To marry in China or the UK? pros and cons

Hpkguy · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 4

I have been with my Chinese National girlfriend for some time and we both want to get married. We have both spent a lot of time researching the options and speaking to various consulates etc. But we are still not sure the best way to proceed.

She is single and 31 .. I am divorced and ten years older.

After we are married we both wish to live together in the UK. So the question is: do I go to China with my CNI and passport and get the marriage registered there and then apply for a spouse visa so she can move to the UK ... and then in a couple of years we apply for her PR status ... or

... do we apply for a fiance visa for her and then get married in the UK?

Embassies and consulates etc. will not give advice on this but I am sure one way must be better than the other.

There must be many other couples who did this. So if anyone has any advice it would be gratefully received. What problems may we encounter with either way? What has proved successful for other couples.

Many thanks

kang dàyé · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject:

i'm not mocking you. dont ask the question, stop calling her "my CN" , does she call you "my UKN" ? just go ahead and marry her and learn to live with the consequences and that might mean a fight with and humiliations from the authorities not to mention the shamefull amount of money they will extract from you in the process , so learn to kick bach and keep kicking until you win.

10th December 1948, you only got yourselves to blame, don't ask the question

Hpkguy · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 4

No, I never call her my CN gf ... I was simply using that for clarity in the question as I thought it was very relevant when asking it ... the question was WHERE would people recommend we marry - UK or CN?

Thank you for your advice ... we will certainly marry, here or there, and yes, I am sure there will be some battles along the way.

lealing · Joined: 02 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Location: London

You've probably done the deed by now.

However here is my two pennies worth. I don't see any difference in getting married in either China or the UK. You apply through the embassy/consulate in China for either a fiance or spouse visa either way. One tip is to be in China when you apply for the visa. I think it would help your partner's application.

Make sure you keep all proof of your time spent together for the application.

Hpkguy · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 4

Yes you're right .. done the deed now. In China at the end of 2010. Applied for a spouse visa in summer 2011 and 2 months later we got it - not even an interview.

So now we're both in England - since earlier this year ... I can't compare the two ways as we only did one Smile

... but it worked. Yes we kept all documentation of our time spent together and it seems it satisfied them.

I was there when we submitted the application - but only as moral support. Currently applying for a Schengen visa for her so we can visit Europe together.

Thank for the reply

lealing · Joined: 02 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Location: London

Congratulations!

I know someone who did the fiance visa but that was because they wanted to live in the UK together for a few months to properly decide that they were sure before they got married. They have now been married for 8 years with a daughter. Still going strong!

Hpkguy · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 4

Thanks ...

I guess it's impossible to ever know which way is best ... as you can only do one - so will never know if the other way would have been better. And I doubt there are any official statistics on success / failures.

We have no plans yet for a child ... still too busy exploring the UK to have time for that.

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