How can a UK citizen and US citizen marry in Jamaica?

US citizen wanting to marry a UK citizen?

• My boyfriend is a UK citizen (Scotland specifically). I am a US citizen. I met him online through a chat website in 2005. We got along well, so we decided to meet up in 2007. Since then, he and I have traveled back and forth to one another (him coming to me sometimes, me going to him other times). Every time we leave each other, it is heartbreaking. We'd like to find a way to stay with each other, but it seems impossible as we're citizens of different countries, and it seems there are so many laws keeping us apart. We want to get married and be able to stay together, and for me to move to the UK to be with him. Can someone please help me understand the laws regarding this? Also those of you who know the laws, would it be easier for me to go to the UK, or for him to move to the US (after we marry, of course)? We truly don't care where we live, we just want to put an end to the distance.

• Answer:

  You have a couple of options to consider if you want to settle in the UK. You can come on a fiance visa, get married then apply for a spouse visa, or marry in the US and apply for a spouse visa to return to the UK. You can also get married on a marriage visitor visa in the UK but you cannot change from this visa or a normal visit visa into the spouse visa so would have to return to the US after the marriage to apply for a spouse visa. If cost is an issue it may be an option as a marriage visitor visa at $125 plus the costs of a return flight could work out considerably cheaper than a fiancé visa. The conditions for both a fiance and a spouse visa are more or less the same and if you understand the logic behind them, it makes the whole process fairly simple. You must both be 18 or over, have met and intend to live together as a married couple in the UK. You must also have adequate accommodation and be able to support yourselves without recourse to public funds (welfare). If you apply for a fiance visa you must show evidence that a wedding is being planned and if you apply for a spouse visa you must show evidence that a wedding has taken place. The documentary evidence you will need to gather is: ~ proof that the relationship has a history, that you have met, how the relationship developed and how you keep in regular contact. Photos, air tickets, email logs, phone bills etc. ~ proof that you have a wedding planned or it has taken place. Wedding photos, marriage cert, invitations, receipts or confirmation of bookings for a planned wedding and receipts of rings, dress etc. ~ proof of adequate accommodation. What they want proof of here is that you won't be living in an overcrowded property as per the Housing Act 1985. You will need to submit the landlord's or owner's written permission for you both to live there or a joint rent or mortgage agreement in both your names. Floor plans or agents details stating the number and size of rooms. If sharing, you must have at least a bedroom for your own exclusive use as a couple. ~ financial information that shows that you can support yourselves without the need for benefits. Both of you must submit your employment contracts, three to six months payslips and bank statements and any evidence of savings or other income. Your b/f should be earning at least £105.95 per week after tax, rent/mortgage, council tax and utilities. This is the minimum income support level before someone becomes entitled to claim benefits. The reason you need to submit this even though your employment will end when you move to the UK is that it gives an indication of how economically viable you are likely to be in the UK. You can supplement this info with your CV, qualification certificates etc and any attempts to secure interviews for UK employment if you wish. A fiancé visa is valid for six months only and you must marry in this time. It is very difficult to get an extension without a serious reason such as illness of one of the parties to the marriage which prevented it taking place. You cannot work on this visa but you are entitled to free NHS treatment immediately you arrive. A spouse visa is a probationary visa, allows you to work and will be 27 months long if you apply outside the UK or 24 months long if you apply inside the UK. 28 days before you have been resident in the UK for 24 months you can apply for Indefinite leave to remain (settlement) as long as your marriage is still intact. This frees you from immigration control. You will need to submit documentary proof of cohabitation such as joint bank accounts, council tax bills, utility bills etc dated throughout the two year period. It's a good idea to get your name on as many official documents like this ASAP to establish residency for opening a bank account, getting a national insurance number etc. The costs are: Fiancé visa $1,337 Spouse visa from the US $1,337 Spouse visa priority service $1,637 Spouse visa in the UK postal £550 Spouse visa in the UK in person £850 This is worth doing as you can usually get a same day decision and then work immediately. ILR postal £972 ILR in person £1,350 After three years residency you can apply for British citizenship as the spouse of a British citizen. There are proposals afoot to lengthen the time it takes to apply for ILR from two to five years in line with all other settlement routes. This would mean that you would have to wait until you had residency for five years before you could apply for citizenship as you must hold ILR first. If this change does come into force, it would not be applied to those who already are in the UK with spouse visas.