How does a Canadian marry a British Citizen in UK?

I really need some advice please! I can't be the only person who's in this situation... We've been speaking to so many people but everyone gives us different answers and it seems like every time we have a solution, another wall pops up infront of us.

My boyfriend and I have been living together in the UK for the last 20 months (I'm here on a Working Holiday Maker Visa) and we were planning on applying for an Unmarried Partner Visa toward the end of my visa (because then we'd have been living together for the two years required) but we were informed just last week by someone at the UK Immigration office that for some reason I can't apply for this visa from a WHM one. This was news to us, and it doesn't say that anywhere on the website.

So now we're trying to sort out a marriage visa and we'd like to do it quickly because my WHM visa expires in June, and I'm also 5 months pregnant (due in July - so you can see why I'm rushed to get this visa sorted out soon... I don't want to be living in the UK illegaly for any length of time)

Basically I need to know the step by step process that I, as a Canadian in the UK need to take to get married.

So far what we've seem to have discovered is that we'll need to apply for a special licence (because I'm a foreigner), and then once that is approved we go to the registry office and do whatever we're supposed to do there, and then we can apply for the spousal visa - but apparently by that point, I have to have 3 months left on my current visa! I've only got 4 months left at this point, and I'm currently in Canada for the next 2 weeks because of a family emergency that happened a week ago.

I don't think we're going to be able to get the licence and registry stuff sorted out before we hit the 3 month deadline... is there anything I can do to extend my visa by a few more months?

Also, are those the correct steps we need to take to get married? I'm getting so stressed out by this whole situation.

Hello,

The answer, you will not like it , is that you have to return to Canada to apply for any other type of visa. You are not allowed on a working holiday maker visa (now called "youth mobility scheme") to switch to another visa from the UK (even if you get married , you will have to apply from Canada to apply for a wife visa)

See here : http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply ... ty#8405974

I would suggest that you do not overstay , that could result on your visa request being denied for a few years.

You options are:

- Go back in Canada and apply for a Unmarried Partner Visa if you can prove that you have been living at the same address for more than 24 onths
- Get married (I think you need to apply for the marriage certificate but maybe not because you are already here legally until your visa expire). After you will have to go back to Canada and apply for a wife visa.

But as I said , do not make the mistake to try to apply for another visa from the UK as you will be denied (some people on here learned that hard way) !!

Hope this helps
Joanne

Hello!

I find myself in pretty much the same position as the top person (without the pregnancy part!)

I am a Canadian citizen and my boyfriend is British. We have been going through a lot of headaches these past few months in order to find a solution, to find me a sponsorship etc.. and everytime we hit a wall too.

I am currently just visiting the Uk, since I can stay here 6 months legally without a visa. But we are looking to get married at the end of the year in order for me to come back and live together.
We would plan to get married in Canada since I don't think we need a certificate of approval over there, and then I would make the application under 'partner' of a British citizen from Canada.

My only question is how long does it normally takes? Is it a question of a month or more like 5 to 6 months like I read somewhere else? Would I still have to take a medical exam to get the settlement visa?

If we decide to get married in the Uk instead, is it hard to get the certificate of approval since I can only stay here less than 6 months?

Thank you very much to any one who could help me! I know we are not the only one in this situation, but I have to say it is difficult to see the end of the bureaucracy on our own. If someone can propose other solutions it would be great as well!