Fiance/marriage/settlement Visa

[Gordons]

My Thai g/f is staying here in Scotland under her second visitor visa, which is due to expire in December.

We are travelling to Thailand in October when we plan to apply for a fiance visa. If successful we do understand that the fiance visa will start from October and the current visitor visa will become null and void.

Several quieries:

1) Can a fiance visa be multi entry?

2) Can the application for the two year extention (once married & within the 6 months), take place in the UK. Does that application require the same level of information as the fiance visa application? Is this 2 year extention application what is referred to as a "settlement visa"?

3) What are the benefits of a marriage visa compared to fiance visa (financial)?

4) Will the Embassy view marriage during the visitor visa stay unfavourably?

There may be a few more quieries that emerge , but in the meantime many thanks.

[Mahout Angrit]

The Fiancee visa date of validity can be deferred by up to 3 months if you wish.( meaning if you apply in October it can be made good for entry starting December). It will then be valid for a further 6 months.

1) No, but as it is a form of settlement visa she will be able to leave and reenter UK within its validity.

2) It does take place within the UK by applying for FLR which will give her 2 years to stay from the date that you apply. Information required when applying for FLR is mainly about proof of having lived together and based in UK for the 2 year period not financial checking as when you apply for the FV.

3) If you married in Thailand and entered UK direct with the settlement visa it would obviate the need to apply for the FLR (saving currently £395) as she would be given 2 years from the onset.

4) Not sure what you you mean here, you cannot (the registrar will not marry you)get married in UK while on a standard visitor visa

Edited September 1, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[the scouser]

Whereas a fiancé(e) visa is multi-entry, it is not valid once you have married. Consequently, if you were to marry and then travel abroad, your wife would need a spouse visa to re-enter the UK.

Secondly, after the clogging they received in the courts, the Borders and Immigration Agency have had to revise their rules on marriage in the UK. As a result, anyone may now marry in the UK, irrespective of their status, but a certificate of approval is still required. See the latest guidelines.

Scouse.