Marrying in Malaysia & returning to UK

Hope i'm posting this in the right place. I think I am so here goes.

I am a UK citizen currently residing in the UK and my fiance is a Malaysian citizen currently residing in Malaysia. We plan to marry in Malaysia next year and then return together, along with her 11 year old child, to live permanently in the UK.

Are we right in thinking that she must apply for entry clearance for herself and her child before travelling, but also that the spouse visa must be applied for in Malaysia before we return to the UK? Can the entry clearance be applied for in advance, and how far in advance before we marry? We only have a short timescale to get it all done while I am out there. Two to three weeks at most.

Basically any information with regards to the whole process would be most helpful. We have looked online, emailed and made phonecalls, but still feel that we are going around in circles and getting nowhere

Marriage certificate is required for a spouse visa application.

Applications to settle for both will have to made in Malaysia. You can apply only when you are ready to present your evidence which, given this will include a marriage certificate, would be when that document is available to you. Have you read any of the information available on the UKBA site relating to marriage and settlement and child settlement? Otherwise, asking for any information regarding the whole process is, indeed, a tall order on a general immigration forum and would take some considerable time. I suggest you run some searches of the forum and then, having read those comments, ask any questions that you need to complete the gaps in your knowledge.

You can't apply in advance. The only thing you could maybe do is start to fill in the online application up to 7 days before but don't submit it on the last page.
Also, make sure your wife satisfies the NEW english requirements. This has been the longest wait for my husband as Cambride take about 3 months to issue their certificates.

I forgot to mention, double check any information you get from the 0870 helpline as I was given misinformation on several occasions, one of which meant my husband was refused a visit visa. And keep logs of all your calls to them.

Adelle wrote:And keep logs of all your calls to them.

Out of curiosity, how will the logs help in case of a dispute due to contradictory information? I've received lots of contradictory information too!