I am a Chinese national language teacher. I am engaged to a man from the UK we plan to go there (to the UK ) in about 6 months and stay for between 6 months and 2 years (depending on what post-grad course my fiane does). We could get married quickly in Thailand if this made things easier. What options do we have? What would be easiest? Thanks in advance.

Jane.

If you marry you may be issued with a 2 year settlement visa subject to qualifying under the Immigration rules.

That is the cheapest option however i cannot advise you to marry just to gain entry clearance to the UK.

With a settlement visa. Would I have to stay in the UK for a certain amount of time? My fiance may study in Singapore.

A settlement visa as a spouse does seem to be the only way, although like TVE I would not advise marrying merely to get a visa; only if you are going to marry anyway.

You do not qualify as a student dependant, even if married, as your fiance is a British citizen, and visit visas would only allow you to remain in the UK for a maximum of 6 months at any one time and an overall maximum of 6 months out of any 12.

A spouse visa is valid for two years and at the end of this time, if still resident in the UK, you can apply to remain in the UK for a further 2 years or indefinitely (there are certain requirements to be met for each, and the fees for both are high!). During this two years you can leave and re-enter the UK as often and for as long as you wish, but may have problems with obtaining indefinite leave to remain if you spent more time out of the UK than in.