New here - Getting married in Sep and figuring out the rest!

Hi all,
 
I'm very thankful to have found this forum. I'm marrying an UK citizen in September (in Scotland) and our initial plans had been to do so on a marriage visitor visa and then complete the application to join him as family after that. Unfortunately I just found out I'll be losing my job, and the work requirements were the reason we were waiting until after the wedding to have me move there. There's nothing like your company arbitrarily deciding your entire department belongs in another city, and giving you 3 months to make the move or lose your job! So now, with not much time, I have to consider the fiancee visa and the process that goes with it and selling my house sooner than planned. I have a very sweet cat who will be traveling with me, likely through Canada as Toronto is the closest place with a direct flight. It's a bit overwhelming!

I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and no specialists for it where I live, so I'm very excited to be moving to the UK where I'll have access to specialist centers with doctors who actually understand it!

So if anyone has any advice for someone just starting the process with a fiancee visa I would be very appreciative. I'll be reading through the forums as well, but thought I would introduce myself here. Thanks!

Hi Margo! I did similar to what you're doing. I was going to come over to the UK and visit my fiance for a few months. Then wewere coming back to marry in the US. Well during my visa process, I left my job (nothing to do with me coming there as I already had permission from work) but after I left the job, they refused my  entry as they did not consider me to have sufficient ties for returning. We then decided to go the fiance visa route. I arrived theend of  August 2014 and we married December. Once you arrive, go ahead and apply to the local office to be married. (We did not do a church wedding).  Sometime there can be a waiting period depending on how busy they are so plan far enough in advance of your 6 months. Then once you get married you will apply for a futher leave to remain visa which is what I am on now. I will have to do it again and then after that, my plans are to eventually be a dual citizen. I love living here.....I find the day to day life is easier in the UK. I like that youdon't have to drive eveerywhere, but encourage you to get your drivers license. I've done it and it's not nearly as difficult to drive here as people think. Get yourself out there and do the everyday things......grocery shopping, going to the post office etc. I also joined the local leisure center so I could socialise and just be out and about.....love the swimming. I was lucky that I made friends with my neighbours as my husband lived here already (we are a bit older.....in our 40s). Get used to eating in pubs or garden centers that have restaurants. Also take the train places. Anyway......I love it here. The biggest change for me is I am from Alabama so its a bit cooler here and quite a bit more rain. As they say here "just get on with it"  even if it's raining. Do you have other questions about living here?

Our wedding date w/ the Registrar in Edinburgh is already set, so thankfully we already submitted most of the forms. There's another we have to mail in June, as it's only good for 3 months. The Scotland marriage rules were a bit easier to work through as a foreigner than the English because they didn't have the same residency requirements. So I'll be applying for the leave to remain shortly after arriving if this all goes well!   

For living there - We're planning on moving to Bristol as it's a smaller city still close to the places that treat EDS, and his company has an office there. I know quite a bit about day to day life after all my trips there, but I have disabilities related to EDS so I am a bit concerned about how challenging it is to find a job as a foreigner while needing accommodations (I am *severely* allergic to fragrances/cigarette smoke/chemicals - I have to wear a mask on public transport and still struggle from the exposures). It's been a big issue for me here, with past employers even questioning the validity of documents filled out by my doctors, so it's a bit terrifying to have to start over! My fiance has barely even needed the NHS, so he really has very little knowledge for the world of disability accommodations. I know what I've read, and it sounds similar to here where you notify the employer of what would be a reasonable accommodation, but I wasn't sure if culturally they were handled well.

I'm looking forward to living there. I'm in upstate NY now, so the weather will actually be an improvement! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the life there so much!

Our wedding date w/ the Registrar in Edinburgh is already set, so thankfully we already submitted most of the forms. There's another we have to mail in June, as it's only good for 3 months. The Scotland marriage rules were a bit easier to work through as a foreigner than the English because they didn't have the same residency requirements. So I'll be applying for the leave to remain shortly after arriving if this all goes well!   

For living there - We're planning on moving to Bristol as it's a smaller city still close to the places that treat EDS, and his company has an office there. I know quite a bit about day to day life after all my trips there, but I have disabilities related to EDS so I am a bit concerned about how challenging it is to find a job as a foreigner while needing accommodations (I am *severely* allergic to fragrances/cigarette smoke/chemicals - I have to wear a mask on public transport and still struggle from the exposures). It's been a big issue for me here, with past employers even questioning the validity of documents filled out by my doctors, so it's a bit terrifying to have to start over! My fiance has barely even needed the NHS, so he really has very little knowledge for the world of disability accommodations. I know what I've read, and it sounds similar to here where you notify the employer of what would be a reasonable accommodation, but I wasn't sure if culturally they were handled well.

I'm looking forward to living there. I'm in upstate NY now, so the weather will actually be an improvement! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the life there so much!

I have a visual impairment and I have had really good experiences with my employers accommodating my disability over here. Obviously it may depend on your employer, but I just wanted to put that out there for you.  I'm guessing you'll be like me and need to mention your disability early on so you can have accommodations during the interview process. I didn't feel I was disadvantaged by this at my current employer but I suppose there's not way to know if it affected any other jobs I applied for.

I didn't need to provide loads of documentation to my employer for my disability but I'm already registered sight impaired with my local council so that may have been enough to prove it since you have to register via a medical appointment. I would just make sure you bring all your medical records with you and register at a GP asap so you can get yourself on the system and on a referral list for a specialist. Keep in mind you do not have NHS access on a fiancé visa though.

I am *severely* allergic to fragrances/cigarette smoke/chemicals - I have to wear a mask on public transport

Perfumes/colognes on public transportation can be challenging. I have no allergies, but even so, sometimes I swoon.

