What next??

[darren-b]

She needs to apply for FLR (Further leave to remain) after you get married but before her visa runs out. This costs £465 for a postal application, or £665 if you apply in person. Once FLR is granted she will be able to work and have no trouble leaving the UK for holidays or trips home.

As you say this will only be valid for 2 years and she will have to apply for another visa just before it expires. At the moment the visa she would have to apply for after the 2 years is called ILR (Indefinite leave to remain) which costs £820/£1020 (postal/in person) and to apply for that she would need need to pass the Life in the UK test. But the system is changing and by the time her FLR runs out she will need to apply for probationary citizenship instead of ILR, and then forced to apply for citizenship or permanent residency after that.

[james2007uk]

She needs to apply for FLR (Further leave to remain) after you get married but before her visa runs out. This costs £465 for a postal application, or £665 if you apply in person. Once FLR is granted she will be able to work and have no trouble leaving the UK for holidays or trips home.

As you say this will only be valid for 2 years and she will have to apply for another visa just before it expires. At the moment the visa she would have to apply for after the 2 years is called ILR (Indefinite leave to remain) which costs £820/£1020 (postal/in person) and to apply for that she would need need to pass the Life in the UK test. But the system is changing and by the time her FLR runs out she will need to apply for probationary citizenship instead of ILR, and then forced to apply for citizenship or permanent residency after that.

Thanks for all that, most of what you mentioned I didnt know... its been a very big learning curve, for both of us.