American marrying Pole, then moving to the UK. Has anyone done this before?

Hi, everyone. I've got a rather weird question about some immigration business. About a month ago, my fiance got an invitation to work in a new firm in the UK. We have lived in Wroclaw for about a year now, and while I'm sad to go, I think it will be a good experience. Anyway, what's worrying me is that it seems extremely difficult for an American to go there on a "partner visa". In order to even get a partner visa, we'd have to provide proof that we've been together for two years. We've been together for two and a half, but we've also been on contract in places like South Korea and Vietnam, so these dual-bank statements and co-signed leases they want us to provide are a no-go. It's becoming pretty clear that we're just going to have to go ahead and get married, which is fine, because we've been expecting this kind of thing if we want to travel more together. The problem is that we only have about a month and a half to do this, then the UK is saying that it's probably not a good idea to show up at the airport without the visa in hand. So....

Has anyone done this before?
How long does a typical visa take?
Am I going to end up in some interrogation room somewhere underneath Heathrow?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

It's an exceptionally bad idea. You'll almost certainly be either refused entry - or failing that, you won't be able to obtain the relevant visa from within the UK.


A long time. I don't think you'll even get the visa in the circumstances you describe - it's an EEA family permit, but they very carefully scrutinise applications for this (in violation of EU law, but don't complain - you won't get anywhere).

Can't he just go to UK as a tourist, marry in UK and then apply for family/spouse visa? Surely - being American he shouldn't have problems being let into the UK?

Get the official information here: ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

That's one way which might raise eyebrows: he being American and her Polish they will put one and one together and figure out that he's trying to stay in the country longer.

He can enter the country but the fact remains he wants to live there longer with his partner.
Then again if he gets married here and apply straight away they will still treat it as suspicious.
I'm no expert but from what i know in such cases you just have to be honest.
U don't have to be afraid that u're not married to your partner at least they do recognise partnerships.
U say u have been together for two and a half years and have been on contracts in South Korea and Vietnam- show them all the proof that u have!

They are not going to refuse u the permit just because you have failed to produce some of the supporting evidence.
If they are not satisfied they can always call u up for an interview. After all you don't pay anything for the application.
PS: u won't be applying for a Visa but for an EEA family permit.

ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/documents

^Now thats a surprise^

As far as I know, the UK doesn't recognise the "upgrading" of immigration status in that way. You have to enter the UK on the EEA family permit.

So can't he apply from Poland and go there on tourist visa? I don't know the process, so perhaps not, but if it takes long maybe this is an option?

Before I tell you how to do this, one question. Is your future spouse of European ancestry?

Thanks for all the information, everyone. I'm writing under my actual username now, so sorry for the confusion. Was the last poster asking if my fiance was white? Um...yes, he's Polish. I've been up and down the website for the UK Visa Bureau, which has some information, but it's like pulling teeth trying to get ahold of anyone in person. I suppose what I'm asking is, will I be unable to travel to the UK with my (future, and will be by the time of our move) husband because I don't have a EEA Family Permit? My plan is now to come in as a tourist, then take care of the paperwork while I'm getting us settled into an apartment or something, and maybe leave the country after the permit is issued in order to RE-enter on the permit. I think in any other country this might be an option, but I know that the UK borderguard is notoriously hardnosed about this kind of thing. Considering I live with my fiance now, and we're getting rid of the apartment when we move, if he leaves and I can't go with him, I'm kind of in trouble.

Again, thanks for the suggestions.

Sorry, I know I mentioned this before, but....we'll be getting married IN Poland BEFORE we leave. So, we'll have a marriage license (if the civil office can get off it's hind end and get us the contract by the end of the year....). We'll be husband and wife when entering the country. I just won't have an EEA Family Permit. How have other people dealt with this. Any ideas?

You need the EEA family permit - end of story. You can't upgrade from within the UK - he needs to apply in advance of entry.

And how long does that usually take? Weeks? Months?

Merged: American marrying a Polish national trying to settle in the UK

Hi,

My Polish fiancé and I are looking into settling either in the UK or US. She lives in London and earns over £30,000 so we thought, considering the financials and processing times, it would be easier for me to go there. To do this, we are planning on getting married in Poland. Now since I am American and can got to the EU without ESTA or any other visa. Does it mean we can get married here and he can go back to the States and apply for the EEA family permit? Or do we need to apply for the a fiancé visa, get married there and have my EEA family visa being processed here? If so, are processing times for finacee visa same as for spousal visa and EEA permit?

Thank you,

Justin