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sharon8 · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 7

Hi,
I have been living in the UK for 2 years now on a Work permit. I got married in India last month and my husband has his ILR.

I am now planning to apply for a spouse visa as I want to move in with him. The problem is that, we only have a certificate of marriage issued to us by the Catholic church in India. The certificate has been endorsed by the parish perist and 2 witnessess. We do not have a civil marriage certificate from India.

Will the church certificate serve as adequate evidence of legal marriage when I make the application?

Will it be required for me to provide any other document confirming the legality of the marriage?

Thanks...

Lucapooka · Guru Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 6518 Location: Brasil

Is your marriage recognised and considered legal by India? Is the paperwork you have considered all that is necessary for that type of marriage. If you can't answer yes to both questions, then you have a problem. If so, it's likely you will have to have a civil marriage in the UK.

sharon8 · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 7

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply!
The marriage is considered legal in India. Will I need a document from India confirming that it is valid?

panther80 · Junior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2012 Posts: 43

Sharon8 do not worry. the certificate that you have is a valid certificate and you do not need any further documents to confirm the validity.
I got married in the Church and I also have the same certificate, but issued by the Methodist Church in India which has been signed by the Priest and two witnesses.
I got my FLR (M) approved yesterday at Croydon and I had applied for Dependant visas back in Apr 2008 on the same certificate.
Hope this helps and Best Wishes for your application

sharon8 · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 7

Hi Panther80,

Thanks so much for that post! It was of great help...

sharon8 · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 7

Hi Panther80,

I have just one query.

Did you have evidence such as a joint bank account, owning property together, having children etc, to substantiate your spouse visa application? I do not have any such evidence as I just got married last month...

Lucapooka · Guru Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 6518 Location: Brasil

Newly-married couples do not have this information and nor is it required. What you are describing would only be relevant to the unmarried partner category, where historical evidence of a two year relationship was needed.

panther80 · Junior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2012 Posts: 43

We had documents in Joint names as we have been married for the past 4 & a half years, but as you have been just married, you do not require this information as Lucapooka said.

sharon8 · Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks. That was extremely useful...

sierra · - thin ice - Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 117 Location: eu

if a marriage is recognised in country where you got married. marriage is valid in uk.

sushdmehta · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:01 am Post subject:

sushdmehta · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:06 am Post subject:

No.
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