From Sunny Florida to near flooded Manchester - Must be crazy!!

Hello all!

I have actually been in the UK for 6 years as a student (3 years undergrad then 3 years Postgraduate Research). Somewhere in between there I met my now fiancee (British citizen). Because my student visa is up in two days and I a leaving in the grace period after getting my degree and paperwork sorted, I'll be (hopefully) coming back on a Fiancee visa so you'll probably see a lot of me on the visa boards until then as I am so so so nervous!

As Ive been here six years, I am pretty accustomed to a lot of things by now. I'm a Coronation Street watching, steak and ale pie eating adopted North Westerner (Studied in Liverpool but now living in Manchester!). But I still indeed get homesick, and sometimes all I want is a proper cream soda and a bag of fritos. I still keep up tradition by having Thanksgiving dinner, celebrate Fourth of July and a lot more. I'm a proud American, but wanted a new adventure in life. Now being with my fiancee is my adventure.

I am happy to have found this board, especially as I go through my new journey of getting married to a Brit and trying to finally feel settled after 6 years.

Thanks for having me here (and apologies in advance for my super anxiousness regarding my visa issues! Haha!)

Welcome to the forum .

Not sure if you are aware, but if you wanted to skip the fiance visa step and just come back on a spousal visa right away, you could marry easily in the US first, before applying for any more UK visas.

Fiance visa
- valid 6 months
- must marry in the UK within the 6 months and then switch to FLR(M)
- can be anywhere from 35 days to 77 days before you can marry due to residency requirements and giving notice periods
- no work or study allowed until you have FLR(M)
- no NHS access until you have FLR(M)
- must have private travel/health insurance
- fiance visa costs: £956
- FLR(M) visa costs: £649 (will rise in April 2016 though) plus £500 NHS levy

Total visa cost in the first 3 years: £2,105

Spousal visa
- you both fly to the US and get married (no waiting period, other than maybe 24-48 hours), then apply for the spousal visa
- spousal visa is valid 33 months (issued as a 30-day vignette allowing you to enter the UK, then you pick up a BRP card within 10 days of arriving in the UK)
- visa costs £956 plus £600 NHS levy
- allows immediate work, study and NHS access

Total visa cost in the first 2.5 years: £1,556, but you also need to pay the extra flights to and from the US to marry

Hi ksand - thanks for that!

It is something I considered, and I do realize the extra cost on board, but I don't think the fiancee is keen on getting married in the states since he wants his young son there, and we would have to wait a lot longer until he would be able to join us because of school. I think after the extra flight cost, it just might break even (even though I think I will go for priority). Otherwise, you are so right - the costs just make it more sense to just get married in the US!

Thanks for the welcome though I can't believe it took me so long to find this forum and I am so glad I finally did!

- FLR(M) visa costs: £649 (will rise in April 2016 though) plus £500 NHS levy

Just curious ksand, do you know what the new cost will be in April? I tried looking in other threads under Advisories and google but no luck.

Just curious ksand, do you know what the new cost will be in April? I tried looking in other threads under Advisories and google but no luck.

No, they won't announce the new fees for a couple more months. I think usually they announce around February time.

The last few years, the fees have been as follows:

April 2015 (NHS levy introduced 6 April 2015, and applies to all temporary visas valid longer than 6 months)
Fiance visa = £956
Spousal visa = £956 plus £600 NHS levy
FLR(M) visa = £649 plus £500 NHS levy

April 2014
Fiance visa = £885
Spousal visa = £885
FLR(M) visa = £601

April 2013
Fiance visa = £851
Spousal visa = £851
FLR(M) visa = £578

April 2012
Fiance visa = £826
Spousal visa = £826
FLR(M) visa = £561

April 2011
Fiance visa = £810
Spousal visa = £810
FLR(M) visa = £550

Thank you for that!! 

If my math serves me....that's a 76% increase for a spousal visa from 2014 to 2015.

Hi,

If you choose to marry in Florida you will need to go to clerk of courts for a marriage license costing $95.30. After it is issued there is a 3 day period before it can be used and it is valid for 60 days. The license allows you to marry anywhere in Florida but paperwork must be returned to the same clerk of courts for that county.

For the wedding you then have a couple of options to complete the license. Ordained clergy, Florida notaries, and the courthouse. I have been told the courthouse option is very cold and not exactly special. The cost to use the courthouse is $30, this is also the maximum a notary is allowed to charge you.

The person who preformed the ceremony will then return the license to the clerk of courts. Once processed you will receive one free notarised copy to the address given when you applied. I'm not sure if you could use the hotels address or it would have to be sent to the UK. It takes around 10 days for them to process it.

Should you need extra copies after it has been processed (You can use their website to see if it has been processed, should you give your UK address.) you can get them from the comptroller's office. In Orange county this costs $3 per copy, not sure if that is a fixed fee or county set. I would recommend getting a few copies as then you can start name changes etc.

If you choose to take the name of your spouse. Take the notarised marriage license to the social security office. They will issue a new social security card, the number won't change. This card will also be sent by post. However, after two working days you can start to update other documents as it is all computer based they don't need to see the physical card. There is no charge for this service.

If you have a Florida driving license with REAL ID mark, the star image. You will just need the notarised marriage license to update the name. Otherwise you need your new/old social security card, or proof of SSN. Two documents to prove your address will also be needed. I can't remember the exact cost for this but I believe it was between $30 and $50. By law you are meant to update your driving license within 10 days.

You can use the online service to fill out a form needed for an updated passport. You must post the form, your old passport, a colour photo, notarised marriage license and payment to them. You will receive your old passport back unless it is damaged. Note that your new passport will have a new passport number, therefore you can't start spouse visa process until you know this new passport number. Costs for a new passport is $110. Expedited service and priority postage is available for extra.

I hope you find this information useful, and best of luck to you.