Working in UK

[Rabia Farooq]

Hi

i have got a marriage visa as Fiancee of a british citizen. I came to England at the begining of june 2006. My visa is for 6 months (from 6th March 2006 to 6th September 2006). I got married in may 2006 in Pakistan.

I want to know how long it will be before i can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the Uk?
Also, how long will it be before i am allowed to work in UK? My marriage visa states 'No work or recourse to public funds', however it doesn't mention for how long this is not allowed.

I was doing a Job in Pakistan and it is quite difficult for me to ramain idle and i want to do a job ASAP. If the period for getting indefinite leave to remain in the UK is too long, is it possible for me to get permission to work in the uk? i dont want to get any public funds, i just want to do job ASAP.
My husband is a Postmaster and is not receiving any public funds.

Any help with any of these 3 questions would be greatly appreciated.
regards,
Rabia.

[ppron747]

You need to complete and submit Form FLR(M) - available from this page on the IND website. Once your extension has been granted, you will be able to work in UK.

Up to 28 days before the expiry of the extension, you should complete and submit SET(M) - on the same page of the IND site which, when granted, will give you indefinite leave to remain in UK.

[Marie B]

Hi Rabia Farooq,

Your post is quite confusing. You say you have a 'marriage visa' as a 'fiancee' of a British Citizen, but that you actually got married in Pakistan in May?

It sounds like what you have is a fiancee visa. A fiancee visa allows the holder to travel to the UK and get married in the UK within the six month validity of the visa. Once the marriage has taken place in the UK the fiancee visa can be converted into a spouse visa by filling in the form FLR(M) and paying the fee (£500 in person, £335 by post), you do have to marry in this country and include your wedding certificate in the application. Once the fiancee visa has been converted into a spouse visa you are able to work. The spouse visa is valid for two years, up to 28 days before this visa expires you can apply for ILR by completing form SET(M) and paying the same fee. As the spouse of a BC you are able to apply for naturalisation once you have ILR and have been legally resident in the UK for a total of 3 years.

Are you planning on marrying in this country within your six month fiancee visa, i.e. before the 6th September 2006?

If not, why did you apply for a fiancee visa rather than a spouse visa when you were in Pakistan?

If you have married in this country already then you need to apply to convert your fiancee visa to a spouse visa as stated above, by filling in FLR(M), you need to submit your application before your current visa expires.

If you have not yet married, have you arranged a date for the marriage before the 6th September? If this has not yet been arranged you will have to hurry, as you will both need to give notice of intention to marry at the registry office for the area in which you live, it takes 21 days to receive your certificate of no impediment which will allow you to marry in the UK. If you apply tomorrow you will only receive your certificate of no impediment on the 4th September - get an appointment at the registry office asap!

If you were not intending to marry in this country then you should contact the Home Office directly to check whether you can apply for a spouse visa based on a marriage which took place outside of the uk. I'm uncertain as to whether this is ok or not - you may have to return to Pakistan to apply for entry clearance from there.

[ppron747]

Oops! Missed the fact that the marriage took place in Pakistan...