Cost for upgrading from fiancee to spouse

[DimitriosN]

Hi,

I am a British citizen and I'm currently living and working in the UK. My girlfriend has Nigerian citizenship and is currently living and working in Greece. We want to get married in the UK and then settle here.
We are considering to apply for a Fiancee visa. My question is:

The cost for a fiancee visa is currently 826 GBP but what will be the additional cost to then apply for the spouse visa, I believe it is the FLR (M), once we are married?

The other option is for her to arrange some time off, come to the UK as a visitor, get married and then she can apply from Greece when she gets back. Is this possible?

Regards

[Casa]

If you apply for the Spouse visa extension - FLR(M) by post the fee is £561, or in person at a PEO it's currently £867.
You may want to bear in mind that a postal application may take 3 months to process and your wife won't be able to work legally until the visa is granted.
In person applications (at the higher fee) are generally decided on the day.

If the Immigration officer at the point of entry believes your fiancee isn't a genuine 'visitor' and plans to marry while she is in the UK, he could refuse her. Has she successfully applied for a UK visitor visa before?

[DimitriosN]

Hi Casa,

Thanks for your quick response. So it looks like we will have to pay approx. 1700 GBP in total in visa fees.

She has been in the UK as a visitor before. It was a 6 month visa that allowed her to travel as often as she wanted (multi-entry?) and I believe expired at the end of April 2012.
She had a letter from me stating that we are partners when she applied the last time.

Regards

[Casa]

You could apply for a Marriage Visit Visa, which would mean your wife would have to return to her home country after the wedding and apply for a Spouse settlement visa from there.
When was the last time she visited the UK?

[DimitriosN]

You 've been very helpful!! I have one last (I hope) query.

I know that to get married here in the UK, for a simple Registry wedding, we will need to go and give notice then wait at least 15 days before the ceremony.

Do you know if the marriage visa is a multi-entry type? Can she come once to give notice and again later to get married? This would allow her to keep working in Greece up until her spouse visa is approved later.

Thanks again for your help and time

[Casa]

I believe it is single entry...specifically for the marriage to take place...but wait for confirmation on this.
The reason I queried when she last entered on a Visitor visa was to check whether she would exceed the maximum stay permitted...no more than 6 months in 12.

[geriatrix]

VAT6.3 What is the validity of a marriage/civil partnership visit entry clearance?

[DimitriosN]

She's only been visiting the UK for small time periods, in the 6 months her visa was valid.

She came for 2 weeks around the Christmas period and then she came to see me 3 times more but for a couple of days each time.

Thanks again for your time and I'll wait for confirmation on the Marriage visa.

Regards