Ancestral visa dependent route

[allofthekittens]

Hi guys,

I am residing in the UK on an ancestral visa (been here for over a year), and my fiance is residing in the USA, she is a US citizen. We are hoping to get married in the UK later this year, and are hoping to get her onto my ancestral visa as a dependent.

Does anybody know what the smoothest route for this would be? Most of the information says that she should get a 'Marriage Visitors Visa' to give notice and get married, and then she should return to the USA and apply to be a dependent on my visa from there.
Or is it possible to get a fiance visa so that she can stay, and then apply to convert that into a dependency visa? Not sure what is possible.

Any information would be appreciated!!! Desperate to have my lady back in my space permanently!

[CR001]

Does anybody know what the smoothest route for this would be? Most of the information says that she should get a 'Marriage Visitors Visa' to give notice and get married, and then she should return to the USA and apply to be a dependent on my visa from there.

Correct yes. On a marriage visitor visa, it is not possible to switch to any other visa category within the UK.

Or is it possible to get a fiance visa so that she can stay, and then apply to convert that into a dependency visa? Not sure what is possible.

She doesn't qualify for a Fiance visa as you are not settled or British.

Wherever you marry, she has to apply for the dependent visa from her home country.

[allofthekittens]

Thanks for the information!

I have been reading some horrors stories about visa refusals for the MVV based on lack of evidence that the partner is not intending to stay in the UK permanently on the visa. Since i am residing in the UK full time and she is planning to stay working in the USA until the end of the year, what is the best way to go about proving that she will return to the USA after marriage? Will a letter from her current part time employer, proof of her family ties, proof of interviews with full time employers in the US, and her return tickets showing she is visiting for a short stay to give notice be enough?

She has previously been in the UK on two study visas for a year abroad as well as doing her masters degree (how we met) and we have reasonable proof of relationship with photos, chat logs, holiday bookings together.

Really hoping to have the MVV be a smooth process - so any help regarding what could guarantee the visa would be amazing.

[physicskate]

her return tickets showing she is visiting for a short stay to give notice be enough?

How short a visit? Where are you planning on getting married? Scotland, England etc...? Are you aware of the notice requirements for getting married in the UK??

I would suggest you marry in the USA, as you can travel on an ESTA to marry there, and notice periods are a day or two generally (but vary by state), as opposed to the very onerous notice restrictions in the UK.

[allofthekittens]

Hey physicskate,

She will probably come for 10 days (pending MVV approval) to give notice so that she is here for 8 days and then giving notice on the 9th. I have her bank statements delivered to my address from her UK account which according to the register office could count as valid proof of address for her. Intending to get married in London, planning to give notice in may and then married in august if all goes to plan.

Unfortunately I was denied a visa to visit the USA as i "couldn't prove my ties to the UK" since I am on a visa to be here, even though i had proof of my full time employment and family ties. I am hoping to reapply as I would love to be able to go visit my fiance a few times while she is there.

It would be great to sort the legal marriage out in the USA nice and quickly, if they would only allow me through the border!

[physicskate]

Hey physicskate,

She will probably come for 10 days (pending MVV approval) to give notice so that she is here for 8 days and then giving notice on the 9th. I have her bank statements delivered to my address from her UK account which according to the register office could count as valid proof of address for her. Intending to get married in London, planning to give notice in may and then married in august if all goes to plan.

Unfortunately I was denied a visa to visit the USA as i "couldn't prove my ties to the UK" since I am on a visa to be here, even though i had proof of my full time employment and family ties. I am hoping to reapply as I would love to be able to go visit my fiance a few times while she is there.

It would be great to sort the legal marriage out in the USA nice and quickly, if they would only allow me through the border!

If marrying, generally you have to give 28 days' notice? It can be increased up to 70 days if one (or both) of you are not settled... This is not the case in Scotland - I asked where you plan on marrying but you didn't say.

https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-part ... n-national

[allofthekittens]

Intending to get married in England (London). I am mostly just looking for any tips on what we can provide to guarantee the Marriage Visitor Visa application goes through.
I believe she has to be in the country for 8 days and then we can give notice of intent to marry, then she can go back to the USA during the 28 day period after that and then go ahead and come back to get married.