Fiance or Spouse Visa - Our journey to marriage

1.  Yes, add the boarding passes
2.  You are only providing a photo of the two of you to prove you have met in person.  No other people need to be in the photo.
3.  As only one photo is required (though most send two, one from early on in the relationship and one from the wedding), you don't need to do anything fancy with presentation of the photo(s).  Literally just paperclip a photo to the application and call it a day.

Just something for planning ahead as you are in Northern Ireland.  The first time your (future) wife enters the UK on her spouse visa, she will need to enter an airport OTHER than one in the Republic of Ireland.  So she may need to get a connection in London, to get her visa vignette stamped to collect her BRP.

Ahh thats a really good point. I think we can make the connection works, where she can land in Belfast, N.Ireland via Iceland. IcelandAir have a hub here. But thats good to know thank you and thank you for the advice on the photos


I am going to bring some stuff with me when I fly (letters, current boarding passes). When I arrive at both borders (1. for landing in Canada and 2. when we drive over the border), should I have a mindset of "if they don't ask, don't say?"

So if they asked, why I am entering the country, just a simple case of saying "visiting my girlfriend"? I know we aren;t doing anything illegal or wrong, I just don't wanna be stuck at either border.

Answer any questions you are asked honestly.  You could always carry the print out from the US immigration website that states if you do not plan to settle in the USA, you should marry on an ESTA.

Honestly, this is something that everyone gets freaked out about but it's never an issue.  It's only an issue if you say you are on holiday and they find a white gown, tux, and wedding invitation in your luggage.   

If they ask the purpose of your visit, you can say "Visiting my girlfriend and tying the knot so she can move to the UK."

Real life comments from US Immigration Officer's after people have said they are getting married during their visit, "Congratulations!" (stamp).  "It's not too late to change your mind!" (stamp).  "Don't do it."  (stamp).   

Answer any questions you are asked honestly.  You could always carry the print out from the US immigration website that states if you do not plan to settle in the USA, you should marry on an ESTA.

Honestly, this is something that everyone gets freaked out about but it's never an issue.  It's only an issue if you say you are on holiday and they find a white gown, tux, and wedding invitation in your luggage.   

If they ask the purpose of your visit, you can say "Visiting my girlfriend and tying the knot so she can move to the UK."

Real life comments from US Immigration Officer's after people have said they are getting married during their visit, "Congratulations!" (stamp).  "It's not too late to change your mind!" (stamp).  "Don't do it."  (stamp).   

Well the way it works for me is that I fly to Canada. When I get to the border I fill in an ESTA that costs $6 and is a little piece of paper that is stapled to my passport. To which I return when we leave for Thunder Bay airport. Do you happen to have that link saved anywhere?

Hahaha I know  And I don't know why it feels weird, its just maybe the nature of it all 

Well the way it works for me is that I fly to Canada. When I get to the border I fill in an ESTA that costs $6 and is a little piece of paper that is stapled to my passport. To which I return when we leave for Thunder Bay airport. Do you happen to have that link saved anywhere?

Ah, so you're driving into the US from Canada?

I'm just looking it up, and it does say that it may actually easier to just do the ESTA online for $14 before you travel than to have to fill out the I-94W card at the border for $6, as it can cut down on the time it takes you to go through immigration when you arrive at the border (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/)

Also, if you do the $14 ESTA online, it lasts for 2 years, so you can travel to the US as many times as you like in the 2 years without having to pay again, whereas if you do the $6 I-94W card at the border, it looks like it's only valid for 90 days.

Here's the link for the information about marrying on the ESTA:
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee-2/

See the last paragraph starting: 'Please Note:'

Ah, so you're driving into the US from Canada?

I'm just looking it up, and it does say that it may actually easier to just do the ESTA online for $14 before you travel than to have to fill out the I-94W card at the border for $6, as it can cut down on the time it takes you to go through immigration when you arrive at the border (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/)

Also, if you do the $14 ESTA online, it lasts for 2 years, so you can travel to the US as many times as you like in the 2 years without having to pay again, whereas if you do the $6 I-94W card at the border, it looks like it's only valid for 90 days.

Here's the link for the information about marrying on the ESTA:
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee-2/

See the last paragraph starting: 'Please Note:'

Yeah originally. When I did this 4 years ago on my old passport I thought you needed a flight to get ESTA, but just checking their FAQ's I can get ESTA without one So yes I'll get that sorted tonight.

Ahh great and since the United Kingdom lives under the Visa-waiver Program are you suggesting I just bring that page with me, to let them know, the UK sits underneath that?

Ahh great and since the United Kingdom lives under the Visa-waiver Program are you suggesting I just bring that page with me, to let them know, the UK sits underneath that?

They will know the UK sits under the VWP,  but that's irrelevant anyway. The reason for printing the page is to show them their own rules about getting married in the US as a visitor... it applies to people from ALL countries, whether they have ESTA or a B2 visitor visa. I only linked to the page from the US Embassy in London, because you are British, so that's where you will get your information from.

The rules are (as per that page):
- if you plan to live in the US with your spouse after the wedding, you must apply for a fiance visa to move to the US first
- if you do NOT plan to live in the US after the wedding, and will return to your home country to live, you can simply marry as a visitor, either under ESTA or by applying for a B2 visitor visa.

They will know the UK sits under the VWP,  but that's irrelevant anyway. The reason for printing the page is to show them their own rules about getting married in the US as a visitor... it applies to people from ALL countries, whether they have ESTA or a B2 visitor visa. I only linked to the page from the US Embassy in London, because you are British, so that's where you will get your information from.

