UK citizen marrying US partner in America before applying for UK spousal visa

Hi all,
I know this question has been asked many times but I don't seem to be able to find any recent info or experiences.

I am planning to fly to the US for 2 weeks to visit my partner and get married whilst I'm there. We plan to apply for a spousal visa for him to come to UK as soon as we can. We have decided to take this route as opposed to the fiance visa as it's cheaper and quicker and means I can have a holiday in the US with my friends as well! To clarify. I have NO intentions of settling in the US. We both want to live in the U.K.

 I have contacted the local town office to ask all the questions re getting a licence and that's all fine. I just have to bring certain i.d and a witness and we must give 3 days notice. However I'm still Not sure what to say at the border. I havent actually got a ring yet as we wanted to pick one together whilst I'm there (do I don't look "engaged") and I am meeting my UK friends in New York to have a holiday before hand so wondering about saying I'm holidaying with friends and visiting friends and family in Philadelphia as that's totally true.  I just don't want to cause any hassle if it's a grey area. I can't seem to find anything up to date! There used to be a document on the London US embassy page about marrying on vwp but it's gone.
Has anyone done this recently? Does anyone have any first hand experience or advice. Just grateful for any info. Thank you so much! 😊

I just replied to your other post.

It's perfectly fine and perfectly normal, so just tell the truth at US immigration.

The link to the page about it has moved on the US embassy website and is now here: http://london.usembassy.gov/mobile/immigrant-visas/marriage-to-a-u.s.-citizen.html


Sent from my iPod using Tapatalk

I married in the US in August, flying into Atlanta (which was the only airport in a year long trip round the USA that one of my friends got taken into 'the room' for further questioning). I went loaded up with papers of return flights, I had the docs I was leaving with my fiance for his visa, a huge box with my dress in, and a well rehersed reason for visit and why I wasnt going to stay.

It went like this...

TSA "whats the purpose of your visit?"
Me "I'm meeting my fiance"
TSA "When are you returning home?"
Me "Thursday"
TSA "Have a nice day"

.... and that was it. I was flying on an ESTA and I've travelled within the previous 2 years so I could use the self scan machines and the American passport holders queue, from getting into the immigration hall to picking up my case took under 30 minutes. Most of which was standing in the Non-US queue before they redirected me.

Thank you for that! I am just being daft but I worry so much. Last time I visited the US (over a year ago) I said I was visiting friends and travelling (all true) fully prepared to say I was staying with my boyfriend etc but just never asked the question. And I was going for 10 weeks then! That's why I feel like just saying I'm on holiday. What I do on my holiday is none of their business as long as it's legal. I'm torn! Knowing my luck I'll get sent to secondary because I'll get the one officer who thinks you need to have a fiancée visa even if you're leaving afterwards. I'm glad everything went smoothly for you!! Thank you for getting in touch

The most important thing is to be honest if you ARE asked further questions.

Yes, you can say you're on holiday, but if you are asked who you are visiting while on holiday, you need to say it's your fiance, and not just 'a friend'.

A few years ago, I went travelling in South America. I flew to New York, stayed with a friend in New Jersey for a week, then flew to Arkansas to stay with my aunt for a week, before flying to Peru. Six weeks later, I flew back to the US, via New York and stayed with the same friend just for 24 hours while I was waiting for my flight back to the UK (I had booked the flights with different airlines, so wanted to leave enough time to catch the second one in case of a delay).

When I arrived back in the US, I was questioned about how long I was staying, who my friend was, where I knew her from, what her name was and what her address was. Luckily I had my flight information, my friend's address and her details on me. It was a lot of questions just for a quick 1-day stop-off on the way back to the UK, but then again, I suppose only spending 24-hours in the US might have looked suspicious considering I was on my way back from South America. However, I was prepared for questions, had all the information and I was honest, which meant that they stamped me in with no issues at all.

Apologies for delay in replying.
Yes, I agree. You're totally right. I will of course be honest if asked.

