Engaged - Time for me to Plan!

Hi All,

Over the Christmas holidays myself and partner got engaged after just over 2 years of long distance!.

Although we are in *no* rush to get married i was just wondering what our options are.

We plan to settle in the UK (we meet the financial requirements).

We were thinking on maybe doing it within the US on the VWP. However we do not want to ruin the option to relocate to the US sometime in the future. Would doing this cause an issue?.

Alternatively, we were planning a nice trip in Summer to Malta/Cyprus/Greek Islands, where i am thinking we could do it there (small, just us, romantic, nice hotel) then kind of have a celebration in the US/UK with family separately, later in the year. Again would this cause any issues?.

Many thanks, 

Congratulations! Either one of those options would be fine, no issues in either country and much easier than doing it in the UK!

Congratulations!  Both plans sound fabulous with no concerns.   

Perfect, thank you.

I am assuming strong ties to the UK will be need to be shown if doing it in the US?.

Or do you just say purpose is holiday?.

Thinking just getting the legal side done in 2018, then once visas are sorted something bigger in 2019.

Welcome to the forum

Perfect, thank you.

I am assuming strong ties to the UK will be need to be shown if doing it in the US?.

No, not really. You just fly to the US on the ESTA Visa Waiver as a visitor and get married. As long as you don’t intend to live in the US after the wedding, there’s no issue.

The US Embassy even tells you to use the ESTA to get married if you won’t be living in the US afterwards:
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee-2/

If they ask why you’re in the US, you just say to get married and then return to the UK.

You might want to bring evidence of your job and money available to you to show you’ll go back, but that’s about it.

It’s really straightforward and the majority of people here on the forum have married in the US, using the ESTA, as it’s much quicker and easier than marrying in the UK.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Perfect, nice and easy thanks