Student Visa switch to a Marriage Visitor visa?

[bowbowlee]

Hi, does anyone knows about how can you apply for a marriage visitor visa VAF1F in the UK?

I am currently holding a student visa that will expired at the end Jan2011.
However, I would like get a civil partnership with my partner(British Citizen) before I leave UK. I am not planning to permanently stay in UK.

I have applied and sent out the COA form in first of October2010 and I have called and ask for the progress of the COA recently. I remember their website said 65% will be done within 4weeks but they told me it might take 14weeks which is mid of jan2011.

Now I am very worry that if the COA still hasn't arrived by the time. I might not be able to have enough time to register and get into civil partnership since we still have to wait for 15days after we register. (my visa expired Late Jan)

Does anyone knows do I still need a valid student visa to register and on my 'real' register date(signing the paper) ? This is because I still have 28days after my student visa expired. That's mean if I register with my student visa. Then after 15days, I can sign the paper without my valid student visa but making use of the 28days stay in UK.

If this is not possible, then I would like to apply for the marriage visitor VAF1F. But the website only shows forms applying outside UK but not inside UK.

I hope I have make my case clear here. I really hope someone can help me please!!!!

[geriatrix]

Hi, does anyone knows about how can you apply for a marriage visitor visa VAF1F in the UK?

You cannot.


regards

[bowbowlee]

Then what should I do?

I have sent my COA form already and still waiting for COA.

My student visa will expired in end of Jan.

If the COA still hasn't arrive in Jan, I must think of a solution to stay here with a valid visa to register with my partner. If I stay as a visitor, I could not get into a civil partnership.
And there is no information about extending my visa for a civil partnership.

Even I go back to my home country and apply for the spouse visa, I still have to wait for a few months for the visa . However, my COA has been processing since Oct2010(nearly three months), by the time I get my spouse visa, the COA might be expired(once got the COA, need to register within 3months)

If I sent my passport to home office for the spouse visa, then the COA arrive, I might not have enough time to wait for my passport to be back for register into a civil partnership as well.

I don't know what act should I take now..Please help!!

[geriatrix]

Options:
1. Hope that you receive CoA in time to marry in the UK and apply for leave to remain as a spouse of British citizen before your current leave expires.
2. Hope that CoA is abolished thereby allowing you marry in the UK and apply for leave to remain as spouse of British citizen before your current leave expires.
3. Marry outside the UK (e.g.- home country) and apply for spouse visa.
4. Apply for leave to remain in another immigration category that you qualify for, before your current leave expires.



regards

[bowbowlee]

Thank you for your reply!!

Do you think I can called them up and ask them to treat me as a urgent case? Since it's nearly been three months. And when I applied for the COA form, they said I need to have 6months or at least 3months permitted stay in UK. I only left one more months now.

thanks.

[geriatrix]

If you search the forum you'll note that people have been waiting for 6-12 months, and everyone wants to get the CoA in time to marry and apply before their current leave expires.



regards

[bowbowlee]

6 months to 12 months? That's mean more than 24weeks?

Is that normal? They told me it might take 14weeks..So I can only wait but no use calling them up to chase them and tell them my case?