Why You Need To Apply For Marriage Visitor Visa

You must apply for a UK marriage visitor visa if you want to go to the UK to get married, register a civil partnership, or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership. Get in touch with us so we can help you in applying for your marriage visa and make sure everything goes as planned. 

About UK Marriage Visitor Visa

Coming to the UK to Get a Wedding

You cannot get married, or create a civil partnership while travelling to the UK on a regular visitor visa; instead, you must apply for a marriage visitor visa. Additionally, while you are in the UK on a visiting visa, including a marriage visitor visa, you are not permitted to apply for any other visas. 

If you plan on travelling to the UK to get married and return home within six months of your arrival, you can apply for this type of visa. If you plan to stay in the UK permanently, you cannot apply for a visitor visa. 

You should apply for a fiancé visa rather than a marriage visitor visa to get married in the UK before applying for another visa. You cannot apply for another visa in the UK if you are here on a visitor visa; you must leave before your six months visitor visa expires. Those who want to stay in the UK should not apply for a visiting visa. 

UK Fiance Visa vs UK Marriage Visitor Visa

You can travel to the UK to get married using a UK marriage visitor visa. You can get married in the UK with a marriage visitor and a UK fiance visa, but there is a big difference. Both visas are good for six months. 

With a fiance visa, you can apply for a spouse visa after marriage, which is impossible with a marriage visitor visa. Fiance visas are created for anyone married in the UK to move permanently. You usually apply for a spouse visa when your UK fiance visa expires, and after five years in the UK, you might then apply for permanent residence. 

On the other hand, marriage visas only grant you access to the UK for a brief time. You must then depart the country. A spouse visa or extension cannot be applied for from the UK. 

Experienced solicitors of My Legal Services can assist you if you’re unsure which visa is ideal. We can help you choose the appropriate visa and support your visa application process. It means you can confidently move forward, knowing everything has been done correctly. 

How to Apply for a UK Marriage Visitor Visa

General Requirements:

If you fulfil the following criteria, you can apply for this kind of visa and go to the UK to get married, register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage. Applicants for marriage visitor visas in the UK must be: 

• Minimum age of 18. 
• Within six months of being in the UK, you can give marriage notice, get married, or form a civil partnership. 
• Less than a year’s stay in the UK. 
• Departing from the UK after your visit. 
• You can maintain yourself without a job or assistance from the government (or being supported and housed by family or friends). 
• Able to pay for your return or future journey. 
• Not travelling to a destination other than the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands. 

Proof of Your Relationship 

You have to prove the validity of your relationship if you intend to travel to the UK to provide notice of a marriage or civil partnership, get hitched, or establish a civil partnership. The Home Office must be convinced of the following: 

• A civil partnership or marriage is fully intended, as is the intention to provide notice of either. 
• Do not plan to announce or finalise an erroneous marriage or civil partnership. 
• We can advise you on the type of proof you want and what to anticipate during interviews. 

Required Documents

The following documents are also required to support your marriage guest visa UK application: 

• An official travel document, such as a passport, is now valid. 
• As you won’t have access to public funding, you must provide proof that you can maintain yourself throughout your journey, such as the last six months’ worth of work stubs or bank statements. 
• Proof of your relationship’s plans, such as papers outlining your desired living arrangements, is required. 
• Information about potential accommodations and any travel schedules. 

If you have them, the following additional documents could strengthen your application further: 

• Your marriage or civil partnership in detail, together with documentation of any related expenses.
• Booking confirmations or emails from the venue are acceptable forms of documentation for your wedding arrangements in the UK.

Conclusion:

You cannot apply for an extension or another visa in the UK if you entered on a married visitor visa. You must first return to your home country to apply for a new visa, and then you can do so using the most appropriate visa. You cannot travel back to the UK until you get a fresh, valid visa. The best long-term or permanent visa for you will depend on your circumstances and background. 

Our skilled solicitors can provide you with guidance at every stage. To speak with a staff member, just contact us or ask for a callback at a time that works for you.