(No not for me) Marriage in UK without fiance visa

Don't worry, I'm going the fiance visa route, but I've got a question.

I am aware that one cannot get married in the UK on a visitor's visa. I must have read it a thousand times. And on official government websites.

However, in the letter from the York register that was sent to my fiance confirming our wedding date, there was an attachment from immigration. It warned that in the future, you will no longer be able to marry in the UK on a visitor's visa. Not now, in the future. Please explain.

Once again, I have no intention of marrying without a fiance visa, so I'm not asking for personal advice. Just wondering why the York register office would be sending out this information, if it is incorrect.

It's legal to marry in the UK on a visitor's visa, but the visitor has to return to the US to adjust their status to spouse.

But it is illegal to come here with the intention to marry. 

i married here in april (2004) while on a visitors visa... but i did not enter the country with the intent to marry.
and i returned to the US 2 weeks after the wedding to obtain the proper visa...

It's not complicated at all is it?   Still beats Dept. of Homeland Security!

But it is illegal to come here with the intention to marry. 

They know I am coming to the UK with the intention to marry. But I'm sure it's just a generic form letter.

Is it possible that they are going to change the law so you cannot marry in the UK on a visitor's visa, even if you return to the US to get a spousal visa?

Is it possible that they are going to change the law so you cannot marry in the UK on a visitor's visa, even if you return to the US to get a spousal visa?

It's not a question about possibility.  They changed the law already, and it will kick in next year and become effective.

There's been lots of threads about it in various fora across the internet, and I posted the last reading at Lords on my site. 

It's old news for the moment.  At least until we start seeing howls of anguish next year from folks who didn't pay attention.

It's not a question about possibility.  They changed the law already, and it will kick in next year and become effective.

"Is it possible" was kind of rhetorical.  Obviously it is, otherwise the register wouldn't have supplied the notice.

Actually, that is probably not the case sweetpeach.  The register has nothing at all to do with immigration and visas.  They won't even question your immigration status....but when you do go to apply for your visa based on the marriage, they (the Home Office) may very well have a problem with your circumstances.  Even if you're legally married here in the UK, there's no guarentee or obligation to grant you a visa based on that marriage.

When does this law go into effect?

Okay...all these posts have me totally confused.  I need to know this:
Can I, a US citizen, come to the UK and marry my British fiance without a visa?

I am planning to return to the US later for a visa.  What I am unsure about is whether we are legally allowed to marry and if so, where?  Does it have to be in a church, or can we do it in a courthouse with a justice like we do here?  What is the waiting period from the time you apply for a license until the time you can marry?  Thanks! 

Okay...all these posts have me totally confused.  I need to know this:
Can I, a US citizen, come to the UK and marry my British fiance without a visa?

As of now, no, unless you're getting married in CoE (Church of England).

I'm a registrar in Scotland and we can't marry non-EEA citizens without the proper visa - whether it's a fiance visa or marriage tourist visa - or without a Certificate of Approval (which you apply for if you're already here on some other sort of visa or status). So if you tried to submit your notices to our office and you didn't have a visa or CoA, we would tell you to get the proper documentation first. The situation may be different in England, but certainly in Scotland it's not possible.

Whew!  Got married in Scotland in the good ol' days when you could still do it on a tourist visa AND stay in the UK to switch to FLR.

But alas, times have changed!

Sorry to belabor the subject! but I am just making sure I have this correct.  We can marry in Church of England.  Does this marriage "count" as much as the other?  I mean, we get a marriage license and all that I can take to the consulate in America?