Immigration Corner | Apply for a Marriage Visitor visa to the UK

Dear Mr Bassie,

I do not reside in the United Kingdom, but I would like to get married over there. I have been told that I need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa. Any advice on how to proceed with this would be appreciated.

HV

Dear HV,

Persons must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if they want to get married or register a civil partnership in the United Kingdom (UK) and want to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership over there. They should also not be planning to stay or settle in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership, and they must meet the other eligibility requirements.

Also, persons will not need a Marriage Visitor visa to convert their civil partnership into a marriage – they can apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

Please note that persons do not need a Marriage Visitor visa if one of the following is true:

• They have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

• They have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and have not got a decision yet.

• They are an Irish citizen.

Please be aware that persons cannot apply if they qualify for British citizenship, including if they can have dual nationality. Those persons must apply for British citizenship instead.

WHAT THE MARRIAGE VISITOR VISA PERMITS AND PROHIBITS

Persons can marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of arrival and must use a venue licensed for this purpose. They can also pass through the UK in transit on their way to another country.

Please be aware that with this visa, persons cannot get public funds (benefits) or bring in family members (dependents). They must apply separately. The successful visa applicant cannot live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits, extend the visa, or switch to another visa. They cannot work, except for permitted activities related to the work or business overseas such as attending meetings and/or study. For clarity, it is advisable that persons read online the detailed guidance about what persons can and cannot do with a Marriage Visitor visa.

WHEN TO APPLY AND HOW LONG IT TAKES

Persons who need this visa must apply online before going to the UK. As part of the application, they will need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove their identity and provide their documents.

The visa application centre may keep the applicant’s passport and documents while processing the application. The earliest persons can apply is three months before travelling, and if successful, persons can use this visa to visit the UK for up to six months.

THE DECISION

Persons who have applied online, proved their identity, and provided their documents, will usually get a decision on their visa within three weeks. Please note that persons may be able to pay to get a faster decision for an additional fee. It costs £115 to apply for the visa.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: marr