Skream

Hello and thank you for reading this post.

In 2018 I moved from the UK (British citizen) to the US for work and met my fiance who is an American citizen, long story short I felt I couldn't continue to live in the US and wanted a return to the UK, fortunately my fiance is very fond of the UK and agreed with the move.

I left the US earlier this year to take a new job offer back in the UK and to set up the foundations of us moving to live here which is nearly complete, she has remained in the US since with some trips every few months. It's now coming to the time to think of her move and the correct way to do so.

Ideally she would move and we would be able to get married at a registry office 'quickly' within a few weeks of her being in the UK and then proceed for her to get a permanent residency visa so she can start work.

Would it be best for her to enter the UK with a marriage VISA and then once married start the Spouse visa process?

BritInParis

If you wish your fiancée to move to the UK, marry and then apply to stay then she’ll need a fiancée visa. As a US citizen she can travel to the UK to marry you without a visa but she would need to return to the US to apply for her spouse visa. Alternatively you could marry in any country other than the UK, including the US, and she could apply for her spouse visa from the US afterwards.

Skream

Thank you for the response, does she not require a marriage visa to get married in a registry office here? https://www.gov.uk/marriage-visa

SanDiegogirl

The link you are quoting is for a Marriage visitor visa ie. for someone who wants to marry in the UK and then intends leaving afterwards.

What you require is what is commonly called a 'fiance visa' - which allows one to enter the UK, get married and then immediately apply for a spouse visa from within the UK. It's an expensive way to go, as you pay visa fees twice (one for the initial visa and then for the spouse visa)

You apply using the following website:

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

BritInParis

The Home Office would prefer it but you are not prevented from marrying.

https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships

Skream

Thank you both for the guidance, fiance visa looks the way to go.