Visit visa or Fiance Visa

[expat007]

Hello Everyone,

I'm no EEA national married to A British Citizen, we both live and work in Dubai, UAE. We've been married for a year and a half and in a relationship for a little over 2 years.

We are planning to go to the UK to visit the in-laws in summer as they visited us in Dubai a while ago, I'm not sure if I should apply for a normal Visit Visa, or a Fiance Visa would be better for the long term as we are planning to move to the UK permanently in 2020, so which is better given the following facts:

- We are married in Dubai Court under Sharia Law, marriage contract is translated and attested by UAE Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Justice.

- I earn 25K GBP annually.

- We plan to only visit the UK for around 20 days in the summer to do some tourism and see family and friends.

- We plan to move to the UK after we've been married for 2 years permanently next year.

Should we consider Fiance Visa so we can also be legally married in UK once we apply for Spouse visa next year? or should we just apply for a Visit this time? I've heard that you can register or legalize your marriage in the UK if you are on a Visit visa because Fiance means unmarried to begin with which is not the case here.

Thank you all for helping.

[CR001]

We are planning to go to the UK to visit the in-laws in summer as they visited us in Dubai a while ago, I'm not sure if I should apply for a normal Visit Visa, or a Fiance Visa would be better for the long term as we are planning to move to the UK permanently in 2020, so which is better given the following facts:

- We are married in Dubai Court under Sharia Law, marriage contract is translated and attested by UAE Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Justice.

- I earn 25K GBP annually.

- We plan to only visit the UK for around 20 days in the summer to do some tourism and see family and friends.

- We plan to move to the UK after we've been married for 2 years permanently next year.

A Fiance Visa is ONLY possible if you are NOT already married and plan on marrying in the UK and settling by switching to a spouse visa after wedding. If you are only visiting, you need a visitor visa.

Should we consider Fiance Visa so we can also be legally married in UK once we apply for Spouse visa next year? or should we just apply for a Visit this time? I've heard that you can register or legalize your marriage in the UK if you are on a Visit visa because Fiance means unmarried to begin with which is not the case here.

There is NO requirement to 'legally marry in the UK' if you are ALREADY married!!! When you are ready to move to the UK, simply apply for a spouse visa as you are married.

Note that it is your British spouses' that must meet the income requirement if using earnings, your income is irrelevant.

[expat007]

Thanks a lot for the quick answers!.

Some follow-up questions if I may :

1- When applying for a Visitor Visa, should I provide as a supporting document, the attested Marriage Contract to prove my relation to my Wife and/or the in-laws, or is that not necessary? or it's better to wait and see if the Application center asks for it after submission?

2- If my British spouse is living and working outside the UK for the past 3 years, would that pose a problem when I apply for a Spouse Visa? given that both of us will be leaving our jobs in UAE without securing a job in the UK (at least for me), rather we will be relying on our savings to prove financial eligibility .

Thank you again.

[CR001]

1. It is the applicants responsibility to submit the required documents. You won't be asked for documents by the centre if you have not submitted it. You need to prove your strong ties to your country of residence (employment, family, social, property etc etc).

2. Your spouse must meet the financial requirement at the time of applying. Overseas income can be used if it meets the requirement AND your spouse MUST have a confirmed job offer in the UK to start within 3 months of arriving. Alternatively, your spouse will have to move without you and work for 6 months to earn the required level and have the evidence. You can also use savings (not loans), but must be at least £62,500 held for a minimum of 6 months and HO could ask for the source of funds.