The truth is that I will be being picked up from the airport by my partner and we'll be driving to upstate New York and hopefully New Hampshire for a few nights to have a break (I will have hotels etc booked by then), we will then be driving back down via NYC to have a night in the city with my UK friends who fly in after me. Then we're all driving back down to Philly where I have a large house booked for the 4 of us and 2 more friends who're flying in the 2nd. We've got 8 days at the house which we will use as a base. We plan to visit Washington, Philadelphia and Atlantic city (as well as sneak in a cheeky wedding ceremony). Then I'll have a couple of night away up in the poconos with my partner and then I fly home. So I think explaining I'm on vacation should hopefully suffice! Obviously if I am outright asked if I'm getting married I'll be honest but that seems an unlikely question. I will have all my bookings etc and proof I have a job and a house to go back to. If asked about my partner I will be honest and say we plan on getting married and him moving to the UK. All of which is true.

That sounds like a very cool trip you went on! I'm glad everything went smoothly for you

I do wonder what address to put on the landing card though. I don't think we'll actually be spending a night at my partner's as he's living with his mother u til we can get the visa app in and get him over here (he sold his house for a good profit recently.) Should I put the address of the house we've rented or maybe my good friends who live in the same town?

Many thanks!

You are really panicking over nothing.  I'm one of the many many people on this site who's partner is a UKC and came to the US to get married.

Trust me the last thing you want to do is say you are there for a holiday and then a secondary questioning that you'll be getting married.

Getting married in the US on an ESTA visa is the proper procedure for someone who is not settling in the US.  I was talking to a colleague about this yesterday and she was shocked that it is so easy to get married in the US, so I imagine you are having trouble realising that it really is allowed.  If asked, say you are getting married!  You do NOT want to look like you are hiding something.  You have a return flight.  You are golden.  Relax and enjoy your trip!

Hello,

Thank you! You're absolutely right. I kind of dont believe it, despite what I read and I've been told. It's like I'm on this quest for absolute confirmation all the time and must look like a loony. I swear this whole long distance/visa/missing each other drives you a little mad!

Thank you so much. Did he just literally say "I'm here to get married"? Did they ask to see evidence?

I think it's other people being incredulous that makes me feel like I need to fib. As you say, no one can believe it's that easy and everyone just says "don't tell them you're getting married!" As soon as I mention it so it throws me off. My other half thinks I should be honest and just put it straight out there so I guess I just should. I just feel like I'll be the one who gets the person who doesn't quite understand the way it works or something! Also, I will be travelling alone as my friends are meeting me later so don't have the back up of "here are all my family with me for the wedding." I assume it must happen quite frequently really.

It's annoying as normally I fly through New York where people go to get married all the time but it this time it was cheaper to fly to Philly.

Ok. I will tell the truth! I'm
Not doing anything wrong. I just find the whole border thing a bit intense. I'll stop rambling now.

Thanks so much for your help and advice

My colleague is planning a trip to NYC in November, which is what spurred our conversation.  I said, "Oooo, you guys can get married while you are there." which lead to the conversation.  She couldn't believe my husband didn't need a visa and that there's no such thing as giving notice (24 hour cooling off period after applying, which you can have waived if you want).  I tried explaining to her that most things are easier in the US. 

When my husband and I got married, our situation different to yours.  I had been in the UK on a work visa for a few years and we had been living together for some time.  We looked at getting married in the UK but I didn't like all the rules!    Plus my family wouldn't be there for the wedding (and if we got married in the US, his family wouldn't be there).  So we decided to elope and get married just the two of us.

Our conversation at the immigration officer's desk went like this:

Me:  Hi!  I'm a US citizen and my boyfriend is a UK citizen but the person who directs the lines said we should stay together and he could come with me through the US line.
IO:  Yeah, that's cool.
<stamp>, snap photo of now husband
IO:  Have a good day.

But I have seen SO MANY posts on here of people who were worried about telling immigration they were getting married.  And when they did, were shocked the response is usually, "Congratulations."