Marriage in the US and return to UK
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4
Marriage in the US and return to UK
Many thanks for these forums - really useful and much appreciated.
I (a Brit) live in the UK with my fiancee (US Citizen) who is here on a student nurse visa (soon to be turned into a work permit and visa through the highly skilled migrants programme). Later this year we intend to tie the knot in Baltimore, MD.
I have read on these forums that I can enter and leave the US to do this on the visa waiver programme. The only trouble is I can not find anything in the US Embassy or State Dept sites on visa programmes that says this is ok. Does anyone has a reference to set my mind at ease, or am I better off getting a B-2 visa.
Secondly is the issue of our return to the UK. I think it's easy enough to book an appointment at the Consular in NY and get a spouse visa. However, she intends to take my last name so we would also need a new passport. Anyone any experience with this or are we best off leaving the passport as is and getting this changed and the visa transferred to a new passport when we are back in the UK? I also plan to take her on a honeymoon in the Caribbean before coming back to the UK - are we setting ourselves up for too much hassel between the wedding and honeymoon? Any help and advice gratefully received.
Regards,
Niggles.
I (a Brit) live in the UK with my fiancee (US Citizen) who is here on a student nurse visa (soon to be turned into a work permit and visa through the highly skilled migrants programme). Later this year we intend to tie the knot in Baltimore, MD.
I have read on these forums that I can enter and leave the US to do this on the visa waiver programme. The only trouble is I can not find anything in the US Embassy or State Dept sites on visa programmes that says this is ok. Does anyone has a reference to set my mind at ease, or am I better off getting a B-2 visa.
Secondly is the issue of our return to the UK. I think it's easy enough to book an appointment at the Consular in NY and get a spouse visa. However, she intends to take my last name so we would also need a new passport. Anyone any experience with this or are we best off leaving the passport as is and getting this changed and the visa transferred to a new passport when we are back in the UK? I also plan to take her on a honeymoon in the Caribbean before coming back to the UK - are we setting ourselves up for too much hassel between the wedding and honeymoon? Any help and advice gratefully received.
Regards,
Niggles.
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
Many thanks for these forums - really useful and much appreciated.
I (a Brit) live in the UK with my fiancee (US Citizen) who is here on a student nurse visa (soon to be turned into a work permit and visa through the highly skilled migrants programme). Later this year we intend to tie the knot in Baltimore, MD.
I have read on these forums that I can enter and leave the US to do this on the visa waiver programme. The only trouble is I can not find anything in the US Embassy or State Dept sites on visa programmes that says this is ok. Does anyone has a reference to set my mind at ease, or am I better off getting a B-2 visa.
Secondly is the issue of our return to the UK. I think it's easy enough to book an appointment at the Consular in NY and get a spouse visa. However, she intends to take my last name so we would also need a new passport. Anyone any experience with this or are we best off leaving the passport as is and getting this changed and the visa transferred to a new passport when we are back in the UK? I also plan to take her on a honeymoon in the Caribbean before coming back to the UK - are we setting ourselves up for too much hassel between the wedding and honeymoon? Any help and advice gratefully received.
Regards,
Niggles.
I (a Brit) live in the UK with my fiancee (US Citizen) who is here on a student nurse visa (soon to be turned into a work permit and visa through the highly skilled migrants programme). Later this year we intend to tie the knot in Baltimore, MD.
I have read on these forums that I can enter and leave the US to do this on the visa waiver programme. The only trouble is I can not find anything in the US Embassy or State Dept sites on visa programmes that says this is ok. Does anyone has a reference to set my mind at ease, or am I better off getting a B-2 visa.
Secondly is the issue of our return to the UK. I think it's easy enough to book an appointment at the Consular in NY and get a spouse visa. However, she intends to take my last name so we would also need a new passport. Anyone any experience with this or are we best off leaving the passport as is and getting this changed and the visa transferred to a new passport when we are back in the UK? I also plan to take her on a honeymoon in the Caribbean before coming back to the UK - are we setting ourselves up for too much hassel between the wedding and honeymoon? Any help and advice gratefully received.
Regards,
Niggles.
Sorry, I have no idea re. the UK half of things.
