Do I need to apply for a new visa?

Hello!

My bf and I were in Canada over the Christmas holidays and he proposed! Super excited about this but......what do I need to do in order to get married? Do I need to get a new visa....if so what one? Right now I'm on an ancestry visa. I have just over 4 years left on it. I just don't know what to do!! Do we get married here or back in Canada?

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Hi Trixie1979,

Based on what I know of the seemingly very arbitrary methods of the immigration system, I would think that the best thing you could do is ring Home Office to find out whether or not you can get married whilst on the Ancestry Visa. As far as I am aware, normally one has to apply within their own country for first a Fiancee/Fiance Visa, which allows that person 6 months in England to get married, and then the Marriage Visa can be obtained without having to leave England. However, I am not sure if the Ancestry Visa stipulates whether or not a marriage can occur without having to obtain the Fiancee Visa from within your own country first. You may be able to apply for permission to marry, but I really think your best bet would be ringing Home Office.

Best of luck to you and yours...

Yes, I agree ring the home office. I was just denied the fiance visa for 6 months because they didn't think we were going to get married in the alloted 6 months time frame, however your situation is totally different you live with your bf. I would suggest you also get married in the UK, it seems as though they have denied me because our marriage was back in Canada and not the UK.

If you wish to get married in the UK, you'll have to ask for Certificate of Approval, which can take up to 6 months to get. This scheme is about to be abolished this Spring so you can wait a few more weeks and see what will happen with this.

If you marry in Canada, you can switch to settlement (spouse visa) as soon as you're back in the UK. Your current visa will still be valid after your marriage, but the advantage of switching is that after 2 years on spouse visa, you'll be able to apply for permanent residence and naturalisation 1 year later.

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