Marriage Visitor Visa Application Example
- Brandon Hughes
- Mar 16
- 7 min read
There are two types of visas for individuals who wish to come to the UK to get married.
The first is a marriage visitor visa, intended for someone who wants to marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK but does not plan to stay after the wedding.
The second is a fiancé(e) visa, designed for a visa national to marry a British citizen or someone settled in the UK and stay in the UK afterwards.
It is important not to confuse the two. In this example, we will focus on a foreign national who wishes to marry a British citizen but does not plan to stay after the wedding.
Marriage visitor visa application example scenario:
Jessica is a British citizen who works as a lecturer at King’s College. She earns £56,000 per year and lives in a two-bedroom apartment she purchased a year ago.
Jessica has been in a long-distance relationship with Argentinian national Alonso for two years. They met when Alonso was on a six-month visitor visa in the UK to attend Jessica’s best friend's wedding in London.
During his stay in the UK, Alonso and Jessica took many road trips within the country and enjoyed several local getaway holidays. In 2023, Jessica travelled to Argentina with Alonso to visit his friends and family.
Since then, Jessica and Alonso have stayed in touch through letters and social media. They also visit each other in different countries every four to five months for a couple of weeks.
Alonso is a senior vice president at the Central Bank of Argentina and works in Buenos Aires. Due to the unfortunate passing of his wife six years ago, he has sole responsibility for his 12-year-old daughter. Additionally, he owns a three-bedroom apartment in the city. Following the death of his father last year, Alonso has also taken on the responsibility of caring for his elderly mother.
Jessica and Alonso plan to get married in the UK. After their wedding, Jessica intends to relocate to Buenos Aires with Alonso and settle in Argentina.
How can Jessica and Alonso get married in the UK?
Alonson must apply for a marriage visitor visa to marry Jessica in the UK. To obtain a successful application, he must meet the validity, suitability, and eligibility requirements.
What requirements must be met in a marriage visitor visa?
Alonso must apply for an entry clearance application as a visitor online using the form “apply for a UK visit visa”.
He must pay the required application fees and provide his biometrics and a valid passport.
He must be outside the UK before making this application and to a post designed to accept such applications.
If Alonso does not meet the above validity requirements, his application may be rejected as invalid and not considered.
What are the suitability requirements?
Alonso must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal (e.g. due to criminal convictions or previous breaches of the immigration rules or because he owes money to the NHS).
What eligibility requirements would Alonso need to meet?
Alonso must demonstrate to the entry clearance officer that he meets all eligibility requirements under the Immigration Rules.
He must prove that he will leave the UK at the end of his stay (i.e. after a maximum of six months).
He must prove that he will not live in the UK for extended periods through successive visits or make the UK his primary home.
He must prove he is in a genuine relationship and genuinely seeking entry into the UK to marry Jessica.
He must prove that he has sufficient funds to cover all reasonable expenses related to his visit without working or accessing public funds in the UK, including the cost of his return journey and any activities he plans to engage in while in the country.
Any funds he will rely on to cover the cost of his trip must be held in an approved financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for which that institution operates and uses electronic record keeping. The decision-maker can then make verification checks.
He must not undertake any prohibited activities (i.e. he will not work in the UK during his visit).
Alonso and Jessica must be over 18 on the date of the application.
He must give notice of marriage within six months of his arrival at the local UK registry office to marry in the UK.
He must prove that he intends to get married in the UK during his stay as a visitor which is not a sham marriage).
He must provide evidence showing that he will have adequate accommodation during his stay in the UK.
He must provide proof of any other activities which he wants to do in the UK.
What type of documents may Alonso need to submit?
General Information:
Details of any criminal convictions.
Details of countries outside the U.K. which Alonso had visited or lived in.
Family links within his home country, such as his child and mother, for whom he is the primary carer. Good evidence to submit may include documents such as unabridged birth certificates and passports.
The death certificate of his daughter’s mother.
Alonso must provide a written statement confirming that he has sole responsibility for his child and is exercising the typical role played by a caring parent. He must also provide any evidence to prove this, such as a letter from his child’s school, doctor, dentist, etc.
A letter from his mother explaining that he takes care of her day-to-day needs since the passing of his father. If Alonso’s mother is unable to do this, he may be able to get a letter from her doctor confirming Alonso is her primary carer.