Perfumes/colognes on public transportation can be challenging. I have no allergies, but even so, sometimes I swoon.

Not just in a confined space, walking down the street even.  People here seem to bathe in the stuff. Yuck!

Not just in a confined space, walking down the street even.  People here seem to bathe in the stuff. Yuck!

I blame Linx. And all those other spray deodorants.

I blame Linx. And all those other spray deodorants.

Agreed. I don't understand the obsession with the spray ones here. They don't work very well, as evidenced by any crowded public transport journey and the fact that most people I know are constantly reapplying throughout the day without much effect.

I'm quite pleased I've managed to convert my husband to the cream/solid variety. More expensive but far far more effective. His white undershirts  thank me for that one! Ha!

His white undershirts  thank me for that one! Ha!

Well I've given him points for wearing white undershirts! In the south you aren't quite dressed if you don't have on a white undershirt.

Well I've given him points for wearing white undershirts! In the south you aren't quite dressed if you don't have on a white undershirt.

That habit was brought on by me as well. In particular my desire to not have to constantly be doing laundry or repurchasing ruined nice shirts. Much better to throw out cheap undershirts.

You won't have access to the NHS while on your fiancé visa, so be sure to buy private medical insurance before you come.  If you need to use the NHS, be sure to keep receipts as you'll need them for your next visa application.

I blame Linx. And all those other spray deodorants.

Yep - Those are the killer. Some perfumes that women use too, as well as fabric softeners. In the US "fragrance" is considered proprietary so I'll never know what compounds in them make me sick. I actually really struggle walking down streets too and usually have to wear the mask then. And over here we all have tumble dryers and I can't even walk out my door when the neighbors are doing their wash because the laundry soap & fabric softener are so strong! (I make my own)


I'm trying to understand some of the fees - when you go from the fiance visa to the one after marriage, do you have to pay the £1195 again? The change in plans is so last minute that I feel completely unprepared because up until now we'd been planning on the marriage visa. Our wedding date is set, so I'm still not sure what would be best. Would getting a lawyer help? I have access to US immigration lawyers but I'm not sure how much they'd be able to assist with the UK process.

Before your fiancé visa expires, you will apply for FLR(M) from within the UK.  It's £1,311 currently (rises each year).  This is the visa fee and the NHS levy.  If you want a same day decision, it is an extra £500.  This visa will carry you for an additional 30 months in the UK.

You don't need an attorney if you have a straight forward case.

I'm trying to understand some of the fees - when you go from the fiance visa to the one after marriage, do you have to pay the £1195 again? The change in plans is so last minute that I feel completely unprepared because up until now we'd been planning on the marriage visa. Our wedding date is set, so I'm still not sure what would be best.

The first visa, the fiance visa applied for from the US will cost £1,195 (plus the priority processing fee of £450 if you choose to pay for priority processing).

Then once you are married, and before your fiance visa expires, you will need to apply for a 30-month FLR(M) visa from inside the UK. This currently costs £811, plus £500 NHS surcharge. If you wish to apply in person for a same-day decision, it's an extra £500.

When your FLR(M) visa is about to expire after 2.5 years, you will apply for a second FLR(M) (the fees are likely to have increased by then).

Then when you reach 5 years on FLR(M) visas, you will apply for ILR, which is permanent residence. This currently costs £1,875.

Once you have ILR, you should be able to qualify for UK citizenship, which currently costs £1,236.

So, your visa fees are as follows:

6-month fiance visa (application made in the US):
£1,195
£450 priority processing (optional)

30-month FLR(M) (application made in the UK):
£811
£500 NHS surcharge
£500 for in-person appointment (optional)

Second 30-month FLR(M) (application made in the UK) (2016 prices):
£811
£500 NHS surcharge
£500 for in-person appointment (optional)

ILR after 5 years on FLR(M) (2016 prices):
£1,875
£500 for in-person appointment (optional)

UK citizenship once you have ILR (2016 prices):
£1,236

Would getting a lawyer help? I have access to US immigration lawyers but I'm not sure how much they'd be able to assist with the UK process.

You're very unlikely to need a lawyer - it's a straightforward application and all the information is on the UKVI website. Here on the forum, we know the application process inside out... we can offer any help you need for free.

You would normally only need a lawyer if you have serious reasons why you believe your visa could be refused, such as serious criminal convictions, previous refused entry or visas to the UK, previous illegal overstaying in the UK or previous illegal working in the UK. If your case is straightforward, a lawyer will be unnecessary - a lawyer would set you back several hundred pounds in legal fees though, and that money might as well just be put towards the visa fees instead.

US immigration lawyers will be unable to help as they won't know anything about how to apply for a UK visa. If you did decide to use a lawyer, we only recommend two: Laura Devine (based in NYC and London) and Victoria Sharkey at Medivisas (based in London).

I'm trying to understand some of the fees - when you go from the fiance visa to the one after marriage, do you have to pay the £1195 again? The change in plans is so last minute that I feel completely unprepared because up until now we'd been planning on the marriage visa. Our wedding date is set, so I'm still not sure what would be best. Would getting a lawyer help? I have access to US immigration lawyers but I'm not sure how much they'd be able to assist with the UK process.

Hi margo! I've gone through the same route as you're planning, the fiancée visa and just got my FLR (M) granted yesterday! (that's the one you get after you're marrie - Further Leave to Remain (marriage)).

The fees for the FLR(M) right now are £811 plus £500 NHS surcharge. You can also get a same day appointment for an extra £500. It is most definitely an expensive process, but we ended up forking out the extra £500 for the same day appointment to get an answer in just over an hour compared to two months, but that is entirely a personal decision if it's worth it or not :-)