South African Fiancé Visa options

[KyleCookeUK]

Hey everyone,

I will first give a small outline to our history as a couple and what we now face.

My partner is South African, we met almost two years ago while working for an American Cruise ship company. We started a relationship and since then have visited one another several times. We are engaged and we are looking for the best way to start your lives together.

Option 1: He applies for a "Marriage visitor visa" I am confused about the notice to get married when he isn't an EEA. Any advice, tips or information on this?

Option 2: I go to South Africa and we get married then we apply for a spouse visa. Any advice, tips or information on this?

If anyone has been through is going through anything similar any help or advice would be great.

I've read up a lot about both but now feel I need to hear people's stories or experiences.

Thank you so much in advance.

Kyle

[Casa]

A Marriage Visitor Visa is for someone who wishes to marry in the UK within 6 months and then leave.

You can either apply for a fiance visa to enter the UK and after marrying, apply for a FLR(M) visa from within the UK. This requires two visa applications:
Fiance visa = £1,464
+ FLR(M) visa = £993 (postal) or £1583 (in person). + £500 NHS surcharge (IHS)
Total: £2957 (postal) or £3547 (in person). Both includes the NHS surcharge.

Bear in mind that your spouse will be unable to work until the FLR(M) visa has been issued and this can take up to 3 months to process.
An in-person application submitted through a Premium Service Centre (PSC) is generally decided on the day.

OR
Marry outside of the UK and apply for a Spouse Settlement visa which requires only the one visa application.
Spouse Settlement visa = £1,464 + £600 NHS surcharge.
Total: £2064

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

[CR001]

What is your nationality (your post doesn't say and you have posted in the EEA/EU sub forum which is for non British EU citizens)?

[KyleCookeUK]

Thank you both for your replies.

I am a British citizen. Sorry I thought it meant the forum was about non EEU partners.

Could you post a link to the correct forum please?

What is the difference between the finance visa that you mentioned and the marriage visitor visa?

I also don''t meet the £18,600 but have over £40,000 in savings. I have read about using income and saving, can you shine any light on this?

Thank you again

Kyle

[CR001]

Thank you both for your replies.

I am a British citizen. Sorry I thought it meant the forum was about non EEU partners.

Could you post a link to the correct forum please? I have moved it to the correct sub forum (where it is now)

What is the difference between the finance visa that you mentioned and the marriage visitor visa? A fiance visa allows your partner to remain in the UK and switch to FLR(M) spouse visa once you are married. Fiance visa cost is £1464. Marriage visit visa is exactly that, to visit the UK for marriage/wedding and then leave. Unable to switch in the UK to a spouse visa on this one. It also only costs about £85 as it is classed as a visit visa not a settlement visa (fiance visa)

I also don''t meet the £18,600 but have over £40,000 in savings. I have read about using income and saving, can you shine any light on this? Casa will probably be online later to explain this one more but my understanding is that the first £16k savings is disregarded. What is your annual salary and how short are you from the requirement?

Thank you again

Kyle

[KyleCookeUK]

Thank you for the information. After I posted that I did some more reading online and re read the forum and now I understand.

I am a dancer that usually works outside the uk. Last tax year I earned about £13,000. This year has been bad due to me having an injury. I am now teaching as an online English teacher. This will have to be classes as self employed I presume. My wage this year will be very low as I say I have been injured and not working and using my saving.

If you get a work contract can they use this as proof of wages? For example if I work for an American Cruise line company I get paid in dollars on a at sea bank card. I claim it when I enter the UK and do my own self assessment, so would I use that or the contract?

Thank you

[CR001]

You need to provide evidence that you are 'present and settled' in the UK with payslips and bank statements (at least 6 months each) for your partner to qualify for a spouse or fiance visa. You also have to provide employment letters and proof of accommodation etc.

See immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence (click).

[KyleCookeUK]

Thank you much I can not tell you how much help this is. It would be great to get the information about how much the savings will help and if I get a land based job but it doesn't meet £18,600 if the saving will help.

Thank you again and I will wait for Casa to reply.

Kyle

[CR001]

To use the savings route only, you would need to have £62,500 held for a minimum of 6 months and it cannot be a loan.

Casa should be online after 6pm, am sure she will respond and explain for you about combining income sources.

[Casa]

You don't mention exactly how much over £40,000 savings you have. However, the calculation with £40,000 is:
£40,000 savings – £16,000 ÷ 2.5 = £9,600 (the first £16,000 in savings is discounted)
£18,600 - £9,600 = £9,000 p.a income needed to cover the shortfall in savings

Does your fiancee have savings as these can be joint

[KyleCookeUK]

Casa thank you so much. That is amazing. I couldn't fully understand the dividing by 2.5, however now after your calculations I fully understand.

I have no further questions at this time and I can't tell you both how I wish I had come here with my questions a few months ago. As I've been reading so many long and confusing pages on the gov.uk website.

Thank you again.

Kyle