great info. Very strange to hear of the bizarre rules in England/Wales, especially around "religious" vows not allowed in civil partnership. How strange. Sounds like I'll need to get Unioned in Australia after all.
Hi @scottsworld, yes, they are very strict, as we are not allowed to step on the toes of any religious rituals at all. Good luck with your planning in Australia, Caroline
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments - I am making more videos featuring all the questions you have been asking and more - Make sure to subscribe and hit the bell if you want to be notified each time I make a new video! Also if you want to check out my intimate exclusive use wedding venue in the heart of the English Lake District here: www.cotehow.co.uk or follow me on Instagram here: instagram.com/cotehowlakedistrictweddings/ Thank you so much, Caroline :)
So me and my partner are both US citizens and we have friends in the UK that we would like as are witnesses. We are wanting to get married in the UK. What is the steps to make this happen? Do we need a visitor visa and do we have to be there 7 days before going to a courthouse and eloping?
@wesleygarlick5503, thank you for your question and I apologise it has taken so long to see it. In short, you would need to apply for a marriage visa, which allows you up to 6 months in the UK to marry. You need to be a resident in the UK, in the county where you intend to give notice to marry for 7 days before giving notice. Then the notice to marry period between giving notice and your ceremony date usually takes 29 days to be approved, so you can either stay in the UK for the whole 5 weeks pending your wedding or come back again. Provided you complete your wedding within the 6-month window that your marriage visa allows. Here is some more useful information: www.gov.uk/marriage-visa/apply - I hope this is useful, Caroline
Hi, my initial thoughts are that you would still need to apply for citizenship, after you have had a spouse visa for a certian period of time, but this will need checking. The best place is here: www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-spouse I hope that helps, Caroline
@jardeniagomes7437, the Covenant Marriages are available only in some selected states in the US, and are basically a commitment to marry for life, making it harder to divorce, except for cases of physical abuse, adultery or abandonment. This is not my area of expertise as we don't have these forms of marriages in the UK, but best of luck with your wedding planning. Let us know how you get along, Caroline
Hi Caroline, I'm American and I've applied for a UK marriage visa. May I arrive in the UK before the visa start date or do I have to arrive on the exact date given on the visa? Do I have to see an immigration officer and have the visa stamped upon entry or can I use the Egates as normal? I'm also confused on the number of days for residency. The local council where I'll give intent is saying 8 days residency instead of 7. Thanks so much.
It would depend on whether you have a usual visa to be here for a time before you need to give notice to marry. With regard to the egates, I do not know I am afraid. I think you need to be in residence for 7 days and give notice on the 8th day. I hope this helps, Let me know how you get on, Caroline
If you would like to see the postcode finder, it is here: www.gov.uk/register-offices For more information and to download our free crib sheet: www.cotehow.co.uk/how-to-book-my-wedding/
Thanks for the video. Just to be clear, if my partner and I both live in West sussex but want to marry in East Sussex, do we need to give notice to both councils?
Hi @JC-hw3wt, If you both live in West Sussex then you can both give notice to marry together in West Sussex, but you would book a registrar from East Sussex to marry you in an East Sussex venue. I hope that helps, Caroline
Hi @karissatrinidad6484, anyone travelling to the UK to marry would still need their BRP and passport to enter the country. So I would assume your passport would still be required to give notice to marry.
Hi @roshanmr9733, thank you for your question. If you are a non-uk national you would need to get a marriage visa, as you cannot marry on a student visa. Is your girlfriend british? If not then she will also need to apply for a marriage visa too. I am doing a new video on this subject shortly so subscribe to be notified once this is available. Once you have your marriage visa you still need to give notice, book a licensed venue etc as per this video. I hope that helps, Caroline
Hi@@mumtazaslam788this is certainly nothing to worry about. As you will have already given your "Notice to Marry" at your local registry office, the on-the-day registrar interview involves checking through the paperwork for spelling mistakes or errors, then they will go through what will happen during the ceremony, including where to stand and what they will say, and how you can repeat after them etc. They will also ask how you want to be introduced afterwards, ie, "Mr and Mrs ...." , or "Mrs and Mrs ....", because not everyone takes their partner's name. So they usually ask to be polite. I hope this helps, Caroline
Hi @gouris1429, if you are already in the UK on a student visa, you would need to apply for a marriage visa back in your birth country. Then return to the UK with your marriage visa. Once in the UK you have up to 6 months to marry before that visa expires. I hope that helps. Caroline
I’m in the U.K. Northern Ireland getting married in July 2024 but for some reasons I don’t have my birth certificate it I have Identity documents,Passport and my visa. The registry wouldn’t allow me to get married due to the fact that I don’t my birth certificate. I’m original from South Africa and I have tried to get my birth certificate but according to our system in SA my late mother did not get a birth certificate for me. Do you have any advice on how can I proceed with the procedure
