Marriage Visa for Brazilian

[WillWisbey]

I Hope you can help. I met my fiancee in England when she was visiting for six months last year. We are planning to marry in Brasil in September.

The problem is what do we do afterwards? She can come here for 6 months on a tourist visa, but other than that we are in difficulty.

It is further complicated in the sense that we are Christian and therefore under any description in the modern world have not been having a "marriage-like" relationship. Hence from the government's point of view the marriage would have been a hasty one, although from ours we have been in a committed relationship for a long time.

Are we best to marry in Brasil and then wait for a visa, marry in a religious sense in Brasil then apply for a fiancee visa? Marry fully in Brasil and then come to the UK on a tourist visa? No matter what the option, it looks like the first year of my marriage is going to be spent (at least for some time) away from my wife or move to Brasil which would be complicated in terms of income despite the fact she is a well paid professional there.

The thought of being apart is devastating to both of us, although, we will endure it if necessary.

Any advice?

Will

[Kitty]

If you marry in Brazil and your marriage is lawful in that country (you mention marrying "in a religious sense": I have no idea what Brazilian law requires for a lawful marriage and whether that would count!), then she may apply for a spouse visa. There is no requirement for you to have lived together before you get married.

If your wedding in Brazil does not lead to a legally-recognised marriage, the she should apply for a fiancée visa, marry in the UK, and then switch to spouse status.

Read the visa guidance here:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply ... ementguide

Note that one thing she cannot do is come to the UK on a visit visa and then switch to spouse status whilst here.

[WillWisbey]

If you marry in Brazil and your marriage is lawful in that country (you mention marrying "in a religious sense": I have no idea what Brazilian law requires for a lawful marriage and whether that would count!), then she may apply for a spouse visa. There is no requirement for you to have lived together before you get married.

If your wedding in Brazil does not lead to a legally-recognised marriage, the she should apply for a fiancée visa, marry in the UK, and then switch to spouse status.

Read the visa guidance here:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply ... ementguide

Note that one thing she cannot do is come to the UK on a visit visa and then switch to spouse status whilst here.

Thanks so much. In a religious sense would be having the ceremony which is what we would believe sanctifies it rather than the civil / legal side (signing the documents afterwards).

So it seems to make sense to do both. Do you have any idea of how long the spoouse application takes?

Many thanks this is invaluable.

Will