Catch 22 A marriage of convenience

[Please help]

I am a UK citizen and want to marry my South African fiancee. She has been rejected two Visitor's Visas and so I am terrified of the power and discretion of Immigration Officers. We are currently trying to put together a watertight application for a spouse visa. I have spent over a month contemplating whether I am absolutely sure I want to spend the rest of my life with this woman and my answer is yes but I do want us to live in the UK together. My question is this

- How do I prove that my marriage is not one of convenience?

Obviously, had the world been a fairer place and allowed us to live and work together without her becomming an illegal immigrant then we may not have married, or even considered it, for a few more years but I do intend to live as husband and wife with her for the rest of my life, I have a good financial record, we are of the right age , I own my own flat but I am absolutely paranoid that they will reject our application on the basis of it being a marriage of convenience. Of course its convenient, it's the only way I can be with the woman that I love!! Please advise me.

[jimquk]

Hi.

Presumably you have evidence of having physically met? This is a requirement. The more evidence of your connection, photos, correspondance, etc the better. Remembr that if your application is refused, you can appeal to the court, where you will have an opportunity to convince the judge about the genuineness of your relationship.

Why was she refused for her visitor visa? And if she is under thirty, she could apply to come as a Working Holidaymaker, to give you more chance to get to know one another and to build up relationship evidence if this is thin. Be careful, though, they will refuse the WHM visa if they think the real purpose is to eventually marry and stop on here.

Another possiblility might be an ancestry visa, if she has any UK-born grandparents. If she has ancestry from another EU country, she may even be able to claim EU member state citizenship.

Good luck!

[yankeegirl]

Of course its convenient, it's the only way I can be with the woman that I love!! Please advise me.

A marriage of convenience is one that takes place purely for immigration purposes. Are you getting married a bit quicker than you would have liked to in an ideal world? Probably, as have quite a few of us in international relationships. What they will look for is that it is a genuine relationship, which it sounds like it is.

Is your fiancee in the UK? Have you ever lived together? There are numerous things you can submit with your application. Bills coming to the same address, communication between the two of you (cards, letters, phone bills showing that you've kept in contact during any time apart, photos etc)

It would be helpful if you gave a bit more information. Where is she now? Where do you plan on marrying?

[John]

Before my wife's spouse visa application was submitted back in early 2001, and knowing nothing at all about immigration law at that moment in time, I spoke to my MP, who was actually rather helpful as regards the visa application process.

So I pass to you the helpful comment I got at that time. Do ensure that you include lots of "evidence of contact" between the two of you. Exactly what such evidence might be will vary but could well include phone bills, emails, pictures of the two of you together.

Indeed put together an "evidence folder" neatly showing the evidence that shows that the visa should indeed be granted. If you have not already done so go to this UKVisas webpage and then download the form VAF2 and the INF4 guidance notes.

And by the way, my wife's spouse visa application granted ... no problem ..... my wife has now lived in the UK since 2001 and indeed is a British Citizen.