Hi there
I am a Brit, on an E-2 visa, been working in DC for 2 years. My fiance is American. We want to get married in the UK next May. I know that you have to be resident for 7 days in the UK before applying for a marriage license, but does anyone know what the other laws/procedures are? If we are both resident here but I don't have a green card am I still considered a UK resident? It's quite confusing! Should I tell them I still live in the UK or that I live in the US??? I am worried that if I say I live in the US that we won't be allowed to get married in the UK.....
Any advice greatly appreicated! D
We got married in the UK whilst living in Spain.
My aunt was very helpful and went to the register and made an advance booking.
When I went to the registrars he said one of us had to be resident for 3 weeks before the date of the wedding.
7 days resident plus the 15 days waiting period(same as banns in church)
I was actually a few days short of the 3 weeks.
I just went to give formal notice the first day I was in the UK, which is acceptable.
Hubby to be had to be resident for 7 days, he was there 6 days but they had no way of knowing.
They don't stamp your passport when you travel between EU countries.
Here's the website for the General register office that might be helpful.
http//www.statistics.gov.uk/registration/Marriage/MarriageLegal.asp
Thanks that's really useful. We're going back to the UK for a week at Christmas - so does that mean we can register when my fiance has been there for 7 days at Christmas and say the date of our wedding is May 8th, or can we only register 21 days before the wedding (with the 7 days resident bit and the 15 days banns bit).
Where in Spain did you live - I lived in Ronda and San Pedro for 2 years. I love it there!
Yes from what I know you should be able to give notice at the register office after being there 7 days at Christmas.
You will probably want to book the date at that time too.
Give the address of the where you are staying, preferably a relative.
After another 15 days you will have one year to get married.
If you don't get married in that year you will have to give notice again.
If you are still unsure of anything you could ask someone you know to go to the register office you will be using and ask for more details.
Or you can contact the General Register office here
HOW TO CONTACT US
If you have any further questions which you feel have not been answered by our web site pages you can contact us in any of the following ways
By Email
marriages.gro@ons.gov.uk
By Fax
+44 (0)151 471 4523
By Telephone
+44 (0)151 471 4803/4814
By Post
Marriages Section
General Register Office
Smedley Hydro
Trafalgar Road
Southport
PR8 2HH