Hi,

We wer just wondering whether its easier to get married in London or New York .

The groom is from London , the bride from New York - We plan on living in London for eighteen months and then moving back to New York permanently -

Which would you go for

Thanks

I would say to get married in London because it is easier getting a visit for marriage visa than it is to get a K-1 visa for America. That is what my husband and I did. I being the bride am also from New York and my husband is from the UK. If you want to pm me, I can explain how to do it. Right now I am pressed for time lol. Since you are planning on staying in London for 18 months, I would suggest getting the fiance visa as that would entitle the bride to stay and also work. Again, I will explain all the options in regards to doing it in London vs New York when I get back.

PS..your fiance will apply online for the visa, then set up an appointment, (the sooner the better because I had to wait 2 months until I could make my appointment. Again I will explain later) But when your fiance goes for the appointment, she will get her visa that day and will be able to fly out to you that day.

LJ

According to the other thread she is a PR, needs to sort out her Citizenship first.

Why PR can not married ? What's a different?

Only a US citizen can petition for a fiance visa. A PR (permanent resident) is not a US Citizen.

Jen

No, but a PR cannot sponsor for a K-1 and there is a years-long wait for a PR to sponsor a spouse. Much faster if she is a citizen.

They don't need a K1 visa if they do not intend to stay in the USA after they get married. He can use his VWP to get married and come back to London.

I have heard that it takes weeks before you can get your marriage certificate... In the UK however you get it straight after your wedding... I would suggest you get a fiancee visa and get married in London and then file for a Spousal visa here.

Good luck!

Depends on where you are married. You can get it same-day some places, some places it takes time for the paperwork. For us, it took two days.

Who is this other Joey?? Hi, Joey122 this is Joey559. That's really all I had to say. Congrats and good luck!

In New York, you can get the license one day and get married the next (they do have a 24 hour waiting period). In order to marry in the US, you do not need a visa. You only need to have the correct documents to prove your identity and to also prove you are legally free to marry (divorce decree from prior marriage, for instance).

If you apply and pay the visa fee online, you can make an appointment at the UK consulate in New York for your interview, present the required documentation and perhaps even get your spousal visa the same day as your interview.

I'd say it's a lot easier to get married here in the states. If you get a UK fiancee visa, you also have to pay to adjust status once you've married in the UK, you have to publish bans, and wait a few weeks before you can marry there.

One thing to remember is that when you are on PR status here, if you are gone from the US for 6 months, you are considered to have abandoned your residencey here in the states.

Lot more complicated than that,

Update:

Citizenship of finace now in final stages of approval

Referring to post about getting married in New York as opposed to London - You need a K1 Visa .... Which from what I have heard is very difficult to obtain..

Please confirm?

Where did you hear that?

Not on this site.

What is the groom's citizenship? A K-1 visa is for coming to the US to get married AND stay (immigrate). UK citizesn may come to the US on the Visa Waiver Program (no visa) and get married. As luvaLimey says, it is way faster and easier to marry in the US vs UK.

If the groom is not a UKC & doesn't belong to a VWP country, he would need a B visa to come to the US for just a marriage ceremony, which might change your whole equation.

You'll need to look into what visa the bride will need (if any) to live in the UK. A spousal sponsorship and application can be made at the UK Consulate in the US.