fiance visa or not, that is my question! (Sorry for being lame!)

I'm hopelessly confused, sort of. We're trying to figure out the easiest, most cost-effective way to merge our two households and still do it legally! Because I have several children, the thought of paying for so many visas under my fiancee visa, and then truning around and spending that same amount on several visas when I get my spousal visa just doesn't sound too appealing to me! He is in the UK, I am in the USA...and we are moving that way. So...

If my British fiance comes to the USA for the sole purpose of getting married, intending to go right back to the UK afterwards, with me to get a spousal visa and follow, he doesn't need a fiance visa to come here, right? I would need a fiancee visa if I were to go over there to marry, intending to stay...and he would need one if he was coming here to marry, intending to stay...

But, we could marry here without a fiance visa for him and then move to the UK to live happily ever after?!

Thanks, geally

But, we could marry here without a fiance visa for him and then move to the UK to live happily ever after?!

Thanks, geally

Yep! 

Hey, thanks...that was a speedy reply!

So, since it is legal for him to come over for marriage, can I make the appointment with the New York consulate for a spousal visa interview before he gets here? Can he actually state to the immigration officer at the airport, "I am here to get married and am only staying X amount of days"?

No no no..... he is here on holiday period. ...... He will stay with friends....
do not I repeat do not go there.....

Ok, ok, ok...so, still the same situation as if I were to go there for a visit and "decide" to marry during my stay? So, I can't contact New York until AFTER the actual wedding anyway...gotcha.

You could make your appointment with the consulate before you're married (there's only a two-week window, anyway).  Your fiance shouldn't tell the immigration officer AT THE AIRPORT that he's getting married (unless he's prodded...then he'll have to admit it).  He's not doing anything illegal, but saying that he's getting married will open up a whole line of questioning that he won't want to deal with.  Keep it quiet at the airport, but make sure he has some proof on him of his intent to return to the UK following the wedding.

OK...if I were to go there to marry I would definitely need a fiance visa (to be above board. I know it is not illegal to marry if I am there visiting, but I am supposed to obtain a visa if I go there with the intent to marry)...for him to come here to marry then leave, he does not need a fiance visa, he just doesn't want to mention he will be getting married because they could think he was marrying then trying to stay here etc, right? I guess that is my big question: does a fiance visa exist for someone planning on coming to the US only for their marriage to be performed? (So many Americans go abroad to marry as a couple, honeymoon, then return...I am sure they don't need a visa. Is it the same for him?)

Long distance relationships are complicated enough without all these legalities!!!! I would never have guessed there were so many hoops to jump through! Seems simple enough...you love who you love and decide to live your lives together!

Hi!  I just wanted to tell you that I was worried because I first met my on line love back in 2001.  Then, I went to England to be with him in Feb. 2002, and again in July 2002 and stayed with him for a month.  THEN, I came('moved') here last August and we've traveled to two foreign countries to be stamped, which means that so far I have been here LEGALLY for what will be 16 months.  (A very scary process indeed!)  Although everything has worked out beautifully for me, it's still stressful...I happened to have the same wonderful immigration officer who was kind to me and never gave me problems, but unfortunately, that's not always the case.

In November, I'll be going back to America to see my children and family and a fortnight later, my fiance will be joining me.  We're getting married on 4 December.  All he'll be bringing is his passport, (no visa) and if anyone asks him the reason he is in America, he'll just say to visit friends, that's IT.  We'll make the spousal appointment when we can, and as Lola said, you can only do it 2 or 3 weeks beforehand or something like that...but believe me, if I could make it for now, I would since I already filled out the application and paid for it. 

I know how worried you must be, and yes, it is SO complicated having to deal with a long distance relationship...getting married is a LOT in itself, never mind going through all the insanity of this visa or that Consulate appointment....but hang in there.  You (or I) are not alone in this!

Best of luck to you; it'll all be fine!   

