Marriage to Chinese National

[FreddieEddit]

Dear all

Today I married my partner of 3 years + in a civil ceremony. She is a Chinese national and I am a British Citizen.

I have several questions if you could all help me deal with. She is currently on her PSW, final year - expiring in April 2012. Prior to this she was studying at a University in the UK for a masters.

What I would like to know is what is the next step for us, if our goal is to of course remain together in the UK. She is not looking for British Citizenship but just leave to remain. Do I now need to have her Visa switched to spousal visa or further leave to remain etc?

Also she has decided to take my surname but to keep her previous (maiden name) as a middle name rather than double barrelled. What are the implications of this, do we need to notify immigration, chinese embassy, passport, bank accounts etc?

Please advise me of what changes she needs to put in effect.

Best wishes and thanks for all those who contribute.

[vinny]

After marriage, she may apply from inside the UK.

[John]

FreddieEddit, your wife should make the application for a 2-year spouse visa, using form FLR(M), without delay. Absolutely no need to wait until near the end of her current visa.

The sooner she has her spouse visa, the sooner she will get her ILR two years alter.

Change of name on marriage? I suspect the starting point in that is to get a new Chinese passport in her new name, then to notify bank, GPs surgery, etc etc..

[FreddieEddit]

FreddieEddit, your wife should make the application for a 2-year spouse visa, using form FLR(M), without delay. Absolutely no need to wait until near the end of her current visa.

The sooner she has her spouse visa, the sooner she will get her ILR two years alter.

Change of name on marriage? I suspect the starting point in that is to get a new Chinese passport in her new name, then to notify bank, GPs surgery, etc etc..

Thank you John, this was the info I was looking for.

Do I apply for the spouse visa first, or should I apply for the change of name on passport first?

In order to change name I was told by the chinese embassy that should we need to bring in person her passport, my passport and our marriage certificate. As I said do I do this before or after we apply for the spousal visa?

Also do I need to contact immigration or international police to update her status? As she needs to register with the police when she moves to different location or change of circumstances etc?

Thanks in advance

[Joppa]

Thank you John, this was the info I was looking for.

Do I apply for the spouse visa first, or should I apply for the change of name on passport first?

You can do either but getting a passport in new name means the FLR will be entered in it and there will be no need to carry both passports.

In order to change name I was told by the chinese embassy that should we need to bring in person her passport, my passport and our marriage certificate. As I said do I do this before or after we apply for the spousal visa?

As I said, best to do this before appling for FLR.

Also do I need to contact immigration or international police to update her status? As she needs to register with the police when she moves to different location or change of circumstances etc?

You notify UKBA when applying for FLR, though there is no statutory need to do so if she is continuing on her current visa for the time being. She can report change of details to the police after getting her FLR.

[FreddieEddit]

Thank you John, this was the info I was looking for.

Do I apply for the spouse visa first, or should I apply for the change of name on passport first?

You can do either but getting a passport in new name means the FLR will be entered in it and there will be no need to carry both passports.

In order to change name I was told by the chinese embassy that should we need to bring in person her passport, my passport and our marriage certificate. As I said do I do this before or after we apply for the spousal visa?

As I said, best to do this before appling for FLR.

Also do I need to contact immigration or international police to update her status? As she needs to register with the police when she moves to different location or change of circumstances etc?

You notify UKBA when applying for FLR, though there is no statutory need to do so if she is continuing on her current visa for the time being. She can report change of details to the police after getting her FLR.

Thank you Joppa.

So I have just contacted the police to update martial status, due to her certificate of registration containing a note that says any changes to the following things... you need to notify the international police. So I have now done so, but I will need to send a copy of marriage certificate and her certificate of registration to the international police.

Are you sure I do not need to contact immigration or the UK Border Agency in regards to our change in circumstances?

So now the plan is to change her name on passport. By this I was told by the Chinese Embassy that they will add a note which stipulates that so and so will now also be known as name2. Subsequently I apply for the marriage/spouse visa, correct? FLR (Further Leave to Remain) is the same as marriage/spouse visa right?

Do you know what evidence, costs etc I need to incur?

Thanks in advance

[Joppa]

So I have just contacted the police to update martial status, due to her certificate of registration containing a note that says any changes to the following things... you need to notify the international police. So I have now done so, but I will need to send a copy of marriage certificate and her certificate of registration to the international police.

Are you sure I do not need to contact immigration or the UK Border Agency in regards to our change in circumstances?

Certain changes for certain visas need to be notified, such as marriage breakdown if you are on a spouse visa, loss of employment if you are on a sponsored work visa and so on. Marriage as such if you are on another visa doesn't have to be, but they will soon find out when she applies for her FLR (switching).

So now the plan is to change her name on passport. By this I was told by the Chinese Embassy that they will add a note which stipulates that so and so will now also be known as name2. Subsequently I apply for the marriage/spouse visa, correct? FLR (Further Leave to Remain) is the same as marriage/spouse visa right?

Yes. Visa or entry clearance (EC) is one you apply for outside UK, and leave such as further leave to remain (FLR) is one you get while you are living/staying in UK. FLR(M) is the form she has to complete.

Do you know what evidence, costs etc I need to incur?

Look at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... documents/.
Download Form FLR(M) and Guide on http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... ing-in-uk/.
Fee is £550 by post or £850 for same-day premium service, which I recommend or else you will be kept waiting for weeks and months.