What's the up to date procedure for FLR?

You can certainly apply for leave to enter as a spouse from the embassy.  You'd need basically the same docs you had for the fiance visa, plus the marriage certificate.

Victoria

I called Croydon today to discuss making an appointment for flr(m) versus doing it by post, and the advisor said I could apply for the flr in my married name even if I had no time to apply for name change for  a new passport before my fiance visa expired. He said the marriage cert will show your new married name and the flr can be transferred into the new passport when I do get it. I thought people on here were saying that is not correct, and you should apply for flr in your maiden name-now I'm so confused!!!

You can pick which name you apply in.  Many people don't change their name when they marry, some do, it's your choice.

Victoria

Oh, ok!!! So, I can travel with my old passport(maiden name) with new flr in it with new married name? I need to go to the states in July so won't have time to change passport name by then

The chances are that they will issue the visa in whatever name the passport is in, but if not just bring your marriage certificate with youin case there is any confusion.

Victoria

Since I was the one who started all this fun, I thought I'd update.

We got married in early April and went on a 9 day honeymoon to Austria in mid-April.  I had read all the information I could get my hands on and was unaware that leaving the country before changing to a FLR was a no-no until Gary & Victoria said.

When I re-entered the UK after the honeymoon Stanstead Immigration Officers were having a bit of fun with everyone and pulled at least 3 people aside for further questioning while I was standing in line.  When it was my turn I just told the IO that I had a visa in my passport like I always do.  She looked at it, asked if I was married yet, I said yes, she stamped the passport and let me go.

After reading this thread we decided to apply for FLR in person rather than post it as planned.  Yesterday we went to Croydon for our appointment.  When it was our turn the woman looked through every page of my passport, asked for all our proof of income and marriage, but never mentioned my leaving the UK after we got married but before I got the new visa.

I wish I hadn't stressed as much.  It was easy and stressing over something that was too late to change really wasn't the way to finish our honeymoon or start off our new marriage.

Hehehe!  For once an immigration not doing his job properly has had a good result!


Vicky

Hehehe!  For once an immigration not doing his job properly has had a good result!

I guess so.  Could you point me in the direction of where it says that you can't enter the UK on a financee's visa after getting married?  I read both the Home Office and UKVisas website for that info but couldn't find it.  I also spoke with two somebodies at the IND/Home Office who said that it wasn't an issue as long as my financee's visa was still valid - of course I didn't ask until I got my FLR just in case.

It isn't there in black and white, as a lot of immigration law isn't.  However, what is stated is that when you enter the UK on a particular visa you are making a statement to the IO about your immigration status.  Entering the UK on a fiancee visa is stating that you are a fiancee.  If you are married, you are not a fiancee, but a spouse, so the IO *can* make trouble for you, as you could be deemed to be attempting to make a false declaration about your status.  Even if this may only happen when the IO has had a bad day, it's simply not worth the risk.  A former colleague of mine who was an IO told me stories about colleagues who used to get kicks out of making women in this situation cry on their return from their honeymoon ....

Vicky

That's weird that the law isn't written anywhere.

I think I would have laughed at that point.  I wanna go home to get my cat and spend a bit of time in a place where it actually feels like May.

Not weird in the least, the LAW itself is written as I said, but ever single possible interpretation of it isn't.  The interpretation is based on case law and practice.

Not every concession and discretionary practice is written in black and white either.

Vicky

That's weird that the law isn't written anywhere.

The internet would have the Acts and the Rules.  As to case law, the internet has only reportable decisions which were starred.  Everything else is available only in hard-copy like texts and journals. 

Got my flr in Liverpool this week-how EASY!!!! They didn't even ask for the proof of income(I was wondering about that since you have to do all that for the fiance visa), which we were worried about because of a new business we have started. They basically said because I already had the fiance visa, the flr is no big deal to approve. Just wish I hadn't had to pay the extra £165, but i have a family reunion in Chicago in 6 weeks, and I couldn't afford to take a chance of not having my passport back. Highway robbery if you ask me.

Oh, and the info the person gave me about being able to apply in my married name even though I wouldn't have time to change my name on passport was wrong. The visa MUST be in the same name as the passport. So, I'm just going to change my name for everything else but travelling.

Ok wait how much is the FLR these days???

Really glad it worked out so easy!

I think we were saying that you can apply in whatever name you wish, but that it will always be issued in the same name as the passport, which coincides with what you were told.

Well done again!

FLR as a spouse is £335 by post and £500 in person.

Vicky