Marry in Thailand or UK?

[scclarke]

Background: lived / worked in Bangkok for 12 months, Jan-Dec 2013. Met my Thai girlfriend May 2013. Before I moved back to the UK, we decided that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, and that our future would be in the UK. She works for Emirates in Bangkok, good job, great English, educated, perfect.

We applied for and were granted a UK visit visa for her, and she spent just over 3 weeks in the UK during April this year. I have just got back to the UK after spending 2 and a half weeks with her in Thailand. During my recent visit, we had our engagement ceremony in her home town, with her family and friends.

We are now beginning the process for her longer term visa: CE KET English test booked for 9th August. Chest X-Ray to be arranged. Document gathering well underway.

We initially thought the best way would be to apply for a fiancé visa, and get married in the UK. However, talking earlier today, and looking at timescales apart, etc, we discussed whether it would be better for me to travel to Thailand in, say, October, get married there with simple civil wedding, and then make the application for a spouse visa instead of a fiancé visa.

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the relative merits of the 2 options? What are current timescales for applications? Do they differ? Can my wife-to-be work in the UK on a fiancé visa? (Info I have is that she cannot). One benefit I can see is that the spouse visa route means one less FLR visa required, is this the case?

Really welcome any thoughts / info on the above.

Thanks in advance.

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[ajb1985]

Cheaper to get wed in Thailand mate. And one less visa application to do.

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[theoldgit]

Really up to you, what sort of wedding do you want, a quick and simple, inexpensive, procedure at a desk following which you are legally married, or a more expensive, possibly drawn out, procedure back in the UK?

The wedding in Thailand involves some paperwork followed by some form filling at the local Amphur after which you are legally married, but with no niceties, a wedding in the UK requires more planning, can be more expensive but some people prefer it, as they say "up to you".

If you just want to ensure you are legally married, then I'd plump for the Thai version.

Either way, good luck for the future.

[scclarke]

Thanks for the responses so far. From a pure practical point of view, Thailand does appear to be the easiest location. Wondered if anyone knows current wait times for the different visa types (fiancé v spouse)? Also, definitive confirmation of visa flow: ie. if fiancé, 1. Fiancé visa, 2. FLR in UK after x months, 3. Additional FLR in UK, 4. ILR application. Compared to spouse visa. Thanks! :-)

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[theoldgit]

This pinned topic will give you an idea about the process http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/524561-uk-settlement-visa-basics/

Also this long running thread is used to discuss current waiting times of individual members http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/553269-uk-settlement-visa-application-waiting-times-bangkok/

[7by7]

A fiancé visa and a spouse visa are both types of settlement visa. The processing time is the same.

As are the requirements; except for a spouse visa you need to show that you are married, whereas with a fiancé visa you need to show that you will marry within the 6 month validity of the visa.

With a spouse visa she can work immediately she enters the UK. With a fiancé visa she cannot work until after the marriage and she has FLR.

For more details, see the pinned topic linked to by theoldgit above.

[RAZZELL]

My wife got a fiancee visa and we married about 6 weeks after she arrived in the UK, got a job within 3 months. The admin here was all pretty painless really. Now jumped through all the hoops and got a British passport and a decent job.

If a fiancee visa she could apply asap - waiting until October plus decision time and you are talking maybe Christmas/New Year?

Getting married in Thailand you might save one visa cost but you have to fly to Thailand to do it...plus I can't see you not having a big party

P.S. Whereabouts are you going to live?

RAZZ

Edited July 25, 2014 by RAZZELL

[7by7]

Indeed, one does have to weigh the cost of a flight to Thailand against the cost of an extra FLR application.

But if the OP is going to go to Thailand anyway, it makes sense to me to marry whilst there and for her to apply as a spouse.

scclarke; you've been given the options; it's now your decision.

[scclarke]

Indeed! Options are there, so plenty to dwell on. First thoughts now are marry in Thailand, application for spouse visa.

Marital home will be near Manchester. Hopeful of a transfer with Emirates for my wife-to-be, so would retain travel benefits.

Thanks so much for your comments. This forum is an invaluable resource, covering all things Thai-related, and I continue to browse and learn each week. Well done mods / contributors!

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[bobrussell]

If your partner is flying back and forth there is the marriage visit visa option. A cheap visa but obviously has the disadvantage that it is necessary to return to the home country to apply for a settlement visa.

No need for an expensive extra FLR so allows a relatively inexpensive option if you wish to marry here and return to Thailand. Might have a little work to do convincing the ECO that the applicant will return before the expiry of the visa!

We did this because of timing with our daughters school year in Thailand so she could finish the term. Not suitable for all but is a further option!

[scclarke]

Thanks bobrussell. She's not cabin crew, so not travelling back and forth, therefore don't believe this would be suitable.

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