Marriage visa or student visa? A macedonian engaged to a UK.

[chocaholic81]

Hey I am a British citizen and I am engaged to a macedonian. He hopes to be a student in the UK sept 09 and we would also like to get married in 2009 or 10, if he came on a student visa would we be able to get married? and would we be better marrying before his course starts or during? If we just got married and went thru the usual chain of finace visa and then applied for it to be changed to spouse would he still have the right to be a student later on in a year- 3 years time? And does anyone know whether he weould then qualify for funding or not?

And what happens if we do it the other way round and we get married in macedonia and then want to come back here within a month?

Sorry visas really confuse me! Thank you!

[Wanderer]

Marriage first is cheapest. Funding I'd imagine would only happen when/if he is a citizen, min three years. Also home fees.

[chocaholic81]

My other question, which i forgot to ask was: he currently has a visiting visa, could we get married while he was here one time and then apply for a spouse visa or is that illegal?

Thank you again

[chocaholic81]

thank you thats helpful, what are home fees?

[Wanderer]

You could apply for a CoA (certificate of approval) to marry theoretically but chances are you'd not get it in time and he'd have to return home after to apply for spouse visa. CoA costs about £300, fiance/spouse visa is £500 so it's £800 straight away.

Best to marry in his country (if u can) and save the CoA fee. If he was here on a student visa there is still the same CoA rigmarole except he can apply for the spouse visa in the UK.

UK unis have two charge rates, one for home and EU students, one for 'international' students. For example my gf just finished uni and the home fees were £3500 a term, International which we had to pay £11,000 per term. Ouch!

You only become liable to pay the home fees when you've been resident in UK for three years on the day the course starts, so no switching rates half way through, they are not daft!

This is an expensive and rocky road we're taking for sure.....

[sakura]

My other question, which i forgot to ask was: he currently has a visiting visa, could we get married while he was here one time and then apply for a spouse visa or is that illegal?

Thank you again

No, he cannot marry on a visitor's visa. He should apply for a fiance visaif he wishes to marry in the UK, and thereafter (before the visa expires) apply for FLR for a spouse visa.

You can also marry if he is on a student visa, but he would need to apply for permission before his visa expires, then once married, should switch to the spouse visa.

Wanderer mentioned "Home fees". It is simply the tuition fees that most EU citizens and permanent residents of the UK pay. Since he is not an EU citizen, or permanent resident, he would have to pay "International tuition fees". As an international student - even if he is married to you - he does not qualify for any funding (loans, bursaries, etc) for his course from the UK government, and will have to prove that he (or his sponsor/s) can pay the fees and living expenses. He can, of course, apply for scholarships that the government might have for International students.

[chocaholic81]

thank you, home fees arent an issue as where he is hoping to study there is just a standard rate so we're lucky on that front.

You've both given helpful advice, if i think of any other questions ill yell. Thank you! x

[chocaholic81]

ok i do have another question. Why is it hard for macedonians to get a visiting visa? We have just sent off for a visiting visa for my fiance just so he can meet my family before we start planning weddings etc and he has been told by a friend that it is very hard for a macedonian to get a visiting visa. Is this true? We have followed all the criteria we were given. My dad is his sponsor and will provide accomodation, food, money etc including flights, he has sent a covering letter explaining this a long with pay slips and a copy of his passport. Im left thinking if he cant get a visiting visa then how are we gonna get a fiance visa? Help!