#3
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...rriage-us.html
"If you will travel to the United States to marry and return to your permanent residence abroad, you will require a tourist (B-2) visa, or if eligible may travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, if you intend taking up permanent residence after the marriage ceremony, you will require a fiancée (K-1) visa."
"If you will travel to the United States to marry and return to your permanent residence abroad, you will require a tourist (B-2) visa, or if eligible may travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, if you intend taking up permanent residence after the marriage ceremony, you will require a fiancée (K-1) visa."
#4
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
However, she intends to take my last name so we would also need a new passport. Anyone any experience with this or are we best off leaving the passport as is and getting this changed and the visa transferred to a new passport when we are back in the UK?
I also plan to take her on a honeymoon in the Caribbean before coming back to the UK - are we setting ourselves up for too much hassel between the wedding and honeymoon?
You might want to check out uk-yankee.com for others who are going or have been through this process.
Best of luck!
#5
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
This is what we did. VWP is fine. I didn't tell the POE officer I was getting married, but then he never asked. Always tell the truth and documents to back up that you intend to live in the UK doesn't hurt*.
Your wife doesn't need to change her passport right away. You can do it later in the UK and all that happens is that she'll get a stamp saying her name has changed. There's no need to get the visa transferred unless the passport is expiring.
If you don't leave enough time between getting married and your flights out of there you could have problems. After getting married, you'll need to get your marriage certificate certified by the local government office. Then you take that and all the documents required for a UK Spousal visa to the British consulate and she should get her UK visa the same day. (* the documents you need here should be all the evidence a POE officer needs)
We flew to our honeymoon prior to returning home and had way too much luggage with us!
Your wife doesn't need to change her passport right away. You can do it later in the UK and all that happens is that she'll get a stamp saying her name has changed. There's no need to get the visa transferred unless the passport is expiring.
If you don't leave enough time between getting married and your flights out of there you could have problems. After getting married, you'll need to get your marriage certificate certified by the local government office. Then you take that and all the documents required for a UK Spousal visa to the British consulate and she should get her UK visa the same day. (* the documents you need here should be all the evidence a POE officer needs)
We flew to our honeymoon prior to returning home and had way too much luggage with us!
#8
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
don't need a new passport, a copy of marriage certificate would do with the passport.
#11
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
Hey guys and galls,
Thanks so much for the constructive replies. Please keep them coming.
Niggles.
PS. I still have a valid A2 visa - does this make a difference. Should I enter on this?
Thanks so much for the constructive replies. Please keep them coming.
Niggles.
PS. I still have a valid A2 visa - does this make a difference. Should I enter on this?
#12
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
Getting married on the VWP is fine. You just have to provide the POE officer (if he asks) for enough evidence that you intend to return to the UK. Getting a B-2 visa would not help imo. A visa is not a guarantee to be allowed to enter - the same issues would exist.
Sorry, I have no idea re. the UK half of things.
Sorry, I have no idea re. the UK half of things.
(PS - don't mention any of this to anyone else on BE - they get very P-O'd at the thought of anybody getting in without spending ten years worrying and ten grand in the process - you didn't hear it from me though - wink wink)
#13
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
Thanks - but thats the thing - we do plan to come to back to the UK as I am employed and happy and so is my bride (come June 1st).
Please - no more dodgy tips - You can tell from the A2 visa that I am 'by the book' - so, any one have any doc evidence or is it all 'depends on your circumstances- or 'subject to restrictions'?
Cheers,
Niggles out.
Please - no more dodgy tips - You can tell from the A2 visa that I am 'by the book' - so, any one have any doc evidence or is it all 'depends on your circumstances- or 'subject to restrictions'?
Cheers,
Niggles out.
#14
Re: Marriage in the US and return to UK
Thanks - but thats the thing - we do plan to come to back to the UK as I am employed and happy and so is my bride (come June 1st).
Please - no more dodgy tips - You can tell from the A2 visa that I am 'by the book' - so, any one have any doc evidence or is it all 'depends on your circumstances- or 'subject to restrictions'?
Please - no more dodgy tips - You can tell from the A2 visa that I am 'by the book' - so, any one have any doc evidence or is it all 'depends on your circumstances- or 'subject to restrictions'?
Only show docs if asked specifically, otherwise just answer briefly whatever they ask.
Rene