British Citizen to marry Taiwanese Citizen: Best Solution?

[stickyfingers85]

Hello All

I am a British Citizen planning on proposing to my Taiwanese Citizen girlfriend in the next 2 weeks. As such I have started to look into what we need to do for Marriage Visas etc.

I am looking to get some advice on the best solution for my situation.

Please be kind as this is my first post.

Below I will try to list my situation below:

> Male British Citizen, living/working in France for almost 2 years, due to return to UK in November 2013. Contract and Salary is paid in the UK and over £18,600 minimum

> Female Taiwanese Citizen, living/working in Taiwan

> Relationship for almost 4 years

> Several visits to UK and Taiwan by both of us, but never lived together longer than 3 weeks at a time

> Planning to propose in September 2013 while on vacation in Spain

> Future plan is for both of us to settle in the UK

Some questions:

1) I have read conflicting information that a marriage registered in Taiwan is not recognised by the UK, is this true?

2) Is it better to apply for a Fiancé Visa and then a Marriage Visa, or get married outside the UK and go straight for the Marriage Visa?

3) We are considering getting married in Taiwan and UK, but another option would be to get married in Hong Kong. Would this make things easier for the UK Visas?

4) How long would it take to apply for and be granted/denied the Visas?

5) At which point would my fiancé/wife (depending on status in the UK) be able to work?

6) At which point would she be entitled to NHS care?

Thanks in advance for your patience and advice on this matter. I've only just started to research the best solution for us and it is all very complicated.

We don't want to end up in the situation where we are both in the UK, waiting for Visas, her unable to work, and me trying to support both of us.

Thanks

[vinny]

If you are currently working and living in France, then it may be better for you to marry her and subsequently live with her in France while you are working there. Then, afterwards, she may use the simpler EEA route to come to the UK.