alijaved786

Hi. I am Pakistani national and living in Germany now. I have completed my Masters studies from Germany and now working as Engineer in Germany. I have married to British citizen in December 2016 in Pakistan. I have visited UK 3 times to see my wife and my Brother and his family on Visit Visa. My wife has started to work as Pharmasict since September 2017 and I will apply for UK spouse visa in March 2017 to fullfill the bank statement requirement. My wife martial status is single in UK and I have marriagre certificate attested from Pakistan foreign ministry.
I just want to ask that Marriage certificate from Pakistan will be recognised in UK or it will cause some trouble in my spouse visa application or me and my wife need to do the registration in UK first and then apply for Spouse visa ? I just want it to be clear. Thanks in advance.

gaja00

So long as your marriage certificate is attested in Pakistan then it would be recognised in the UK. You just have to make sure you provide evidence that your relationship with your wife is genuine e.g. ticket receipts and boarding passes, communications - emails, phone records, photos of your wedding and other time spent together.

alijaved786

But my wife status is single in UK. It will not cause any issue ? She needs to change her status to married before I apply for spouse visa or its fine ?

BritInParis

If your wife married in Pakistan legally then she's married in the UK.

alijaved786

Thanks for your answer. You are right as technically she is married but my query is this, my wife didnt announce her married in City counsil. When my spouse visa application will go to embassy then visa officer is going to check my wife status and she will be unmarried as per UK record. So it will not cause any issue ?

spouse of scouse

Are you worried because your wife receives the 'single person' discount on her Council tax? As long as she was indeed the sole occupier of the property that shouldn't be a problem. Of course, she'll have to notify the Council when you move in as she'll no longer be eligible for the discount.

BritInParis

She doesn't need to have married in the UK in order for the UK to recognise the marriage. There is no way to 'register' a foreign marriage in the UK. Providing you were married legally in a Pakistan and you provide your marriage certificate then that will suffice.

alijaved786

Acctually she is living with her parents and their house is big enough to accomodate me. As I will mention that I will live with my wife in her parent's house. In this case when I will live with her parent's house and council tax is paid by my my father in law she needs to change her status before I apply ? Any other relevant information will be great. Thanks

angie_329

Council tax is paid in full ( i.e 100%) if there are two or more people living at the property so presumably your father in law, if he is living with his wife and rest of family, is paying full rate. It does not increase after two persons.

The 25 % discount is only applicable for a single occupant.

Your father in law will need to provide proof of ownership and letter of consent/ invitation or if rented, a lease/rental document with consent for you to live there from landlord or local housing authority) and a report to prove there will be no overcrowding if you are to live there.

alijaved786

Thank you very much for information.