Marriage Visitor Visa Guidance

Hello Everyone!

A small bit of back story.... We had originally planned for my partner to come to the UK at Christmas for a few months on a Standard Visitor Visa before going abroad to get married, after which she would return to her home country, complete any necessary documents in her home country etc & apply for a Family Visa (Spouse). As the COVID situation doesn't seem to be getting any better, this option is no longer practical due to self isolation periods etc.
There is obviously the option to apply for a Family Visa (Fiancee), however if we could avoid this in the short term we'd like to, just because the processing time would mean it would be well into next year before she could come & as said, we'd like to spend Christmas/New year etc together. Her work contract also finished in December making it the perfect opportunity to visit.

We've come across the Marriage Visitor Visa which would allow us to get married in the UK rather than abroad as originally planned. She would still have to leave within 6 months after which she would apply for the Family Visa (Spouse) in her home country. There seems to be bit of a grey area we're not sure on though. In the guidelines, it states "You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if: you’re not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership" and under eligibility "You must prove that you’re: visiting the UK for less than 6 months & leaving the UK at the end of your visit".

While technically she is planning to settle in the UK, it will not be on this visa & she will be applying for this in her home country.

Can anyone advise whether, as per the rules, if it IS or IS NOT acceptable for her to apply for the Marriage Visitor Visa & if it IS, whether the person approving the visa may look on it negatively that she's applying for this rather than the Family Visa (Fiancee)?

I appreciate any answers may be some what opinion based due to the nature of the question, but any advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated!!

Apply for MVV, get it approved, come to the UK and get married, leave UK before visa lapses, apply hopefully for the Spouse visa at a later date to join the other spouse for settlement....that's what the Marriage visitor visa is for.
The fiancée visa however is for the above purpose but without need to leave UK before 6months visa lapses.

The requirements to be met are different and so far they are clearly met and backed with evidence the person approving it looking at it somehow should not come in.
However, the experience of a forum member states otherwise and your concern justified. Read below..

immigration-for-family-members/marriage ... 57530.html

Hi,

My wife and I got married in UK, with her on an MVV, so you can do it. It is fine. She will need to leave the country before 6 months ends, and then you apply for a spouse visa for her to come back and live with you in the UK.

You must prove she will return to her home country, and that the relationship is genuine and lasting, etc. It can take months and it can be hard to get it first time, mine was.

THO.

Thanks both for the replies!

THO
Was the reason it took you a while to get because it was firstly rejected, or did the first decision take a while too?
We have plenty of evidence for proof of relationship etc, the only thing which isn't concrete is the proof that she will return to her home country however, in the past when applying for Standard Visitor Visas we've booked a (refundable) return flight & submitted this as evidence which has been sufficient.
The only other thing is communication with wedding venues as we obviously didn't plan to do this in the UK, however I will be in contact with venues this week so will submit copies of that, even if we don't have a confirmed booking.

Many Thanks