Provisional Bookings

[Ady]

Thanks all for your advice. Sorry I haven't thanked you earlier, I am just able to log in and reply now!

I suppose the Embassy has to respect the rules of other Government departments, so I will mention that in the letter (although I will try once more to get a provisional date at another Registry Office). I could make a provisional booking at a Hotel - and I think that is a happy medium.

Xebec, your message is very reassuring for another reason. It seems the ECO's are reasonable at times .

So, my plan for now is to make a provisional booking for a reception, to give the registry office one more try. After all, even if they refuse us for the reason that there is insufficient evidence that a wedding will take place, I am confident that we could contest that in any subsequent appeal (not thinking negatively, just practically).

[LEAHnew]

Thanks all for your advice. Sorry I haven't thanked you earlier, I am just able to log in and reply now!

I suppose the Embassy has to respect the rules of other Government departments, so I will mention that in the letter (although I will try once more to get a provisional date at another Registry Office). I could make a provisional booking at a Hotel - and I think that is a happy medium.

Xebec, your message is very reassuring for another reason. It seems the ECO's are reasonable at times .

So, my plan for now is to make a provisional booking for a reception, to give the registry office one more try. After all, even if they refuse us for the reason that there is insufficient evidence that a wedding will take place, I am confident that we could contest that in any subsequent appeal (not thinking negatively, just practically).

Hi Ady just an update..did u got a provional letter from registry in the end? How did you prove a wedding will take place?
Congratulation once again for the success of the visa

cheers,
Leah

[Ady]

Hi Ady just an update..did u got a provional letter from registry in the end? How did you prove a wedding will take place?
Congratulation once again for the success of the visa

cheers,
Leah

Hi Leah,

Sorry for the late reply.

Basically, I got a reception booked at a local restaurant. They gave me proof on headed paper. I also wrote in the cover letter....

"It is our full intention to live together, and to marry in the UK within 6 months of any entry clearance being granted. I have spoken to the Superintendent at the XXXXXX Registry Office, as well as the Superintendent at the XXXXX Registry Office. Both Superintendents are unable to provide us with a booking (provisional or otherwise) until Sheila has been resident in the UK for 7 days. We have, however, reserved a venue for our preferred wedding date. The venue is The Prince of Wales Restaurant in XXXXX and the venue has been reserved for May 16th 2009."

Now, the ECO should know that the rules are that a booking cannot be made until the fiance has been resident in the UK for 7/8 days. That is what we did, and I think it is not necessary to have a booking from a registry office (after all, the ECOs will be aware of the rules). If you can get one, then that is great. However, if not, there are other ways to show intent.

[LEAHnew]

Wow thank you so much for the reply
Very helpful inputs Ady. It made us relieve. My fiance booked our wedding at Walsall but same to your situation they can't produced letter as well,
they told my fiance that I need to arrived first in UK . But they acknowledge his reservation date (amazing it's same to your date)
and gave the officer full name as reference.

We have chosen May 16th as well coz I supposed to apply last December 2008 but I got ill and hospitalized thank God I recover easily
He will move it on July as more realistic considering the waiting time for visa is changeable we hope will be lucky same like you that takes only 8 weeks

I will send your reply to my kukupops he will be delighted to know this

All the best,
Leah

[sammy]

Hi Ady, I phoned my local registrar in Ealing London and told the superintendant i wanted to get married in sept 09 and that my fiancee has yet to arrive in the UK. I asked for a provisional booking and they confirmed the date was ok to book and put it in their computer.I just told them plans were made for everything to happen on that day and i wanted to make sure the date and time was available and not allready booked.On asking for some sort of confirmation they said confirmation was only available if i pay for the booking, I done so with c/card (£53.50 for week day)over the phone and 5 days later i got in the post a compliments slip, my visa payment customer copy,a payment receipt with our names and present addresses and a provisional booking form (letter headed) with our names, date and place where the ceremony will be. It seems they have done this many times before. I would tell your registrar that if Ealing does it why dont they and opt to pay for the provisional booking just to safeguard the date so you can start making arrangements around that date.
good luck again
Sammy

[Mrs.JMajor]

.On asking for some sort of confirmation they said confirmation was only available if i pay for the booking, I done so with c/card (£53.50 for week day)over the phone and 5 days later i got in the post a compliments slip,
Sammy

you pay for the booking shocks,at great yarmouth my hubby didn't pay anything,so just wondering why some places had their different rules of law,some dint give booking slip