Post
by sakura » Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:19 pm
Like Wanderer mentioned, if you want to marry in the UK, you need a fiancee visa, valid for 6 months. This allows her to come to the UK but NOT work at all. Yes, she cannot work at all on a fiancee visa (better marry quickly, then!). Go to the BIA/IND website (same thing, they just changed names) and download the application for a fiancee visa.
Once here, you are normally given 6 months to marry. You need to apply for a Certificate of Approval (CoA) to marry in the UK (well, I'm not 100% sure, but I think you need that on top of your fiancee visa), which gives non-EEA nationals the right to marry in the UK. Yes - all non-EEA nationals wishing to marry in the UK needs government approval! ("so immigration rules aren't all that lax afterall!" you're thinking, right!?). This CoA is needed for any legal marriage - whether in a CoE (Church of England - they recently changed the rules), or a registry office.
Before her fiancee visa expires, and once you get married, you apply for a two-year spouse visa, in-country (i.e. no need to leave the UK). With this 2-year visa, she can work any type of job she likes (full-time, part-time, temping, etc), or study (but will have to pay "International" fees). She cannot claim public funds (but you can claim as an individual, provided you are 'settled' - i.e. have permanent residency here or are a British Citizen).
Looking further down the line - before her spouse visa expires, she can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), providing she passes the Life in the UK test. Also - you two must still be in a relationship/marriage and be living as a married couple, in order for her to apply after the 2 years).
If you get married in the US (or elsewhere) - you need to check whether or not you need permission. As for visa processing times (spouse visa), I don't know about that.
Someone else can jump in to clarify if I've gone wrong.
