a wise choice?

Hey all, I am from America and soon I am moving to the UK to live with and marry my fiance. I've already filled out my visa form and have loads of stuff to send with it.. all the neccessary things to send I have. I heard that I should include a copy of my itinerary with my visa application, now, my question is, do you think it's unwise if I book my flight before I send off my visa form? I'm confident that the visa will get granted, I don't see why it wouldn't but I would just like to book my flight and get it out of the way and then I can include a copy of the itinerary with the visa application. I also want to know something else. It is now March and I am planning on booking my flight over there for May 15th, if I include my itinerary with my visa application then will they grant my visa so that my 6 months starts on May 15th? Thanks for your help  

The visa will be dated the day they grant it, irrespective of your departure date unless you request that they date it in advance.

You do not need a flight iterary to get the visa.  I booked my flight after I got the visa because I got a really good deal on a ticket that was non-changeable and non-refundable.  I knew I was going to get the visa, but I just didn't want any tiny problem to create a big problem, like if they needed more information or anything similar that would delay the visa process and cause me to possibly miss my flight and lose the $.  I had all my paperwork in order, was obsessively organized with a binder and tabs and a table of contents, mailed my visa to New York and got it back the morning of day five after they received it.

So, if you have EVERYTHING in order and are super organized and send in your application now, I would think you would get it back soon and would be able to book a flight soon.  However, if you can get a changeable ticket or feel lucky and like to gamble, get your ticket first.

I had been living in the UK and flew to the US on a return flight for a month to apply for my visa.  I gave myself plenty of time, but can't remember them even asking about it.

Thanks guys, I have changed my mind about booking my flight early. Like you said Lou, don't want a little problem becoming a big one. My fiance is sending me his birth certificate and recent bank statements to me in the post, hes already sent them, I am just waiting for them. When I get them I am going to send it off! Today I'm going into town to get money orders for the fee of $494 (it is $494 right) and the $16 shipping and handling fee. Good idea Lou about organizing it, Mine is so not organized but I'll organize it better now.

Organization is good, especially because the people who work at the consulates probably get lots of people with just piles of papers in no particular order, so it makes the process quicker and easier for them to have it all sorted.
I have five seperate groupings:
1 application and passport photos
2-proof of identity
3-proof that we are a couple
4-proof of fiancial stability
5-proof of accommodation

usually im disorganized and messy, but i pulled it together for this because i wanted it so much.

Great categories/breakdown, lou. When it's that simplified, it doesn't seem so overwhelming. We took our stuff in an accordian file and just whipped out papers when asked for them.

I would have done that as well Lisa, but I was sending mine by post and wanted to be sure there was no need for them to call me for any kind of explanation - which there wasn't.  they got it back to me super fast, which was a big relief.