Second Visa?

[Arthur Little]

I wish people (especially those who took the spouse route) would stop giving incorrect information about fiancee visas . You do not need to have evidence of any bookings, and even a provisional date might be difficult if you don't know when the visa will be granted.

The ECOs know it is difficult if not impossible to make any real arrangements for a wedding in the UK until both the bride and groom are actually in the UK. Also you could have the biggest wedding provisionally booked, but it doesn't actually mean you are going to get married.

Sure, Entry Clearance Officers are bound to be well-aware of the difficulties involved in making any FIRM arrangements ... which is why I've always felt that *this was a rather daft prerequisite. Nevertheless, I can assure you that it DOES exist. I mean what OTHER means of proof can an ECO possibly expect? ... apart from the sponsor being in a position to wholly bear the cost of supporting the applicant financially [and in terms of providing suitable accommodation] for the duration of the visa, up until the time when FLR is granted and the applicant [by then the married partner] is allowed to take up employment.

So ... no, I don't think I've given INCORRECT information here. And I continue to STAND BY my belief that the Fiance(e) Visa is an unnecessary waste of money ... UNLESS the circumstances are such, that they are dictated by the sponsor's work commitments. But even then, if he/she has planned his holiday arrangements well in advance [with the objective of marriage abroad in mind] it need not prove an insurmountable obstacle. Indeed, I know of someone on this forum who is shortly travelling to the Philippines fo a mere 8 days in order to visit his mahal. Such is the "pull" of the Power of Love!

[darren-b]

Being one of those who opted for the spousal route, I'm quite prepared to admit I am not 100 per cent au fait with the PRECISE requirements for the fiance(e) alternative. In the light of Darren's reply, I decided, this morning, to do a bit more research and logged-on to a number of relevant websites - including the undernoted:
http://www.migrationexpert.co/uk/Vis...sa_fiancee.asp ... where there is a section which clearly states that "applicants for a fiancee visa will require to provide *EVIDENCE of their intention to marry". Sure, Entry Clearance Officers are bound to be well-aware of the difficulties involved in making any FIRM arrangements ... which is why I've always felt that *this was a rather daft prerequisite. Nevertheless, I can assure you that it DOES exist. I mean what OTHER means of proof can an ECO possibly expect? ... apart from the sponsor being in a position to wholly bear the cost of supporting the applicant financially [and in terms of providing suitable accommodation] for the duration of the visa, up until the time when FLR is granted and the applicant [by then the married partner] is allowed to take up employment.

So ... no, I don't think I've given INCORRECT information here. And I continue to STAND BY my belief that the Fiance(e) Visa is an unnecessary waste of money ... UNLESS the circumstances are such, that they are dictated by the sponsor's work commitments. But even then, if he/she has planned his holiday arrangements well in advance [with the objective of marriage abroad in mind] it need not prove an insurmountable obstacle. Indeed, I know of someone on this forum who is shortly travelling to the Philippines fo a mere 8 days in order to visit his mahal. Such is the "pull" of the Power of Love!

Your words were "you would be expected to prove to the British Embassy that the two of you have set at least a provisional date for the ceremony, and provide evidence of a reception being booked " which is incorrect.

To me ~£400 was worth it to be able to spend the best part of 6 months living together in the UK. Also in the past spouse visas were only 2 years and I know many people who took the spouse route but because they delayed their journey by more than a month had to apply for FLR anyway.