Help needed on getting married in India - where to start etc

kingnpuk · Aug 10th, 2009, 18:23

Hi I am a UK citizen and my bride to be is a South African citizen. Our grandparents are Indian and live in Gujarat. We will be getting married near Surat in December.

I also wish to do our registry ceremony there and get the necessary visa for my wife to return to UK with me.

So I am requesting:

1) how to register in Surat, and what is procedure, where does it have to occur. Is it a formal event, exchange of vows etc or just signing of papers.

2) how to apply for a visa for my wife and how easy is it? thanks a lot

Nick-H · Aug 10th, 2009, 20:04

You start by using the Search function to find all the other threads on the same subject!

It is automatically generated, so may look different when you see it, but, without even searching you can see a list of similar threads at the bottom of the page. The first (right now) is Getting married in India...where to start.

You will find the answers to your second question by making a study of the UK Border Agency Visa Services site

Let me sidetrack you: Why do you want to get married in India?

Neither of you are Indian citizens and neither of you live there, and you don't seem to want to go through a religious marriage ceremony. I'd advise you to get married, at least formally, in the UK, where you plan to live. You can visit India and have whatever kind of ceremony you want, with grandparents etc.

kingnpuk · Aug 10th, 2009, 20:13

we have chosen india as most of her family is there and she does not have family in the UK. I also have a lot of family there so that was chosen as the destination for the wedding ceremony and religious ceremony.

Nick-H · Aug 10th, 2009, 20:45

OK, I expected that that would be the answer.

Still suggest that you marry formally, the legal bit in UK. Not only is a UK register office much nicer than an Indian one, but you also then have a paper that no UK authority will need to glance twice at.

In fact... you can have a whole second wedding, effectively, for your UK friends!

edwardseco · Aug 11th, 2009, 14:37

A registry just takes 30 days notice and maybe a couple of witnesses. Nick can tell you it ain't no big deal. My people had the registrar come to the religious wedding which is a lot more atmospheric (and that way they had a ton more witnesses)..

Indizen · Aug 11th, 2009, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingnpuk

Hi I am a UK citizen and my bride to be is a South African citizen. Our grandparents are Indian and live in Gujarat. We will be getting married near Surat in December.

I also wish to do our registry ceremony there and get the necessary visa for my wife to return to UK with me.

So I am requesting:

1) how to register in Surat, and what is procedure, where does it have to occur. Is it a formal event, exchange of vows etc or just signing of papers.

2) how to apply for a visa for my wife and how easy is it? thanks a lot

Is this going to be a Hindu wedding ceremony, with all the religious rituals?

kingnpuk · Aug 24th, 2009, 17:15

yes it will be a hindu ceremony. The problem I am having is that my fiance has only obtained a holiday visa for UK. Therefore if we can to the registry in india and then apply for a settlement visa from the british embassy in India it will make things easier for us.

But I am unsure about how to go about doing this and if it can be done swiftly? My bride will be in India for approx 40 days, I will be there for 14 days

Nick-H · Aug 24th, 2009, 18:00

For a Hindu ceremony, you can take the temple papers, photos, etc, along to a register office and register afterwards, or you can pay the registrar extra to come to your ceremony and get it all done on the same day. I don't know the details, having done Special Marriage Act ourselves --- but I understand that the 30-day notice is not required.

The UK visa thing is another issue altogether. You can check out on the UK-India Visa site how long VFS and the British Consulate are taking to process applications. They can do non-settlement visas for resident Indian citizens in a couple of days (done for my wife back in May this year) but I have no idea if a non-Indian can apply in India, and how much that would extend the time...

Google for "UK Borders Agency" for general stuff in British immigration, requirements, etc. Something like "UK visas in India" should bring up the VFS India site for the country specifics.

R Murli Dhar · Aug 24th, 2009, 19:23

Hello, I have seen your question, and the answers. The best for you would be to check with the UK High Commission in your country (since you are a UK citizen), and they will guide you properly.

I thought SA citizens did not need visas for UK ! Anyway, the High commission would help. Second, since the marriage is in Surat, you would have to go to Mumbai I think for the UK High Commission Office there, not all the way to Delhi, unless you want to travel. But I believe that Bombay would be the designated place for Surat based people.. but you don't fall in that category as well, strictly speaking.

Hence my advice check with your High Commission first before leaving.

