what is easier? getting married in the US or the UK?

Keep in mind that you'll need to spend $494 for a fiancé visa before you can enter the UK to get married.  Then you'll need to buy your ticket.  Then once you're married, you'll need to shell out another £330 (by post) or £500 (in person) to extend your stay in the UK.  Also, depending on what kind of wedding you want and depending on where the funds are coming from, you may need to take the exchange rate into account.  Good luck whatever you decide.   

Could I ask what you mean by another 330 to 500 to extend stay in the UK? If I come in on the fiance visa, marry then I pay the fee you are speaking of? Does this mean I would not have to return to the US? I would like to avoid having to return home post marrying. Pls advise as you seem really knowledgeable. 

Could I ask what you mean by another 330 to 500 to extend stay in the UK? If I come in on the fiance visa, marry then I pay the fee you are speaking of? Does this mean I would not have to return to the US? I would like to avoid having to return home post marrying. Pls advise as you seem really knowledgeable. 

A fiancee visa is only valid for 6 months or until you marry, whichever comes first.  THEN, you apply for ANOTHER visa as a spouse of a Brit.  You don't need to return to the US if you enter on a fiancee visa. However, you will have to pay the visa fee twice (because you'll get the fiancee visa first and then get the spousal) which can add up to about $1000 plus your airfare and moving costs.

I always wanted a traditional Scotish set wedding.... But we eloped to San Diego and had a ceremony on the beach.... It was beautiful... We got married here in the USA it was easier..... and cheaper! If you need any help on visas I will be happy too help.


good luck!

Caroline

Could I ask what you mean by another 330 to 500 to extend stay in the UK? If I come in on the fiance visa, marry then I pay the fee you are speaking of? Does this mean I would not have to return to the US? I would like to avoid having to return home post marrying. Pls advise as you seem really knowledgeable. 

Thanks.     I've been through this process myself only months ago.  Kristi's answer is right on the money.

So let me just get this straight in my head - If I, a UK citizen, fly to the US (namely, Los Angeles) as a VISITOR and get married to my guy (would I tell them I'm going to get married or lie and just say "visting friends"?) we can apply for a visa for him to come back and live with me in UK? It seems wrong that it's as easy as that =/ Surely there's a catch? How long does it all take? How much does it all cost? What problems may arise?

So let me just get this straight in my head - If I, a UK citizen, fly to the US (namely, Los Angeles) as a VISITOR and get married to my guy (would I tell them I'm going to get married or lie and just say "visting friends"?) we can apply for a visa for him to come back and live with me in UK? It seems wrong that it's as easy as that =/ Surely there's a catch? How long does it all take? How much does it all cost? What problems may arise?

It really *is* as easy as that- no strings.  

As far as timelines go, actually applying for the visa is pretty quick- that is, once you've got the documents (financial, accomodation, etc) in order.  It takes 1-2 weeks via post for a UK spousal visa, or it's possible to get it the same day if you apply in person at the relevant British Consulate.  Cost for a spousal visa is currently $494, with an extra $12 added on if you apply by post (for return of documents.)  If you're trying to get things done as soon as possible, one issue you may run into is the amount of time it takes to actually get the marriage certificate (which you need to apply for the visa obviously.)  This amount of time varies widely by area and county, so if time is an issue you'd want to get married in an area where you can get the certificate very quickly.  But, yeah, on the whole it's a fairly straightforward process, and much easier than trying to go from the UK to the US.

So let me just get this straight in my head - If I, a UK citizen, fly to the US (namely, Los Angeles) as a VISITOR and get married to my guy (would I tell them I'm going to get married or lie and just say "visting friends"?) we can apply for a visa for him to come back and live with me in UK? It seems wrong that it's as easy as that =/ Surely there's a catch? How long does it all take? How much does it all cost? What problems may arise?

Basically, that's what my British husband did. He didn't "lie" and our preacher who married us (incidentally lived in Britain for 10 years) said he would treat it as a "holiday marriage".  That he basically came over on holiday (which it was) and got married.  When he went through immigration, he didn't mention it. Just said he was here on holiday (because he had taken holiday at work) and they asked how long he was going to stay and he said 2 weeks (which he was).  Then we got married. We handed in our marriage licence at the our courthouse and received 3 certified copies in about 10 minutes.  I applied for a new passport with my new name (which you don't have to do, but I chose to) then gathered all the documents required, went to the British consulate in Chicago, paid my $494 and received my spousal visa 4 hours later!  That was it!

What kind of planning does this take? What documentation do I bring?

When he went through immigration, he didn't mention it. Just said he was here on holiday (because he had taken holiday at work) and they asked how long he was going to stay and he said 2 weeks (which he was). 

I'm really glad that that worked out for you, but I have to say I wouldn't recommend that anybody conceal the fact that they intend to get married when they go through the immigration line (please don't be offended -- I know you weren't trying to hide anything, and there was nothing to hide, anyway!). 

It's just that if the officer decides to question you further, and you THEN mention that in fact you are getting married during your holiday, you can almost guarantee you will get the third degree about why you didn't say that right away.

From my experience (I flew to Michigan to get married on June 10th) -- it is best for the "British" half of the couple to get a letter from their employer, stating that they are going to the US for a holiday and are expected back to work on XXX date -- and possibly also bring proof of ties to the UK (mortgage etc).  My then boyfriend also was completely up front about the fact that he was getting married as well as having a holiday, and had no problems at all.  The officer did ask him a few questions (how long was he staying, etc) but there was no delay and no sweat, so to speak. 

Just some food for thought...

After crunching numbers, we've actually found it'll be cheaper for us to get married in the UK. 

I can get a pretty cheap one way flight right about the time I'm going to come over, whereas if he flew over here, we'd have so many expenses: car rental, hotel rooms, the actual wedding, his flights.  But if I go there, we just have to pay my flights, the visa fees, and the wedding costs, and since it's just going to be a simple civil ceremony that's not going to be prohibitively expensive either.

This will make it possible for me to be over there with him sooner, rather than have us continually putting it off becuase we don't have enough money for the whole shebang.

That's two visa fees of course...the ones in the US before you come over, then the ones you need before you can work...


Vicky

I'm really glad that that worked out for you, but I have to say I wouldn't recommend that anybody conceal the fact that they intend to get married when they go through the immigration line (please don't be offended -- I know you weren't trying to hide anything, and there was nothing to hide, anyway!). 

It's just that if the officer decides to question you further, and you THEN mention that in fact you are getting married during your holiday, you can almost guarantee you will get the third degree about why you didn't say that right away.

From my experience (I flew to Michigan to get married on June 10th) -- it is best for the "British" half of the couple to get a letter from their employer, stating that they are going to the US for a holiday and are expected back to work on XXX date -- and possibly also bring proof of ties to the UK (mortgage etc).  My then boyfriend also was completely up front about the fact that he was getting married as well as having a holiday, and had no problems at all.  The officer did ask him a few questions (how long was he staying, etc) but there was no delay and no sweat, so to speak. 

Just some food for thought...

Actually it would have worked out fine anyway as he was bringing all his paperwork with him that I needed for my spousal visa... letter from employer, bank statements, copy of lease contract in UK, etc.  Really, it was and is no problem.  It was a holiday marriage.