase if we do the marriage visa, we wouldn't have to pay the fee twice (once for the fiancee visa, and once for the marriage visa) - if we apply for the fiancee visa and then switch it once I'm in England, it's going to mean us spending $494 twice in one month, and more than likely, twice in a period of 2 weeks.

Obviously, since the plane ticket prices are about the same either way (and could be a lot cheaper if we took different flights back to Bristol - $421.00 TOTAL from RDU to Bristol via NYC for me - TOTAL! WOW!), then I'd like to save $494 - as that can be used for a great portion of one more months rent, alleviating pressure for me to find a job as soon as I land in the country, and give us a bit of savings for when I do get a job (as i'm quite prideful and don't want to use his money when I have my own - obviously I'll use it if need be and he's happy and willing to support me, but I'd just prefer to use my own to pay my half of the bills as long as I have it - I've always been like that  )

I hope that explains it, if you want the flight details I can give those - but it amounts to him spending the same amount no matter how he flies, and me spending about $700 for a one-way ticket - unless I fly back to the UK different - and stop in Shannon and Dublin on the way - I have to admit, I'm tempted!