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debbieolat28 · Post by **debbieolat28** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:45 am

I am a british citizen and my fiancee is nigerian. He comes regularly to UK to visit and never stayed more than 3 weeks. He has been coming here on visits for the past four and half years. We wish to get married at a registry here as I'm busy with my studies and cannot go to nigeria at the moment. Do I need a certificate of approval, can we get married in UK? After marriage and my studies, i have the intention of going to nigeria to apply for a settlement for him. Am I on the right path? Thanks for your advice.

Post by **John** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:13 am

Am I on the right path?

No! It is not appropriate for him to apply for a CoA. Even if i was granted, he would still need to go back to Nigeria to apply for his spouse visa, after the marriage has happened.

Instead, assuming the marriage is going to happen in the UK, he should apply for a fiancÃ© visa. After that is granted in Nigeria, he would fly to the UK, get married in the UK (no CoA needed), and then he would apply in the UK to convert the fiancÃ© visa into a 2-year spouse visa.

But a problem, you are studying! So how will it be shown that your fiancÃ© will not need to claim certain Public Funds in the UK? Quite specifically no work is allowed by the holder of a fiancÃ© visa, not until that is converted into a spouse visa.

Post by **vinny** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:34 am

As John stated, if you want to marry in the UK, then he may apply for a FiancÃ©(e) visa. After marriage, he may switch to spouse status on form FLR(M).

As a visitor, if he is not on a Visit for marriage or civil partnership visa, then he would need to apply for a COA, unless you plan to get married at an Anglican Church in England or Wales, after marriage banns or a religious licence. Although visitors may marry, they would have to return home and apply for spouse visas.

debbieolat28 · Post by **debbieolat28** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:24 pm

Thanks guys for your advice. I only study part time but i also work and i have a house to accomodate him. Vinny, to reiterate what you said, we can marry on his visitor's visa but we need a certificate of approval. Then i can go to nigeria to finalise the rest?

Post by **vinny** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:07 pm

It's possible. However, as you're going to Nigeria, why don't you marry him there?

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