Fiance visa application process

[Bouncingsoul50]

Hello there - hopefully someone can help!

My American GF and I (British citizen) are planning to get married in the UK. We're going to apply for a fiance Visa. She's currently in the UK but coming to the end of a six month stay (3 weeks left). Can she start the fiance Visa application in the UK and stay while it's processed (which obviously takes longer than 3 weeks) or does she need to return to the US? I assume she needs to return, but thought I'd check.

If she does need to return, is it possible to start the process in the UK online and pick it up again when she's back home with her local agency - which would speed things up a bit - or is it best for her to begin the application on her return home?

Can't seem to find the answer anywhere online. You guys seem to have given loads of great advice to people in similar circumstances to me, so all help welcome.

Thanks!

[CR001]

She needs to apply from the US. A fiance visa can only be applied for outside the UK.

The form asks for travel to the UK in the last 10 years, which would be difficult to answer if she is in the UK when applying as she can put a future date as date of departure.

How long did she state she was visiting when she arrived in the UK as a visitor??

[Bouncingsoul50]

Thank you for the advice. I'm not sure how long she stated she was staying. Why? Will this impact her ability to get a fiance visa?

[CR001]

If she stated 3 weeks and stayed 6 months, HO don't generally like this as she is then clearly not a visitor but residing. It should have an effect on a fiance visa though. Presumably she has not worked or used the NHS while here.

Has she visited before and stayed long, if so when??