The debate on whether a marriage visa is better than a fiancé visa in terms of attainability is an ongoing one. Many individuals are confused about which visa option they should go for if they are planning to move with their partner to the UK.
A Fiancé visa is for a couple who wants to come to the UK and get married legally whereas a marriage visa is for a married couple who wishes to stay together in the UK permanently. Both visas come under the settlement visa category but you need to closely evaluate the differences of both to choose the best option for you. In this article, we will guide you about both visas in detail to help you make a decision.
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Fiancé Visa
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A Fiancé visa is a visa that you will need if you plan to come and settle in the UK after marrying a British Citizen or an individual who holds the status of ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ in the UK. This is also more commonly known as a K1 Visa.
To put it simply, this visa type will be asked from you if you plan on marrying one of the UK’s locals and then staying in the country after the ceremony. It will allow you to stay three months or 90 days in the UK before your planned wedding date. After the said period, you can look into applying for a permanent residence since it’s one of the requirements that can make you valid for the agenda.
Contrary to a marriage visit visa applicant, a fiancé visa does not require you to prove that you intend to leave the UK as soon as the visa duration ends. The applicant needs to prove that both partners intend to permanently settle together in the UK. The financial requirements are also stricter than the marriage visit visa requirements and applicants need to prove that they won’t be requiring any support from public funds for their stay in the UK.
Marriage Visa
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A marriage visa is for married couples who want to enter and stay in the UK as a couple. It’s also for those who will be marrying a UK citizen and aims to get the same title for themselves. This is a more commonly used visa because of its straightforward process.
With the visa at hand, you need to be mindful of several conditions in order to be fully be subject to UK citizenship. One of the most important revolves around the requirement of being married for more than 2 years. For other conditions, it’s best to talk to an immigration professional. Doing so will shed a clearer light over the things that you need to know about both the process and the visa.
This prevents the applicants from the hassle of submitting two separate applications. There are certain financial requirements that you need to fulfill and prove that you intend to stay together in the UK. However, requirements of committing marriage within 6 months of your visit are automatically omitted for applicants of a Marriage visa.
Is the Fiancé Visa Process Faster than Marriage Visa?
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This is a very common question, individuals wonder which type of visa takes the most time to process. The clear answer to this is no. Because the processing and approval times of the visa types in our article vary from situation to situation, it can be hard to form a solid answer as to whether a fiancé visa is faste.
The time it takes to complete the process of both visas is an important factor when you are evaluating your options according to your present circumstances. Well, there is a lot of access for the authorities in both visa cases and there is not much difference in process timings of both.
Don’t let different forums online and different people’s experiences tell you otherwise. The experience of acquiring a visa differs for each applicant’s case and how the scenario is presented to the Home Office.
On another note, you can always refer to the average processing time if you really want an answer. For an overview, a K1 visa takes around 5 to 7 months, while a marriage visa needs 10 to 13 months. Thus, we can come up to the conclusion that under normal circumstances, the former really takes a lot less time than the latter.
Validity of Fiancé vs. Marriage Visa
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While discussing Fiancé vs. Marriage visa then we must consider the validity period of both of these visas. The validity period of the fiancé visa is just 6 months and no extension is granted in a stay while a person on a marriage visa can stay in the UK for up to 30 months and an extension can be applied as the validity approaches its end. In case you want to extend a spouse visa then you can reach out to world-class immigration lawyers for the best results.
Different Conditions with Both Visas
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There are certain other conditions too that are imposed when you are given the visa. These conditions are also one of the major differences between a fiancé and a marriage visa. One major condition difference is that fiancé visa holders do not have a work permit whereas a marriage visa allows its holders to work in the UK.
Visa Processing Fees
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Another important point of consideration for both visas is the visa processing fees. The visa processing fee for a Fiancé visa is £1,523 whereas the fee for a marriage visa is only £95 which is much less than the fiancé visa application.
Total.law has the most dedicated team of lawyers for immigration applications. With their numerous years of experience, they can assist all types of applicants in seamlessly obtaining their visas. Their experts provide customized advice to each client according to their needs. The information provided is always clear and brief to be easily understood by the applicants. Our team helps understand the complex immigration processes and assists in getting your visa in the fastest time possible with no complications.
