USA Citizen marries UK Citizen

[esmeholtom]

Hi,

I am UK Citizen and my boyfriend in from the USA. I am living and studying in the UK and he wants to join me from the USA. We are thinking about marriage.

Basically, how would we do it?

He can come here on a holiday visa but then, I understand, he will not be able to change his visa status to Spouse, if we marry here, without going back to the states. This is not ideal.

We were thinking of meeting and marrying in India. Getting married there and then coming directly to the UK and presenting the marriage certificate upon arrival. Is it as simple as that?

I know I have to be able to proove that I can support him so he doesn't need to access benefits. (SO bank statement or something)
I need to have met him(!)
I need to be over 18
I was also wondering if I have to have proof that we will have somewhere to live together. Either a letter from my parents or a contract from a land lord....

If we turned up at the UK border with the marriage certificate and proof that I had money and something to prove we have a place to live..that we are able to convince immigration that it is a genuine marriage....will they let us in as husband and wife?

Would he be able to work straight away?

WHat exactly is a genuine marriage in the eyes of immigration?

I'd appreciate any information on this as we want to know what our options are asap.

Thank you

[Wanderer]

No, he would need to formally apply for a spouse visa from the USA, possibly from India, I'd check but UK visa website is down.

No way could you do it 'at the border'.

WRT finances six months payslips and bank statements seem the norm.

He can work straight away on spouse visa.

You do have to have proof of accomodation and that it's suitable. That prrof is normally a letter from the landlord of council describing the accom. and confirming it's ok for ur new husband to live there.

Have you actually met him yet? Cos if u meet once, marry immediately and apply for a spouse visa this is where the marriage might not look genuine in the eyes of the HO.

Cheapest and best for u to marry in USA, and apply for spouse visa there. Should be a matter of days providing you meet the criteria, and his immigration history to UK is unblemished.

My only issue would be finances, as a student you might find it hard to pass the financlal test, the spouse visa alone is 500 quid and it gets dearer and dearer. You should include a budget with ur application, showing income etc to prove you can afford to live without benefits. I think you can factor in ur other halfs projected income but I'm not sure how much credence is given to it.

[avjones]

"If we turned up at the UK border with the marriage certificate and proof that I had money and something to prove we have a place to live..that we are able to convince immigration that it is a genuine marriage....will they let us in as husband and wife? "

No, they won't. He needs to get entry clearance as a spouse from the USA.

The other option, which you didn't mention, is that he can come on a fiance visa, then you marry, then he can apply within the UK for a spouse visa. He can't work on the fiance visa, but can as a spouse.

[Wanderer]

Just got on ukvisa site Amanda is correct - he can't apply for visa in India cos he's not resident there. Has to be US and A I'm afraid.