Hey...thanks for your supportive reply! Do you have older children that are still here in the US? I have three teenagers...my youngest is still in high school (she will be a sophomore this fall) and wants to stay here to finish school. My mom has agreed to stay here in our home with her and I guess we're going to give it a try. I really wish she would come with me...although I understand her wanting to be here.  (I have twins that will be 4 tomorrow who will be with me.) Anyway, hope the whole process moves ahead smoothly for you too!

Hello Again!

Yes, my children are older; my daughter will be 27 @ the end of this month, my son is 24, and my youngest son just turned 20.  I can't wait to see them again in November, and as you may well understand, it's very difficult...I think they are still a bit upset about my leaving them and it's always I who has to call or write to them.  Still, I will keep communicating with them, no matter what, and they will hopefully understand why I did what I had to do.  It's a long story, but if you would like to write me, my email address is provided in my profile. 

I can so relate to everything you have questions about and it truly helps to talk to people who are experiencing the same thing.  Keep the faith, everything will work out for you.  It has for me and I have to believe it was meant to be and the same goes for you.

Good luck with all your plans!!!   

Peeps, with good reason, says "not to go there" as far as what to say to Immigration as to the purpose of the trip. And we all know the headaches that come up when someone appears to be entering the country to marry someone there. What's a headscratcher to me is: What reason do people give for saying they're going to Las Vegas to get married? (Or any place in the US.) A lot of people from all over ther world get married in all sorts of places other than their own country. Surely they don't keep it secret and surely they travel with all their marriage kit. I guess I'm saying that there should not be anything wrong with admitting there's going to be a wedding. Just don't mention to what nationality.

Sad, isn't it?

When my husband and I were dating and considering our options, we spoke with a rep at the British Embassy in London. He recommeneded that if we were sure of our intent, we should forego the fiance visa because it was yet another step, yet another fee, yet another filling in forms, etc.

And we went for the wife visa straight off. Got married in the UK, applied in NYC and re-entered the UK with my new visa in hand.

Were I to do it all over, however, I think I would have opted for the fiance visa first off. My husband and I didn't have a great deal of time to get to know each other first and we both admitted to feeling a bit pushed into an inevitable decision. Although we still might have married, there didn't seem to be a viable escape hatch in case things went horribly wrong those first few months.

You could make your appointment with the consulate before you're married (there's only a two-week window, anyway).  Your fiance shouldn't tell the immigration officer AT THE AIRPORT that he's getting married (unless he's prodded...then he'll have to admit it).  He's not doing anything illegal, but saying that he's getting married will open up a whole line of questioning that he won't want to deal with.  Keep it quiet at the airport, but make sure he has some proof on him of his intent to return to the UK following the wedding.

Sorry if I should know this already, but what is the 2 week window thing?

hey Geally,....hmmmm are you saying that things went good this week???

dimitri can go to america and marry you...as long as he does not state so at airport...  easy peasy!....and I do think you could come here and get married...but would have to go back to the states to get spousal visa...but since all your family is in the states...then the states would seem better for you...

Of course, this means that when you return to the UK, we will all have to get together to celebrate...right???

Shel...just trying to make sense of everything now so that we can do what is the easiest and quickest...but, you know us, we're still are up in the air if it is best to move there for a while (which will probably happen for atleast a year, and if so, he keeps mentioning Durham again!) or try to find him a job here right away for the kid's sakes (by right away I mean by next summer.) D-day is tomorrow, I will let you know. In any case...we're still planning on the twins and I coming sometime in August for an extended time...then we'll decide if I come back a married woman or drag Dimitri back this way for a quickie over here! (What a mess...we have too many variables!)

and I do think you could come here and get married...but would have to go back to the states to get spousal visa

The IND office told me that it may be possible to apply for a Further Leave To Remain (Marriage) visa after a marriage in the UK if the American is already legally here on a different visa. This would mean that you don't have to return to the states to get your visa/entry clearance....

Don't know if that helps your situation at all, but it really helped out mine, so I thought I'd pass it on!!!