Applying for marriage visa in 3rd country ?

[jhinchley]

Seems like a simple question but cant seem to get an knowledgeable answer.

My fiancee is a US citizen and im a UK citizen. We intend getting married next year in Nepal as we do voluntary work there each year. Is it possible to apply there for her uk marriage visa or does it have to be done from her home country ?

If you can help answer or need more info to come up with an answer just post please.

thanks in advance jim

[eliasuk4u]

Usually its from the home country unless you are legally resident in third country. Thats not in your case, so for you its home country (USA).

[John]

We intend getting married next year in Nepal as we do voluntary work there each year.

How long do you spend there? Do you need visas in order to enter Nepal? If so, what type of visa?

Just wondering if you will actually be resident in Nepal, because if so it would be possible for your wife (as she will be) to apply at the British Mission in Nepal.

[eliasuk4u]

Where do I apply

Generally, you should apply for an entry clearance at the UK Mission in the country where you are normally and legally resident. This is particularly important if you are applying to stay in the UK for a long time, or for settlement. If you are staying only temporarily in the country where you apply, the visa office may not accept your application, or there may be a long delay before a decision on your application is made.

[John]

Exactly eliasuk4u, so let's establish the facts to see whether an application in Nepal might be possible.

[eliasuk4u]

Oops! sorry John.

[jhinchley]

Hey guys thanks so much for the input so far, below are our plans/details for nepal.

my fiancee will be going to nepal in september , initially on a tourist visa available on arrival at kathmandu airport issued for 60 days and will be applying for a work visa once she is there. she is hoping to stay for 6 - 8 months.
I shall be going in january for 3 months and intend on getting a 60 day tourist visa on arrival and an extension at the nepal immigration office in kathmandu. ( you are allowed upto 3 X 30 day extensions on a tourist visa in nepal if neccesary ).
The wedding is tentatively planned for february 2009.

[John]

jhinchley, you might like to check with th British Mission in Nepal, but I suspect that while she is there merely on a tourist visa, they would not accept the application. However once she has the work visa, they might well be prepared to accept the application, but it is certainly worth checking with them.

In any case, subject of course to the details of Nepalese marriage law, nothing to stop the marriage taking place in Nepal. The UK's Foreign Marriages Ac 1892 says that as long as the marriage is considered to be a legal marriage by the place where it takes place, the UK will also recognise it as a valid marriage.

Conversely if it is a "mere" religious wedding, of no legal significance in the place where it takes place, then the UK would also not recognise it as a legal marriage.

The British Mission in Nepal will be able to give you details of the legal procedures to follow, to get legally married.