Dear NAIRALANDERS
I am  presntly living in lagos at the moment and my girlfriend is british living in the Uk,we have been dating each other for over a year now and we are bent on getting married, but she has always want to get married in the chuch of england, thats her family church,ratehr than in nigeria but i would like anyone with a vast idean on the uk settlement thing to please advise which would be better and faster, a fiancee visa or spouse visa, she has all the requirements needed,we would like to know how long does it take to process these applications, would fiancee visa be faster or should we get married here in lagos and apply for  a settlement, all her family lives in england and she would want them present,
pls Akolawola,imani and others i would want your views,Thank you

If you are going to get married in UK, then you have to apply for a Marraige Visa-it is a 6 months visa for the purpose of getting married. At its expiration you will need to leave the UK to Nigeria and apply for for a spouse settlement visa (assuming you got married on your marriage visa visit).

A fiancee visa is given for the purpose of visiting a common-law partner.From experience the burden of proof is very very high for those appliying from Third World countries compared to Non-Visa nationals from Canada,Australia or South Africa for instance applying for the same visa. When you are married and apply for a spouse visa you will have much more stronger basis for getting a visa issued.

My advice is for you guys to get married in Lagos then subsequently apply for a Settlement Spouse visa, but get ready for a barrage of intimidating and embarassing questions from the ECO during your Visa interview. They would like to know whether the relationship is subsisting and not an "arrangee" marriage or "Internet dating".

LondonCool has said it all.

Imani:

LondonCool has said it all.

Not quite.

If you are getting married in the Church of England(Anglican)
then strictly speaking you don't require a marriage visit visa.
You will however need to obtain a visit visa to come to the UK
in the first place and it is probably better that you are upfront and
declare your reasons for coming to the UK to the ECO.

It really depends on your personal circumstances as to whether or
not you will be granted a visa for whatever purpose you apply, be it
settlement or visit.

Good luck.

VOR:

If you are getting married in the Church of England(Anglican)

Baba,

Confess to me:

1) You are UK Solicitor or work for one;

2) You bring in Dutch girls to get em em em.

Do you know somebody argue with me for weeks on Church of England stuff? She said i must show her in immigration rules where that is stated? But i told her " i combined rules with field work" I am not too bookish.

Dont you think that is discrimination against other churches or religion?

Is it because Prince Charles is the head of the Church or what?

@VOR,

I didn't remember the Church of England "option"

But, don't you have to have been a member of the Church, baptised and confirmed before you can wed in a local parish?

Imani:

@VOR,

I didn't remember the Church of England "option"

But, don't you have to have been a member of the Church, baptised and confirmed before you can wed in a local parish?

Madam, you dont need to, even Muslim get marry there

No, pretty much anyone can get married in a church of England church.

A lot of non-Christians do it.