American marry British fiance in America

[kmcginty 0]

Hi,

I'm from America and my fiance is from England; while the wedding isn't going to be for another 2 years, we want to be as prepared as possible! In about 10 months we are going to move from America (he just finished graduate school here and is currently on his OPT, which allows him to look for a job for one year after graduation). So by then, his ability to stay in this country will have run out - we aren't going to apply for any sort of visa for him, because we want to move to England anyway. My question is if it will work for us to come back in the summer of 2013 and get married in America? We've found the perfect place on the east coast and it just makes sense to be married here because it's where the majority of our family and friends are. To be married here will he have to apply for a certain visa, or can he just visit for a few weeks and get married then?

Also, here's another question - I'll be applying for a PhD program in England...would it make more sense to apply for a student visa or a fiancee visa?

Thanks!

[Harsh_77 716]

I can only answer your first question for second question I think your fiancee would have better answer since he would know immigration system in his country.

For the first question you do no need to apply for any visa, he is from VWP country which allows him to enter US for 90 days. (Just to get married)

If he wants to live here after getting married then he will have to enter either on K1 or get married and return to UK and return back on CR1.

[lyndsaycribbs 17]

With a student visa you are limited to how much you can work and they have a financial requirement also you can only stay for so long after your course is finished.

With a fiance visa you have to be planning on getting married within 6 months in the uk

this is the link for the home office website for all the info you need on types of visas and what is required http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

[kmcginty 0]

Thanks for the info! You've been a big help!

[jingo 38]

Anybody can get married in the US whilst on vacation, no visa needed if you're there for under 90 days.

As for studying here, in my opinion it'd be easier to apply for a student visa since they are very easy to get and have no 'public burden' sums. If you came to the UK as a fiancee, your fiance would have to prove he had enough income to support you both and also prove you have somewhere to live together.

But if you're married you can get a spousal 'indefinite leave to remain'. If you want to make sure you get here and study, a student visa seems to make sense.