Getting married when already on unmarried partner visa

[TanyaB]

I've been looking around for an answer but have only found bits and pieces as no one seems to be in my situation.

I am currently on a two year unmarried partner visa (expires October 2012) and was wondering where it is best to get married - the US, UK or some neutral location. I am from the US and my boyfriend is from the UK.

I'd really like to know how how easy and expensive the process would be for each option. I know that the UK requires you to get a fiance visa and then a spouse visa, but I'm not sure that this applies to me as I am already on an unmarried partner visa.

We'd like to move to Spain or the US in about a year (undecided).

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Casa]

A fiance visa doesn't apply to you. You marry as any other couple would and you don't need to switch your visa from UPV to Spouse after the wedding. Just apply for ILR as spouse on form SET(M) when before your current visa expires.

[Greenie]

I've been looking around for an answer but have only found bits and pieces as no one seems to be in my situation.

I am currently on a two year unmarried partner visa (expires October 2012) and was wondering where it is best to get married - the US, UK or some neutral location. I am from the US and my boyfriend is from the UK.

I'd really like to know how how easy and expensive the process would be for each option. I know that the UK requires you to get a fiance visa and then a spouse visa, but I'm not sure that this applies to me as I am already on an unmarried partner visa.

We'd like to move to Spain or the US in about a year (undecided).

Any advice is much appreciated!

if you are already on a two year unmarried partner visa, then there is no need for you to apply for another visa once you are or in order to get married. You can get married an then apply for ILR once you have completed the two years as an unmarried partner/spouse.

However if you want to move to Spain or the US bear in mind that if you spend more than two years living outside the UK you may lose your ILR

[TanyaB]

Thanks for the quite responses! They're incredibly useful.

I'll check the US / Spain visa specifics to see if it is better to get married here or in the US.