Getting married - Australia or UK?

[mathew]

My fiancee and I were living in London together until her working holiday visa ran out about 3 months ago. We have now decided to get married, and wanting to know whether for immigration purposes, it would be easier for us to get married in the UK or in Australia.

I am a duel citizen so have a UK passport.

QUestions are these:
1. Is it easier to get married in the UK or Australia?
2. Is it easier to apply from in the UK or Australia? (going back to Australia in mid December so not a problem)
3. My fiancee is currently visting me in the UK on a tourist visa. If we were to get married in the UK would she need to be on a finacee visa?
4. If we get married in the UK, does it "look better" to have a progression from fiancee visa and then apply for spouse visa, or does it make no difference?

thanks

[ppron747]

To answer (3) first, your fiancée would need to return to Australia to get a fiancée visa, if you want to marry in UK.

Otherwise, I don't think there's a lot in it, Mathew. The requirements for spouse/fiancée visas are much the same. There's a theory that, with a slightly weak application, being married rather than engaged might tip the balance in the applicant's favour, but I don't know how much there is in that...

One thing to bear in mind from a practical point of view is that, with a spouse visa, your other half will be able to work as soon as lands in UK - which is also when the two year countdown towards ILR starts.

With a fiancée visa, she'll need to apply for "further leave to remain" after the wedding and have that application granted, before she can work. And that will cost £335 for a postal application, or £500 for for an application in person (for the time being at least...)

If I were doing the deed, and all the other factors were evenly balanced, I think that that extra application and fee would tip the scales in favour or marrying outside UK. But maybe that's just me...