Fiancee visa - do we need a Certificate of Approval?

[radar77]

Hello, here's my tale, I hope you can help me figure this out.

I'm a UK national, living here permanently. My girlfriend is Peruvian and currently finishing her studies in Spain, where we met. We can see that the only realistic way for us to be together is to marry, which is fine as we want to anyway.

I can see that she needs a Fiancee visa to come here, and will be allowed to stay for 6 months during which we have to marry. What confuses me is the talk about Certificates of Approval on the UKBA website:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukres ... ilpartner/

Does that only apply to someone who is already living in the UK, or does it also apply to someone who comes to the UK on a Fiancee visa? The website isn't very clear...

Finally, how demanding is the application process for a Fiancee visa? Is it difficult to get?

Thanks folks.

[vinny]

If you are coming to the United Kingdom from overseas to get married or register your civil partnership, you must have:

* fiancé(e) entry clearance; or
* proposed civil partner entry clearance; or
* marriage visitor entry clearance; or
* civil partnership visitor entry clearance;

in your passport in order to give to a registrar notice to marry or register your civil partnership.

If you are already in the United Kingdom, you will need either to have settled status in the United Kingdom, or to obtain a certificate of approval before giving to a registrar notice to marry or register your civil partnership.

A fiancé(e) entry clearance holder would not require a COA. May apply for FLR(M) (285) after marriage and subsequently for SET(M) (288).