K is here on a Marriage Settlement Visa. We finally got around to calling on the Ipswich Register Office yesterday. We had brought all the requisite paperwork with us but we were told that we had to book an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar and that the first available date was in late March! Further enquiry revealed that there is another Superintendent Registrar in Bury St Edmunds who could see us on the 11th February. It seems that we must each be interviewed separately and that the process lasts an hour. We were told that we must provide, amongst a few kilos of other stuff, the airline ticket that K arrived on, We intend to marry in Church, but the lady at the Registry Office seemed quite unaware of the powers of a Church of England Rector to marry people and told us that a Registrar must be in attendance, which is surely wrong. Anyway, all going well, we need thirty days after seeing the Superintendent Registrar to elapse before we can be married. And I thought Filipino bureaucracy was bad.
The woman is an idiot. All C of E clergy have the power to act as the official registrar as well as the official church witness as I'm sure your rector is aware.
Indeed he is! It was he who pointed out the need for us to involve the Superintendent Registrar in the first place!
I should perhaps have re-titled this thread "how not to get married in the UK"... Anyway, we did it. Some points: Registering with the Registrar for a Superintendent Registrar's Certificate (which is what you need of you are marrying a non-EU national!): First, you need to call on your local Registry Office (or any registry office) to book an appointment at a Registry Office which is able to issue Superintendent Registrar's Certificates. Please note that you need to book well in advance - allow at least a month, preferably more, for this. When you attend the appointment, you must have with you: Your passports (obviously), Your original Birth Certificates For the UK partner, if previously married, your previous Marriage Certificate and your Decree Absolute (both must be originals) Two signed passport photographs of each of you. You need two documents showing where each of you live (the address on the visa application!) There does not seem to be a requirement for a Cenomar but it does no harm. You also need to pay a fee. We paid £70 (£35 each x 2) The Certificate must be displayed for 28 days not counting the date of application or the day following so in reality you need to apply 31 days ahead of your wedding day. The Certificate, like a Marriage Licence, will designate the place where you are to be married. Please note that, whilst this is valid for a year, it cannot be changed. Once you have done this, you may book your wedding. Most people do this at the same time, but we chose not to, as we needed to check exact dates with the Maid of Honour, who was coming from the Philippines. We paid £252.00 for the wedding ceremony. If you need additional Marriage Certificates it is best to order and pay for them at the time as it is much cheaper
I think it is worth mentioning at this point that you are both interviewed separately when giving notice to marry and asked questions about your future husband/wife, easy questions though, at least they were in our case. They are basically assuring themselves that the marriage is not arranged. Good information Andrew.
Hi @Methersgate! The document showing where each of us live, so mine I am guessing would be my address in the Philippines? Sorry just need to make sure I bring something. I placed my permanent address in the visa application which is my mom's (our house in Pampanga). But all my utility bills are sent to the flat I am in renting in Mandaluyong. Not sure what I can present then.
By this time you will be living together (in sin ) so it will be the loved ones address, or should I say your new address in the UK
Timmers is right; its your address in the UK (however temporary) that they will be looking for. Another bizarre aspect of marrying in the UK is that you will be required to state your father's full name and occupation, and this is recorded on the marriage certificate, but your mother does not even get a mention. Timmers is also right about the caution with which Registrars and Priests go about marrying foreigners these days - there have been too many fake marriage scams!
Oh right ok that makes sense now! Thank you. I initially thought the fiance visa application, my bad. Water bill now under both our names so definitely will bring that. Also when husband to be booked the registrar months ago, they did address it to us both so we will also bring that. Thanks @Timmers and @Methersgate!
I also found it a little strange that both fathers names and occupations were recorded on the marriage certificate even though both have sadly passed away. I decided to Google the subject and lo and behold the girls want a piece of the action http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...icates-should-include-mothers-_n_4700935.html
