Living in the UK but getting married in Canada

[bethlee77]

Hello everyone,

This may be a really simple question with a really simple answer. My UK fiance and myself (Canadian) have booked our wedding for March 2009 in Toronto. My fiance is concerned about him being allowed to get married in another country. Does anyone have any information so I can calm his worries?

Cheers.

[LDN]

Hi bethlee77,

It's really no problem. My husband (brit) and I (canadian residing in UK) were married in Toronto in 2006. It was dead easy. All we had to do was go to city hall prior to the actual wedding and get a license. There are no residency or citizenship requirements. They give you the license and you bring it to the actual wedding. The marriage then gets registered and a few months later you apply for the marriage certificate. The marriage will be legal here, there and everywhere! Congratulations and best of luck.

[bethlee77]

Hi LDN

Thanks so much for your response. We knew we had to go to City Hall for a marriage license. We can do that within 3 months of us getting married. I just thought there may be something else.

Just another question for you. How long did it take for you to get a spousal visa. We will be going on our honeymoon right after the wedding and then apply afterwards. Can we do this in the UK or do I need to be in Canada to apply?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

Beth

[Deus]

You need to be in Canada to apply.

I got married in June, and in July I was in the UK visa and all (that was 5 years ago)

Got married in the US to a UK citizen

[LDN]

Hi Beth,

I'm not so sure how it works because I already had Indefinite Leave to Remain when we were married, so I didn't have to do anything afterwards.

I would just warn you that it took ages to get the marriage certificate. I ordered it from Services Ontario (or whatever that site is called), but I had to keep chasing it up. A marriage doesn't get "registered" immediately and they can't issue a certificate until they can find it on the register. Basically two government bodies who don't play well together. IIRC I finally got it in December, and we were married in July!

My sister was in the UK on a working holiday when she married her husband (also a brit), and I remember that she was able to apply for the change to spousal visa here once she had the documents by going in person to the Home Office in Croydon. But that was in 1999, so rules may have changed since then.

Best of luck, at any rate. And congratulations.