Have a happy marriage, and a happy married life. It's wonderful that you want to come and have a traditional Indian wedding .. Best wishes... Murli

R Murli Dhar · Aug 24th, 2009, 19:25

In my reply to you, I goofed. I did not see your location. You are in London ! Just check with Immigration. I think they have a website...Good wishes again..Murli

Aug 10th, 2009, 18:23	#1
kingnpuk Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: London Posts: 3	Help needed on getting married in India - where to start etc Hi I am a UK citizen and my bride to be is a South African citizen. Our grandparents are Indian and live in Gujarat. We will be getting married near Surat in December. I also wish to do our registry ceremony there and get the necessary visa for my wife to return to UK with me. So I am requesting: 1) how to register in Surat, and what is procedure, where does it have to occur. Is it a formal event, exchange of vows etc or just signing of papers. 2) how to apply for a visa for my wife and how easy is it? thanks a lot

Aug 24th, 2009, 19:23	#9
R Murli Dhar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Coimbatore, India Posts: 122	Married in India Hello, I have seen your question, and the answers. The best for you would be to check with the UK High Commission in your country (since you are a UK citizen), and they will guide you properly. I thought SA citizens did not need visas for UK ! Anyway, the High commission would help. Second, since the marriage is in Surat, you would have to go to Mumbai I think for the UK High Commission Office there, not all the way to Delhi, unless you want to travel. But I believe that Bombay would be the designated place for Surat based people.. but you don't fall in that category as well, strictly speaking. Hence my advice check with your High Commission first before leaving. Have a happy marriage, and a happy married life. It's wonderful that you want to come and have a traditional Indian wedding .. Best wishes... Murli __________________ Murli CBE delhimurlidhar@gmail.com Ask for contact number ! Last edited by R Murli Dhar : Aug 24th, 2009 at 19:24. Reason: Addition

Aug 24th, 2009, 19:25	#10
R Murli Dhar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Coimbatore, India Posts: 122	I goofed.. In my reply to you, I goofed. I did not see your location. You are in London ! Just check with Immigration. I think they have a website...Good wishes again..Murli

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Aug 10th, 2009, 20:04	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	You start by using the Search function to find all the other threads on the same subject! It is automatically generated, so may look different when you see it, but, without even searching you can see a list of similar threads at the bottom of the page. The first (right now) is Getting married in India...where to start. You will find the answers to your second question by making a study of the UK Border Agency Visa Services site Let me sidetrack you: Why do you want to get married in India? Neither of you are Indian citizens and neither of you live there, and you don't seem to want to go through a religious marriage ceremony. I'd advise you to get married, at least formally, in the UK, where you plan to live. You can visit India and have whatever kind of ceremony you want, with grandparents etc.

Aug 10th, 2009, 20:13	#3
kingnpuk Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: London Posts: 3	we have chosen india as most of her family is there and she does not have family in the UK. I also have a lot of family there so that was chosen as the destination for the wedding ceremony and religious ceremony.

Aug 10th, 2009, 20:45	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	OK, I expected that that would be the answer. Still suggest that you marry formally, the legal bit in UK. Not only is a UK register office much nicer than an Indian one, but you also then have a paper that no UK authority will need to glance twice at. In fact... you can have a whole second wedding, effectively, for your UK friends!

Aug 11th, 2009, 14:37	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,841	A registry just takes 30 days notice and maybe a couple of witnesses. Nick can tell you it ain't no big deal. My people had the registrar come to the religious wedding which is a lot more atmospheric (and that way they had a ton more witnesses)..

Aug 24th, 2009, 17:15	#7
kingnpuk Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: London Posts: 3	yes it will be a hindu ceremony. The problem I am having is that my fiance has only obtained a holiday visa for UK. Therefore if we can to the registry in india and then apply for a settlement visa from the british embassy in India it will make things easier for us. But I am unsure about how to go about doing this and if it can be done swiftly? My bride will be in India for approx 40 days, I will be there for 14 days

Aug 24th, 2009, 18:00	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	For a Hindu ceremony, you can take the temple papers, photos, etc, along to a register office and register afterwards, or you can pay the registrar extra to come to your ceremony and get it all done on the same day. I don't know the details, having done Special Marriage Act ourselves --- but I understand that the 30-day notice is not required. The UK visa thing is another issue altogether. You can check out on the UK-India Visa site how long VFS and the British Consulate are taking to process applications. They can do non-settlement visas for resident Indian citizens in a couple of days (done for my wife back in May this year) but I have no idea if a non-Indian can apply in India, and how much that would extend the time... Google for "UK Borders Agency" for general stuff in British immigration, requirements, etc. Something like "UK visas in India" should bring up the VFS India site for the country specifics.