Marrying in the UK, changes from 2 March 2015

Changes for those who want to marry in the England and Wales from 2 March 2015, when it will be 28 days notice. This can be extended to 70 days+ notice by the Home Office, if one or both parties are a non-EEA national and they don't have ILR, or PR, or a marriage visa, or RoA.

Registration officials will be required to refer all marriage and civil partnership notices to the Home Office if one of both of the the parties is a non-EEA national and doesn't provide proof they have ILR, PR, a Marriage visa,  RoA.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/377482/Marriage_notice.pdf

Hmmm...  Here's my initial thought - they are trying to prevent marriages occurring for visa purposes.  But I honestly think that very very few marriages are for people wanting visas.  Am I being thick?

Hmmm...  Here's my initial thought - they are trying to prevent marriages occurring for visa purposes.  But I honestly think that very very few marriages are for people wanting visas.  Am I being thick?

I use to think that, until I read some other immigration sites i.e. immigrationboards.com

Thanks for posting that. Now I'll be sure to give notice before that date to avoid any nastiness. Goodness though. This seems ridiculous.

I use to think that, until I read some other immigration sites i.e. immigrationboards.com

I wouldn't be surprised about marriages from non First World countries.  I do feel like Tier 2, Tier 4, people on FLR(M) as unmarried partners, etc., would be unlikely to be entering a marriage for visa purposes.

I wouldn't be surprised about marriages from non First World countries.  I do feel like Tier 2, Tier 4, people on FLR(M) as unmarried partners, etc., would be unlikely to be entering a marriage for visa purposes.

Agreed. It seems overly invasive to subject people here on PBS or unmarried partner visas to investigation. Though presumably anyone on an unmarried partner visa has essentially already given them all the evidence to prove a genuine relationship. Which brings up another point. Why investigate twice? If they decide the marriage is valid, then those couples are just going to have to submit the same evidence all over again to get their spousal visa. This feels like a bureaucratic barrier meant to discourage rather than a legitimate means of rooting out sham marriages.

Thank god I gave notice before I left the UK.

Yep. Just called and made my appointment to give notice in January.