Identity Documents:
Alonso’s and Jessica’s valid passports (this will provide details of their names, nationalities, and dates of birth). Alonso’s passport must have a blank page for his visa.
Alonso would need to provide his immigration history showing countries outside the UK that he has visited or lived in. Previous compliance with immigration laws is an excellent indicator of his intention to leave. He could provide copies of the photo pages of old passports, visas, and entry stamps.
Travel IDs and National Insurance numbers if he has them.
Marriage/ Visit Details & Accommodation:
A statement from both Alonso and Jessica explaining the purpose of the visit and any relevant background to their decision to marry in the U.K. Why the UK? Why now? A letter from Alonso and Jessica explaining that they have no wish to settle in the UK once married, evidencing Alonso’s ties to his home country.
A detailed itinerary of how he intends to spend his time in the UK and the cost of any activities here, including where he plans to stay, i.e., Jessica’s flat, etc.
Documents showing their wedding arrangements in the UK, such as correspondence with the registry office and the wedding date.
Details of the marriage and proof they have paid for some of its costs.
A letter from Alonso explaining the relationship.
A letter from his close family and friends who can vouch for his relationship, dated and signed, with a copy of their passports.
Financial Documents:
Alonso would need to provide his valid payslips and verified bank statements for the last six months, showing his income and sufficient savings to cover all reasonable costs related to his stay without working or accessing public funds, including the costs of a return journey.
A valid letter from his employers with information on his employment and gross annual salary, length of employment, period over which he is paid, salary level, and type of employment. The letter should be on company-headed paper and signed by a senior manager.
Evidence of his property ownership in Buenos Aires.
Ongoing financial commitments such as his mortgage, utility bills, ongoing finance, etc.
Any documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a complete translation that the Home Office can independently verify. Each translation must contain:
Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document.
The date of translation.
The translator’s full name and signature.
The translator’s contact details.
How can Alonso make his application?
Alonso must apply online using the marriage visit visa application form. He must then pay the application fee online and submit the application to the Home Office. He can apply for his visa three months before he travels.
When the application has been submitted, Alonso must make an appointment to attend a Visa Application Centre in Buenos Aires to enroll in his biometrics (have his face and fingerprints scanned). He will then need to upload scans of the documents he has provided. Then, he will need to wait for the decision. Applications take about three weeks to be decided.
Decision time
Based on the above, Alonso meets the requirements for a successful application. However, there is no guarantee the visa will be granted. If Alonso is refused, it is advised that he discuss his application with an Immigration Advisor to help with his application.
Alonso genuinely intends to visit the UK to get married and then return home. He has previously complied with the visit rules. He also has ties to his country, including his property ownership, his banking career, and family ties, so there should be no suspicion that he will want to stay in the UK or work while he is here.
Provided the decision maker is satisfied that all the validity and suitability requirements and the relevant eligibility requirements for a Visitor are met, the application will be granted for an initial period not exceeding 6 months. Alonso will have no recourse to public funds and must not undertake any prohibited activities, as listed in the Immigration Rules. A list of permitted activities can be found in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities.
Alonso should receive a decision within 3 weeks of his appointment. He might be able to pay an extra £500 for a decision within five working days or £1,000 for a decision within 24 hours (not including weekends or bank holidays). He will need to check with the visa application centre.
How ABC Immigration London can help?
ABC Immigration London is your trusted partner in navigating the UK immigration system. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service and emphasise professionalism, empathy, and integrity. Whether you want to come to the UK to get married or for another reason, which may require a UK visa, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
Note: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The example of Alonso and Jessica is fictional and not based on actual clients. While we strive to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect current legal developments. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and, therefore, cannot accept liability for any errors. Each applicant’s application is unique and may require the submission of additional documentation specific to their circumstances. We recommend consulting with a qualified immigration advisor before making decisions based on this content.
References:
GOV.UK Appendix Visitor
GOV.UK Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities
GOV.UK Appendix Visitor: Visa national list
GOV.UK Marriage Visitor Visa Overview
GOV.UK Immigration Rules | Part 9: Grounds for Refusal
GOV.UK Visit Guidance
GOV.UK Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents
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