April Timeline

Hmm, that's interesting... the VFS Global website states that you are not allowed to upgrade from non-priority to priority anymore.

Hang on, if you're not getting married in the UK, why are you applying for a fiance visa?

The fiance visa is specifically for people who are getting married in the UK. In order to be granted the visa, you must show evidence that your wedding will take place IN THE UK.


If you are marrying in Florence, I don't think you can qualify for a fiance visa.

Yes, that is what the website said, but when we called the visa office (I think it was New York, because you can't call Sheffield), they said it was possible only with a settle visa. ..  They gave us the form we needed to fill out along with the email we were to send it to, and we received a confirmation response.

We are having a religious ceremony in Florence and our civil ceremony in the UK... so technically we will be legally getting married in the UK, but celebrating the religious ceremony in Florence with our families before. We made note of that in several places in the application, but wanted to show the religious ceremony as a proof of a 'legit' relationship, etc.

Yes, that is what the website said, but when we called the visa office (I think it was New York, because you can't call Sheffield), they said it was possible only with a settle visa. ..  They gave us the form we needed to fill out along with the email we were to send it to, and we received a confirmation response.

Interesting... we'll have to keep an eye on that, because we've been telling people for months that it was not allowed anymore, based on the VFS Global FAQs.

We are having a religious ceremony in Florence and our civil ceremony in the UK... so technically we will be legally getting married in the UK, but celebrating the religious ceremony in Florence with our families before. We made note of that in several places in the application, but wanted to show the religious ceremony as a proof of a 'legit' relationship, etc.

Ah, you didn't mention that. In which case, as long as you sent proof of your wedding plans in the UK (along with evidence that you meet the financial, accommodation and relationship requirements), you are fine to apply for the fiance visa.

Interesting... we'll have to keep an eye on that, because we've been telling people for months that it was not allowed anymore, based on the VFS Global FAQs.


Ah, you didn't mention that. In which case, as long as you sent proof of your wedding plans in the UK (along with evidence that you meet the financial, accommodation and relationship requirements), you are fine to apply for the fiance visa.

Yes. The FAQ definitely say it is not allowed.. and I had read that AFTER I made the phone call to the office.. and AFTER I had purchased the priority. However, When I made a second call, they gave me the email information and assured me that we didnt waste our money.
Of course we obviously lost time, and there is a definite risk.. but we needed to try anyway.. It is DEFINITELY worth doing it at the right time.


Yes sorry, that was confusing. We let them know that we would be getting married in the UK at the soonest possible date.

Here is to waiting for a response! Cheers!

Yes. The FAQ definitely say it is not allowed.. and I had read that AFTER I made the phone call to the office.. and AFTER I had purchased the priority. However, When I made a second call, they gave me the email information and assured me that we didnt waste our money.
Of course we obviously lost time, and there is a definite risk.. but we needed to try anyway.. It is DEFINITELY worth doing it at the right time.

Good on you for finding that out and getting it sorted out .

I just feel bad for all the people last summer who waited up to 5 MONTHS for their visas (and all the people who applied in February and are still waiting now), because we've all believed no one was allowed to upgrade to priority anymore .

We are having a religious ceremony in Florence and our civil ceremony in the UK... so technically we will be legally getting married in the UK, but celebrating the religious ceremony in Florence with our families before. We made note of that in several places in the application, but wanted to show the religious ceremony as a proof of a 'legit' relationship, etc.

I'm still a little confused. 
So are you saying that your religious ceremony will not be a wedding then?
I ask because many people only have a religious ceremony and they are legally married.

Good on you for finding that out and getting it sorted out .

I just feel bad for all the people last summer who waited up to 5 MONTHS for their visas (and all the people who applied in February and are still waiting now), because we've all believed no one was allowed to upgrade to priority anymore .

Don't feel bad at all! We all live and learn. Fingers crossed for more good decisions to come rolling in soon!

I'm still a little confused. 
So are you saying that your religious ceremony will not be a wedding then?
I ask because many people only have a religious ceremony and they are legally married.

So, most people just have the civil ceremony part (the signing of the legal paperwork) in their religious ceremony.. or before or after and call this whole process the 'wedding.'
We are just doing the religious ceremony (vow exchange, rings, blessings, etc) to celebrate with our families, because the visa process is long and unpredictable, my family needed time in order for them all to come to Europe to celebrate.
 
