Ok.....is it possible???

Greetings, Hiya, and all that good stuff.  I just found this site and joined.  It's nice to find a place with helpful information and support from people who have "been there".  So, that brings me to my query.  And, yeah, I'm sure this question has come up before..... 

Ok, I am in England now, and have been since the end of April.  I came here to visit my fiance'.  I know, I know....I can't marry him here without having a fiance' visa (which I didn't get when I was in the states...and, I know, should have) and then expect to go back to the states and get a spousal visa.  I have heard the horror stories about that scenario.  However, is it possible for me to apply in person here?  I have all my info with me, and I obviously have my fiance' with me.  Heck, I even have a lease here with my name on it.  Anyway....does anyone know if I can get one while here?  Is it worth even trying?  Or will I just have to go back in October, then my fiance' will come in December (oh, I can't stand the thought of being seperated from him for so long :\\\'( ) and we'll do plan b: we will get married in the states (Florida, specifically) and take a trip to NY and get a spousal visa there???  If there is any way possible to get the fiance' visa here (so that we can just go ahead and marry, that would be MUCH preffered....seeing that funds are low and going to NY would cost a lot of money, and they need to see money in my fiance's bank account....)  Anyway...anyone have any info on this one??? 

Thanks.....

The simple answer, I'm afraid, is No - you can't apply for a visa from within the UK.

A visa is entry clearance, which means you must obtain it before entering the country.  You can't ask for permission to enter a country for a specific purpose if you're already in that country...

You can get married in the UK while you're on a visitor's visa (poke around a bit...there are a couple of people on here who've done it), but you can't adjust your status from within the UK while you're on a visitor's visa.  So either way, a trip back to the States is in order--either to get married and get your spousal visa, or to get your spousal visa once you've married in the UK.

Yes, you can get married in the UK on a visitors visa.  My wife and I were going to do that. She was here just on a visitors visa and we were already planning it when we discovered that she could not apply for a spousal visa here in the UK, so she would have to go back to US to get her visa.

In view of this fact we decided it would be easier just to go back to the US, get married over there and then apply for the visa while we were there. We got married in San Diego then went up to the British consulate in LA and got her spousal visa, took about 3½ hours in total. We got to the conulate at 8.00am and we were walking out of there with her visa at about 11.30am.

We just decided to get married there as we had to go anyway to get the visa, but you could get married here then go over and get the visa.

I got married in the UK June of this year while on a visitor's visa. We did research it and there was a way to get a spousal visa while you are there as we had researched it and been to the consulate. Unfortunately, I *had* to return home as I had to leave my job on good terms etc. Plus I thought it was best to return home and get a visa this way....

I haven't applied for my spousal visa yet on this side, so I can't comment on that. I'm only just about to start that process, probably next week. And will be posting it to NY, since my husband couldn't afford the trip out here after me just being there at the beginning of last month.

Dunno if that helps...but that's my story so far.

x x x - Missy

Yes, we got married March of this year while I was on a visitor's visa. We went back to the U.S., to NYC, for my Clearance Entry Visa, and of course, our honeymoon. 

Thank you, Everyone!  I feel encouraged now.  I've been a wreck over this thing (as I am sure you can all relate to).  I appreciate all your responses.   

Awwww bless - well if you need anything don't be afraid to ask! Anyone on here would be willing to help, if we think we have the answers.

I'm definitely not that far ahead of you...only been married a month and one week and only just embarking upon sending off for my visa. But I will be keeping everyone posted in this area. So you'll get to hear me ranting about 'when is it going to get here' and 'omg i'm so stressed' LoL - so that's still to come from me!

*hugs* Good luck hun - and keep us updated on you as well!!

x x x - Missy 

Only to add on top of the excellent advice given above...

Once you are married in the UK, before returning to the States, you can have your spousal application prepared here to take back with you.

On the upside, you get the assurances that your application is endorsed by a qualified person; complete with all the necessary attachments, which may help to alleviate the jitters when you approach the consulate in the USA.  You have all the stuff in one place ready to go.

On the downside, the UK/US spousal application is very straight-forward, and you will probably do OK if you just fill it out yourself.

Something to think about nonetheless.  REMEMBER!  It does not mean you can apply here; but your husband is absolutely entitled to take advantage of UK expertise once you are married - just ask any advisor or lawyer straight out - and yes, it's what Madonna did...   Good luck in your upcoming marriage!

I too got married on a Visitor Visa with no trouble, you just need to put in your intent at the reg. office almost 3 weeks before you have the wedding.  I think it's different in Scotland, right?  It's like Vegas!?  Anyway, just to be clear it's not 100% that everything will work out the way you intend.  But then that is the case with most things in life   I went back home and got the Visa in NYC which was easy since I lived there!

Best of luck, any questions just PM me!!!!

Yes Stacey, Scotland is different much like Vegas. All you have to do is pick up your wedding schedule 2 weeks prior to the wedding (granted this was Gretna Green this does not up-hold to all of Scotland). We picked up our wedding schedule the day before our wedding. However, when getting the visitors visa I did not let on at all that I was getting married, I'm afraid that's going to come back at me when I apply for the spousal visa.

