Getting Married To A UK Citizen Abroad- What Do We Need???

[Jojo2020]

Hi there, I am currently in the UK on a Post Study Work Visa. My fiance is a UK citizen, and I am not.

We plan to get married, and we know everything we need to do if we get married in the UK, ie get Certificate of Approval etc. But, we are planning to get married abroad.

It appears difficult to find information about if we need permission from the Home Office to do this.

The plan is to go away on holiday, get married and come back. I should be able to come back in to the UK, as my Post Study Visa will still be valid and then once in, apply for the 2 year marriage Visa.

I remember reading a while back that my fiance needs to tell the UKBA/Home Office that they are going abroad to get married, is this correct???

Do we still need the Cert of Approval if we get married abroad???

What are the ins and outs of doing it abroad???

Can anyone help??? I would be so happy if you could let me know.

Cheers!!!

[John]

I remember reading a while back that my fiance needs to tell the UKBA/Home Office that they are going abroad to get married, is this correct???

No, that proposal was never proceeded with.

Do we still need the Cert of Approval if we get married abroad???

No!

What are the ins and outs of doing it abroad???

It cuts out the hassle of getting the CoA!

[Jojo2020]

Cheers John, I appreciate it mate.

So, is it as simple as going abroad, get married come back in on my Post Study Visa, then fill out the forms for the 2 year marriage visa???

It seems too simple John, or is it indeed that simple???

[Plum70]

Hi there, I am currently in the UK on a Post Study Work Visa. My fiance is a UK citizen, and I am not.

It would have been a first if you were a BC on a UK work visa!

We plan to get married, and we know everything we need to do if we get married in the UK, ie get Certificate of Approval etc. But, we are planning to get married abroad.

COA not required for marriage outside of the UK

The plan is to go away on holiday, get married and come back. I should be able to come back in to the UK, as my Post Study Visa will still be valid and then once in, apply for the 2 year marriage Visa.

Save yourself the trouble and apply for a spouse visa after your marriage and before you return to the UK. This will need to be done from your country of origin/residence and to the best of my knowledge, you cannot switch in-country from a work visa to a spouse visa.

[Jojo2020]

Hey Plum, I live in the UK, so it wouldn't make sense to get married on holiday and then go to the other side of the world to apply from there after getting married.

If you can't switch from a work visa to marriage visa, as you say, then how do people who get married in the UK change from their work visa to a spouse visa???

[Plum70]

It depends...

1. Some get married to EU nationals under EU law and therefore are free to switch in country.

2. Some get married to UK nationals and then return home to apply for a spouse visa

3. Some get married and are able to switch in-country where there are exceptional circumstances that allow the secretary of state take decisions outside of the immigration rules.

See this link: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partn ... lpartners/, it appears that you may be able to switch in-country. Some time in the past this wasn't allowed.

Do some thorough research of your own as well...

[Jojo2020]

That link says "Page Not Found"

[Jojo2020]

But surely, if you are in the UK, living and working, you can get married and apply within the UK for the marriage visa.

Surely you don't have to go back to your country of origin to apply, that makes little sense if you live and work in the UK already.

[ElenaW]

Cheers John, I appreciate it mate.

So, is it as simple as going abroad, get married come back in on my Post Study Visa, then fill out the forms for the 2 year marriage visa???

It seems too simple John, or is it indeed that simple???

Yes it is this simple. A switch is possible from post study visa to flr(m).

[Jojo2020]

Bump....

Anymore experts with some advice out there???

[ElenaW]

Bump....

Anymore experts with some advice out there???

Just read the UKBA guidance pages. No need for experts then.

[Plum70]

I 2nd that. A lot of the questions asked in this forum can be found with a bit of personal effort.

[Jojo2020]

Hey guys, I am well read up on the UKBA website, but I can't seem to find any information about getting married abroad and the ins and outs of it. There is plenty of guidance about getting married in the UK, but not so much about doing it abroad, coming back, and applying. Especially with my case.

If you have any good links please post them here for me.

[Plum70]

Use the link I posted but take out the 'comma' at the end. That's what's bringing up the error msg.

[ElenaW]

Hey guys, I am well read up on the UKBA website, but I can't seem to find any information about getting married abroad and the ins and outs of it. There is plenty of guidance about getting married in the UK, but not so much about doing it abroad, coming back, and applying. Especially with my case.

If you have any good links please post them here for me.

There are no ins and outs to getting married abroad as far as the uk goes. You need to do research on whatever country you will be marrying in. The UK has nothing to do with it. When you come back you can come back on your current visa then do an in-country switch. It's simple. Don't complicate things.