Also, Because you have to wait 8 days before you get registered at the local office, and then you have to give notice and wait at least 28 days to do the legal side of it, this can pose a moral problem, for people like me and my fiance who would have to live together for a month without being married. So we are doing the religious ceremony first to solve that problem.. it obviously isnt 'legally' binding until we do the civil ceremony in the UK, but we are only able to do this after a certain amount of time in the UK.

I'm still a little confused. 
So are you saying that your religious ceremony will not be a wedding then?
I ask because many people only have a religious ceremony and they are legally married.

I did this too with my American wedding . We needed insurance for him etc so we married in a civil ceremony and then the following year had our wedding. No one at our 2nd wedding knew and truly in my mind, that was the wedding.

I did this too with my American wedding . We needed insurance for him etc so we married in a civil ceremony and then the following year had our wedding. No one at our 2nd wedding knew and truly in my mind, that was the wedding.

I've seen this before, getting legally married at first then having another ceremony later. I've just never seen it the other way around before.

So, most people just have the civil ceremony part (the signing of the legal paperwork) in their religious ceremony.. or before or after and call this whole process the 'wedding.'
We are just doing the religious ceremony (vow exchange, rings, blessings, etc) to celebrate with our families, because the visa process is long and unpredictable, my family needed time in order for them all to come to Europe to celebrate.
 
Also, Because you have to wait 8 days before you get registered at the local office, and then you have to give notice and wait at least 28 days to do the legal side of it, this can pose a moral problem, for people like me and my fiance who would have to live together for a month without being married. So we are doing the religious ceremony first to solve that problem.. it obviously isnt 'legally' binding until we do the civil ceremony in the UK, but we are only able to do this after a certain amount of time in the UK.

You seem to have it all under control!    We didn't have any of those problems, we just eloped! 

I did this too with my American wedding . We needed insurance for him etc so we married in a civil ceremony and then the following year had our wedding. No one at our 2nd wedding knew and truly in my mind, that was the wedding.

Yeah, quite a few people do have two ceremonies, it's just that normally they do the legally binding civil ceremony first and then have a religious/non-legal blessing afterwards, maybe a few weeks or months later.

I haven't heard of it being done the other way around before.


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I've seen this before, getting legally married at first then having another ceremony later. I've just never seen it the other way around before.

We're doing this -- we were married in NYC at City Hall in March in order to apply for the spouse visa, and are having a big "wedding" in Scotland in July for family/friends. It's basically Wedding 2.0 (no religious element, just the 'big party' element).

im so interested that they are allowing the upgrading now! they really need to get things clarified cause I know a few people on this that would have upgraded already!

Im delighted for you that you were able to though! and Florence sounds incredible. We are planning our family ceremony for Mexico in January 2019 for our second anniversary and I agree thats the day we will really feel married! So maybe it makes sense if you can to do the religious one first? if thats the one that makes you feel the most married!

So, most people just have the civil ceremony part (the signing of the legal paperwork) in their religious ceremony.. or before or after and call this whole process the 'wedding.'
We are just doing the religious ceremony (vow exchange, rings, blessings, etc) to celebrate with our families, because the visa process is long and unpredictable, my family needed time in order for them all to come to Europe to celebrate.
 
Also, Because you have to wait 8 days before you get registered at the local office, and then you have to give notice and wait at least 28 days to do the legal side of it, this can pose a moral problem, for people like me and my fiance who would have to live together for a month without being married. So we are doing the religious ceremony first to solve that problem.. it obviously isnt 'legally' binding until we do the civil ceremony in the UK, but we are only able to do this after a certain amount of time in the UK.

Wow! In my religious tradition, I don't think we could have a religious ceremony without the accompanying civil ceremony. Neat you have that option.

We're doing this -- we were married in NYC at City Hall in March in order to apply for the spouse visa, and are having a big "wedding" in Scotland in July for family/friends. It's basically Wedding 2.0 (no religious element, just the 'big party' element).

We did that too. He was in the Navy but was headed out on a 3 month patrol two weeks post-wedding (May). The navy would process our wedding paperwork to give me healthcare & wife status AFTER the patrol in September once they got back. I happened to be home sick & he was out of work early on 2-14 (of all days), so we went to the local courthouse and technically tied the knot. I remember the JOP repeatedly telling us that we should check in with our parents because we looked young & I was essentially in sweats & he was in his grubby work clothes from welding that morning. We told our parents the day before the official family wedding. They were surprised!! As a parent now, I cringe, but 17 years ago, I didn't think twice.


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