What was your experience with that Stacey? I'm not able to apply for the visa in person though as I am located in Florida. I've tried looking into airfare to go out to Chicago (as that's where I'm originally from and have family there) but getting the time off of work is the problem. Any advice? Cheers!!

x x x - Missy 

Well, it would be wonderful to go ahead and get married here.  And thanks, I will PM you, Stacey, to ask exactly what I need to do.  I had heard (and read) stories of people who had come here, gotten married, and then were denied a spousal visa when they went back to the States and applied.   And, well, that idea - of course - terrifies me. :\\\'(  I definitely don't want that happening (and yeah, I am an emotional mess right now)!  Going to New York to apply at the consulate there (although costly) can be done.  Jamie (my fiance'....my husband by the time we get there.....whether we marry here or there ) has always wanted to go to NY anyway.  We could just kill those two perverbial birds with the one stone.   And, we were planning on spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in the States anyway.  Hopefully I can just get my visa at that time (like so many here have done) and return home with him at that time.

Anyway,  we are both very anxious to marry.  It seems like we've waited so long already.  We just want to make sure we do everything right so that it doesn't cause major difficulties in getting the spousal visa.  Another reason that we would prefer to marry here is so that Jamie's mother could come to the wedding (which she REALLY wants to do.  And, it would be a very nice thing to be able to make my new mother-in-law happy  ).  She was lamenting last night over the fact that if we had to marry in the States that she wouldn't get to be there.

When I arrived in April at Gatwick I was held up by immigration for 2 1/2 hours!   Because I mentioned that I was coming to visit my fiance' they drilled me questions and threatened to send me back. :\\\'(  Needless to say, it wasn't a fun experience.  There poor Jamie was waiting for me, pacing back and forth, wondering if he was even going to be allowed to see me.  It was just awful.  Anyway, after doing my best to convince the lady immigration officer that I had every intention of returning to the States and no intention of living here illegally, she finally stamped my passport and let me through.  It was a great relief.  Since then I have gotten such contradictory information about everything.  Again, it's nice to find friendly helpful people who know what I am going through and have advice. 

Missy....on a side note....it's interesting.  I was born in Chicago but spent most of my life in Florida (my mother moving us there shortly after I was born).  Where in Florida are you?

Let's see, When I came back last November right after getting engaged I was held at immegration for about 10 minutes.  I mentioned I was coming to stay with my Fiancee, and the woman asked all sorts of questions.  She said she was not supposed to let me in but would in this case.  After that I was scared!  Kind of like when you use a fake ID and they tell you not to use it next time.  (I never did that of course! ) I never said I was going to marry DH on that trip, I would not suggest it.  But then I didn't know I was going too, after that scare I told DH, that's the last time I want to go through that, and we got married about two months or so later.  We went for the Visa right before our NY wedding which was in May.  Minx, I had no problem at all getting my visa, they didn't even ask about it when we got there.  In fact not much was asked of us at all.  We presented everything they needed before they asked for it.  We were done in about 3 minutes   There was a couple there that I overheard that traveled up from Florida.  They had a bit of trouble because their American Marriage Cert. didn't have a raised seal.  The UK ones don't have them, at least ours didn't.  Don't worry about not being able to apply in person, You have sent it out already right?  I'm sure you included everything you needed!!!  If not they will call you and request it.   Mistress, you have heard of people being denied a visa!?  I never have.  I don't think anyone here has been, not that I have ever read.

Three and a half years ago I came to the UK on a regular vistors visa. 5 months later we got married and applied for a spouse visa. It all went very very smoothly. No interviews, no questions. We downloaded the forms from the net, filled them out and sent them in with the appropriate documents they required such as a lease, bank info, passports, hubbys work paystubs and of course our marriage licence. It was almost too easy. I even was able to get my two sons their visas at the same time. I heard that recently however it has all changed. The thing is, we never asked any questions. We just went out on a limb and got married. The thought of deportation never even crossed my mind.
Best of luck
Pebbles

Well, after perusing the board and reading other people's stories about immigration at the airport......I feel like I was extremely fortunate and blessed!  I may have been grilled with questions about everything and threatened, but - Thank God - I wasn't denied entry and I was allowed to stay for the 6 months.  Makes me think that the immigration officer I got (who I thought had been so cruel) was actually quite kind!

Thanks, Pebbles.  Yes, I heard that once upon a time all of this was a whole lot less complicated and the red tape not near as difficult to get through.   So, did you go back and apply in the States for your spousal visa after getting married here in the UK....or did you apply here?  No questions, huh?  That must have been a refreshing relief indeed!

Stacey, thanks again for the info.   So, I'm confused.  Did you have two marriage ceremonies?  One in the UK and then one in NY?

Oh, and does anyone have any specific information/advice for getting a marriage licence here?  Like what's the best registry office to go to, that sort of thing? (we're in the East Midlands/Leicestershire county, BTW) 

I know, I have so many questions.....I just want - as I know everyone can relate to - to do everything right and have all the legalities over with as quickly as possible with the least amount of stress and worry (and, I am a natural-born worry-er.  My Jamie is forever begging me to calm down and not get so upset about everything....).