Got you, thank you


I was thinking about including this as another "evidence piece", but I know it has been discussed already: We have been officially together for 9 months before we got engaged. And then married in the States will officially be one year.

Is it worth including a letter from our Paster, just as a vouch for a real couple what some may consider a short time together? We did meet at least one year before we started dating, but I just don't want our short time span together so far to damage our chances.

Got you, thank you


I was thinking about including this as another "evidence piece", but I know it has been discussed already: We have been officially together for 9 months before we got engaged. And then married in the States will officially be one year.

Is it worth including a letter from our Paster, just as a vouch for a real couple what some may consider a short time together? We did meet at least one year before we started dating, but I just don't want our short time span together so far to damage our chances.

They will not consider it.  The letter will be set to the side and not read.  It won't help your case and will just waste your pastor's time.

Trust me, a UK visa is a tick box visa.  Tick the boxes and you get your visa.  You can tick the boxes, so you have nothing to worry about.  You just have to include the required documentation, pay the crazy fees, and the visa is yours. 

They will not consider it.  The letter will be set to the side and not read.  It won't help your case and will just waste your pastor's time.

Trust me, a UK visa is a tick box visa.  Tick the boxes and you get your visa.  You can tick the boxes, so you have nothing to worry about.  You just have to include the required documentation, pay the crazy fees, and the visa is yours. 

Haha okay thank you

Just the anxiety talking there I guess

Hello again folks!

Just starting to gather items now and starting with employer stuff. Please bear with me on these maybe silly questions!

1. I have my original contract, which is in a digital format and has my digital signature. Our company moved addresses and updated its logo around 4 years ago, will I add this to the employer letter that the address and logo was changed?

2. Also my digital signature has changed since then, as I didn't have a proper one when I was 23  Is this an issue? Something I should add to the employee letter? My passport now has my new (and adult!) signature, just incase they saw the two different signatures and thought it may be an issue.

2. On the original contract, it doesn't have a digital signature of our CFO, just his name. Is this okay or would it need signed?

4. The employer letter will be signed by the CEO since he is based here, and the CFO is based in Glasgow. Again is this an issue with two different signatures?

5. Is there any good examples of employer letters, or shall I just write one and share it with you all?

6. For some reason, my bank statements start on the 10th of every month (this may have been the date in which I opened the account?) So For the first month of the 6 month statements (if we apply in October), should I just enclose the back end of April's statement, which will include the first 10 days of May? Of should I just enclose the entirety of April?

7. For the payslips - I receive these as digital payslips, so if I print them and get our CEO to add his signature as proof?

Also forgot to add:

8. My payslips and the date they enter in the account do not match up due to the banking of our company. Shall I add a note to each payslip on the employment letter?

Please Note:
April 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
May 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
June 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
July 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
August 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
September 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)

Also forgot to add:

8. My payslips and the date they enter in the account do not match up due to the banking of our company. Shall I add a note to each payslip on the employment letter?

Please Note:
April 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
May 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
June 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
July 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
August 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)
September 2018 - Payment date on the payslip is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)

Rather than write all that out, it might be better to just write a blanket note to cover all the payslips, since it happens every month.

For example:
The payment date on each of the payslips is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)

Rather than write all that out, it might be better to just write a blanket note to cover all the payslips, since it happens every month.

For example:
The payment date on each of the payslips is different to the entry on the bank statements due to the clearance of funds from (company name)

Ah okay great.

There is one, which I don't know if the blanket above would cover. My June payment (scheduled for the 26th), didn't come into the bank account until 1st week of July. Think the blanket will be okay?

Also, I had some questions above ksand24 if you could help with (as you always do! )

Ah okay great.

There is one, which I don't know if the blanket above would cover. My June payment (scheduled for the 26th), didn't come into the bank account until 1st week of July. Think the blanket will be okay?

Also, I had some questions above ksand24 if you could help with (as you always do! )

Well, in that case, they could put 2 notes - one for June specifically and one for the other months.

In regards to your questions:

1. I'm not sure if it needs mentioning or not, since companies move offices/change logos all the time - this isn't a question I've ever been asked before .. I wouldn't have thought it's anything to worry about - concentrate on the important stuff (making sure your bank statements/payslips and employer letter meet the requirements).

2. Don't think it'll matter. Again, signatures can change.

3. I don't think anyone will even notice this. Remember, the contract is not a required document, it's just recommended.

4. Nope. Most people just have someone in HR write their letter! (Plus, as mentioned, the contract isn't a required document anyway)

5. Easier just to write one and post it... though, really, it should be your employer that writes it, not you! You can draft one though, so you know what needs to be included and can make sure your company includes everything required

6. You must include the FULL bank statement, so send all of April's statement.

If you're applying in October, you will need to send the following payslips (assuming you are paid at the end of each month):
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018
June 2018
July 2018
August 2018
September 2018

And the following bank statements:
10th Mar - 9th Apr
10th Apr - 9th May
10th May - 9th June
10th June - 9th July
10th July - 9th Aug
10th Aug - 9th Sept
10th Sept - 9th Oct

7. No, if the payslips are digital, they must be accompanied by:
"a letter from the employer on the employer’s headed paper and signed by a senior official, confirming the payslips are authentic"
This can be incorporated into the main employer letter, and it should state the amount and date of every payslip