Getting Married in the UK, since the Latest Changes

Friends & Expats,

My girlfriend lives in the UK, and I am in the US, and I want to move to the UK to be with her, get married, and live there afterwards. We've both looked, and looked, and haven't been able to find a clear set of instructions, especially since now things changed on November 28th, as regards to Fiancé Visas, Marriage Visas, etc. We really want to get married in the UK, as all of her family is there, and mine are scattered around the US.

I searched the archives of the site, and found numerous posts, but they were all from long ago, some even dating back to 2006, and I am sure they're not up to date.

Is it too much to hope that there's a clear-cut step-by-step guide?

Thank you, anyone and everyone, so much for any assistance and advice you can offer us!

Regards,
Shaun

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/gettingmarried/

If you plan to live in the UK after you're married this is your order of events:
- Apply for fiancee visa
- After receiving visa, leave for UK.  You cannot work or have access to public funds during this time.  You have to prove that your girlfriend can support you without government assistance
- Within the 6 month duration of the Fiancee visa you must get married (so you'll have to give notice 15 days or more prior to the day you plan to get married, the link above explains all that)
- Before your visa expires you must apply for and off docs (I think they have to be postmarked before the last day of your visa) for the Spouse visa, aka FLR(M), aka further leave to remain
-The FLR(M) will allow you to remain in the UK for a further 2 and a half years, but you can work and have a national insurance number and all that
-After two years you can apply for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) which will allow you to stay in the UK indefinitely.

If you plan to go back to the US sometime right after you're married but before the 6 months are up, the order of events are:
- Apply for Marriage visit visa (also has a 6 month duration)
- Once received leave for UK and get married within 6 months (same as above)
- Before the end of the 6 months, head back to the US and apply for the Spouse visa, aka FLR(M), aka further leave to remain
-Once you receive this you can head back to the UK and start work and apply for ILR in 2 years.

Option A: costs around £1300
Option B: costs around £770

I did the second option because I had planned to go back to the US within the 6 months anyway and DH and I had a second "wedding" over there for my friends and family.

Anything that is in bold above you can search on this forum and find tons of information.  There is some old stuff, but there is a massive amount of new info too, you've just got to take the time to look.

Either way good luck!  It can be a very stressful time.  I hope the best for you! 

There is also the option of getting married in the US in a small ceremony (maybe city hall) getting a spouse visa, and then having an additional, larger ceremony in the UK, though it wouldn't officially be a wedding as you'd already be married.

but don't forget to keep checking back here because the changes that went through this month are minor compared to the ones they are trying to put through this year.  Nobody knows yet exactly how they will play out and with what timelines, so stay tuned . . .

We chose the last option--married in the US then had a reception here in the UK at a posh Victorian hotel.  We were going to have an Anglican blessing of the union, but changed our minds.  Neither of us is C of E.  We were doing it for his mother, who made it clear that she didn't feel she had missed anything in our US ceremony.  I loved our UK reception and it was SOOOO much cheaper to marry in the US, but I know a lot of people prefer to do the wedding here for personal reasons.

Ah yes, thanks Sweetpeach.  I forgot about that one