UK/Taiwan Marriage. Is it real?

[BlackAdder]

Hello everyone,

Well, once again I am scratching my head in utter confusion. I am a UK citizen and planning to marry a Taiwanese citizen. I’m confused because I have heard it said many times over the years that the UK government does not recognize marriages in Taiwan. Some people say it’s true and others say it’s all rubbish. So, I called the British Consulate in Taipei and they told me there 'may be some Taiwan/UK marriage issues' and to read their website - which turned out to be useful as a corkscrew at an AA meeting

So, my questions to you experienced UK Forumosans are:

1. Is it true a marriage in Taiwan is not recognized in the UK?

2. If it’s true, what bureaucratic implications could this lead to down the road (for example, future wife/children citizenship applications, residency issues, etc)?

3. If it’s not true then why is Taiwan not listed on this UK government overseas marriage website (I must admit I have little idea if this web page is relevant to me): http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/marri ... -wales.asp

4. To avoid any confusion about the legitimacy of any marriage, do I have to tie the knot in Hong Kong?

5. I'm sure I have forgotten an obvious question.

As always, your comments would be appreciated. I did try searching for this but ended up even more confused

Getting engaged was hard enough….. but all these legal questions seem much more testing!

[Hartzell]

I have had quite a bit of experience advising people in regard to "dual nationality marriages," and in particular where one spouse was Taiwanese.

First of all, you both need to obtain a "single certificate," which proves that you are eligible for marriage.

According to the concerns which you have raised in your initial posting, I believe the best advice is for both of you to get married in the UK. It should be a simple enough matter to find out what documentation your fiancee will need in order to complete marriage procedures in London, or wherever, and what the appropriate visa she needs when she arrives at Heathrow (or wherever .... )

Then having completed the marriage procedures in jolly old England, you bring all the paperwork, photos, etc. along with the previously issued single certificate(s), back to Taiwan, and get the marriage registered here in the Household Registration of the Taiwanese spouse.

Presto, you have a marriage recognized as valid in the UK and in Taiwan.

[Funk500]

Or go to Guam. You don't need a single certificate only a notarized letter that says you are single. You get the marriage certificate translated at the Taiwanese trade office in Guam which only takes a few days.

Guam is US territory so the marriage is legit here and back home in the UK.

PM me if you want more

[godunknown]

So a Brit could marry a Taiwanese in Guam and that would be legally recognised both in Taiwan and E ngland?

[spaint]

Could anyone explain what the hell happened with this issue?

I am a British citizen who got married to a Taiwanese citizen IN TAIWAN back in 2002. I obtained a JFRV in 2003 based on this but I'm a little hazy on the details. Now that I'm divorced, it's not relevant but I'm really confused why Brits have such a hard time with marrying Taiwanese.

[tommy525]

Could it be that its because the UK doesnt recognize ROC as being a country. It can let in ROC passport holders for 180 days but it cant allow recognition of a marriage done in the ROC??

so just do as they say and marry in Guam or in HK. That should work?

[Deca]

So, nobody knows the answer to the OP's question of Taiwanese marriage being recognised as legal in the UK? Fex using a Taiwanese marriage certificate for applying for a residence card in the UK?

[tomthorne]

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-liv ... depositing

That's why I got married in the UK. As always with the disclaimer I have no idea for sure, but these tossers won't accept it so I guess that a Taiwanese marriaged certificate is worthless in the UK.

'Marriages in Taiwan
We are unable to accept marriage certificates from Taiwan.'

[Dr Jellyfish]

My wife and I had to go through all this hassle before as well.

We ended up getting engaged in Taiwan, then married in the UK. If you do decide to get married in the UK, make sure you get your marriage certificate...(can't remember if the term is 'autheticated' or 'notarised') ~ anyway, there's an office in London that puts magic stamps on certificates so they can be used abroad. After that you have to take it to the Taiwanese office so they can put lots of big magic stamps on it as well. This way you can register your marriage in Taiwan as well (if anyone can read your marriage certificate though all the stamps).

[StuartCa]

After a bit of hunting around this is what it says on the UK Border agency website

We may be able to give you permission to live permanently in the UK as soon as you arrive, if:
you and your partner married or formed a civil partnership at least four years ago;
you have spent those four years living together outside the UK;
you are both coming to the UK to settle here together; and
you have sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK. (You do not need to meet this last requirement if you are aged 65 or over.)

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/partners/husbandswivescivilpartners/

Oddly it doesn't mention anything about marriages in countries that aren't recognized, i guess with the UK's liberal attitudes towards living together maybe they don't mind so much.