Hello

My fiance and I were turned down for a COA by the home office because of my visitors permit, but were told by our COE Minister that we could apply to be married in England (bypassing the Home Office) as we live in Scotland. I am happy to say that today we were issued with our marriage licence (£68) after meeting the residency requirement of 15 days residing in England. We had to have an address when applying so we stayed at a local Hotel just over the boarder. Once you have completed the 15 days, you are required by the Diocese to swear an affidavid confirming your stay and the licence was issued in 15 minutes. I am happy to say that we will be married in the local English church this coming saturday.

I cannot confirm that you will be granted residency because you are married but check other sites in the forum and read others who are in the same boat as you.

Good Luck

 

Hi
The reason we were turned down for a COE is because I am a New Zealand Citizen and was travelling on a visitors permit. To be able to qualify I must of had more that 6 mths on my permit and a visitors only allows 6mths so therefore I was refused. Because both myself and my fiance are baptised christians and were attending the COE in Scotland, we qualify under a different set of rules separate from the Home Office. All we had to do was meet the criteria of 15 days residency and we were granted a marriage licence on the 15th day. A very simple procedure as long as you and your fiance are baptised.

Hope this helps.

 

Just one more thing.

We did not speak to our minister in Scotland, but contacted a Minister in the nearest COE closest to the Scotish boarder. We told him the circumstance regarding the COA and he advised us on who to contact for a licence. There are two types, a civil licence, means you must have a COA to marry e.g., marrying in a registry office or privately and a common licence which is issued by the church and therefore you marry in a church. At our interview for the licence no questions were asked regarding our circumstance only that we were both free to marry with no impediments. If either you or your fiance has been divorced then you must provide the Divorce Decri. Once the licence is issued you give it to the minister who will be marring you and thats all there is too it.

Hope this helps

 

Hi

Just a quick update. Our wedding day was both beautiful and memorable with family and friends there to make it extra special. It went off without a hitch and we are now both back in Scotland packing for our move to New Zealand.

Good luck with your planning.