How to apply for a Partner/Spouse Visa Under New Rules

some register offices will let you make a provisional booking for a marriage ceremony up to a year ahea. thats what i did. just select a date--they allow you to change it. i paid £40 booking fee--and got a proper printed receipt saying it was a provisional booking for my marriage. just ask at a local register office.

Yeh heard that..I told.them.situation...said yeh fine we can do that...then went to book with them...thus trying Manchester and stoke on Trent and now telling me no..she need to be in the country and here 7 days before we.can book now..and give me some sort of letter to print to put in my file with docs ...tried several times again and all saying Same now...so if I fail...it's gonna be down to not having a provisional booking for a wedding

You could book a place for a reception..as evidence of when you intend to marry.

This might look like a run of the mill party!

so long as the booking confirmation says wedding reception for mr and mrs......

even making a provisional register office booking like i did is no guarantee the marriage will take place--ours didnt--ended up cancelling till the next year !

or buy a wedding ring--and show the receipt.

every little helps.

Tryed that also..most places accommodate 150+ people I said I wanted around 20..you can imagine what they told me lol

We had a marriage visit visa and had to do the same thing. What you do is email the register and ask them for details of what you need to do. They will respond that you both need to be in the UK to give notice and provide details of what you need to do.

We used the emails as evidence.

Thanks yeh that's what I'm using...printed emails if what they sent ..hope it's enough..I'll be applying in next 3 weeks

You need to make sure you ask for the right thing.

Stress that it is a PROVISIONAL booking for your wedding. I would be reluctant to submit any application without this booking.

This is what I had from Blackburn Council. If you're really struggling with getting something booked, give those guys a ring and then just toss the booking in the bin once the visa is confirmed.

Yeh did stress to both registrars that it’s a provisional booking but told me that both need to be here to book it

i think sometimes staff just dont know about this provisional booking thing. but--yes--ring around other register offices see if they can help. i had no difficulty. its money for nothing to the treasury.

dont forget you will have to give notice at your designated register office--even if you dont get married there. both of you need to attend that. they will need to know when and where the wedding will take place. more money!

Huh so I live in stoke and randomly message say Blackburn for a wedding...won’t they think that’s abit dodgy? Did anyone use a venue that’s so far away from them? And what best thing to put when asking then?

you can get married at any register office you like.

your paying a fee for a provisional booking, sometime in the next 6 months. just need to select a date they have free... nearer the time just ring to cancel it. but make sure you get an official receipt.

Blackburn wasn’t my nearest registry office. It would have been Manchester. I just thought it would be a cracking day out because I’d never been there before and they were quickest to reply to my queries. Like BigMac says, nothing to stop you getting married in London or by the seaside in Brighton or close to dear Aunt Maud in Belfast.

All you want to do is get that provisional booking anywhere in the country, and I think that’s a vital bit of paperwork to submit. Once your partner is in the country, you still need to give notice at a designated office (which will be easier to sort out when she is here) but can get married wherever your heart desires.

Awww sweet I’ll get this done now...I’ll message every city in the country lol

try the isle of wight register office--we need the money!

Haha good thinking lmao

Sorted finally booked a provisional omg that was hard work !!!

where / how much ?

After contacting and explaining all etc...ended up Manchester ...£40 ..nearly didn't again...got the same thing at first...needs be here to be able to do it...and then just told them situation and they said it's fine and it's £40 non refundable...told them yeh that's fine..