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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think giving notice of marriage...

122 replies

KentMum2008 · 07/05/2017 22:15

...shouldn't take more than an hour?

Posting here for traffic really. DP and I are off to the register office to give our notices tomorrow, yay! First marriage for both of us so not sure what to expect. My friend says her and her husband were both interviewed in separate rooms. I thought they only did that if you're not a U.K. citizen?
We've got all our documents etc, appt is at 2 and I really want to be back in time to pick DCs up from school. It's rare DP and I get the chance to pick them up together because of work, and they love it when we do probably because DP insists we go for milkshakes after

RO is a 35 minute drive away. AIBU to think we can give our notices and be back in time for 3:15 pick up? I've got someone on standby in case we're not back.

Also, I appreciate this isn't really a big life issue, but what is AIBU for if not for minor everyday dramas? Grin

OP posts:
MrsJamesMathews · 07/05/2017 22:17

I'm sure we were about 10 mins! Congratulations

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 07/05/2017 22:18

We were told to give an hour, but we were probably only there for about half an hour. Probably would have been even quicker if DH had remembered my bloody date of birth Hmm

Original poster
KentMum2008 · 07/05/2017 22:18

I'm sure my sis said she was in and out in about half an hour, but the guy on the phone said allow at least an hour!

OP posts:
Osirus · 07/05/2017 22:19

Took about 45 minutes. They did speak to us separately; she said they had to (both UK citizens). This was last month.

PlayOnWurtz · 07/05/2017 22:19

We were individually interviewed to check we knew each other. Dh got my dob wrong. Hmm they laughed it off

CustardOmlet · 07/05/2017 22:24

They say an hour in case they need to do extra questioning or are running late. DH and I are both British born and were interviewed in separate rooms.

justkeepswimmingg · 07/05/2017 22:24

We weren't interviewed separately. They saw us at our exact appointment time together, and it lasted about 20-30 minutes. Quick, and easy Smile

Original poster
KentMum2008 · 07/05/2017 22:26

Oh god, DP genuinely doesn't remember my birthday. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him, he still forgets! He doesn't know either of his parents, or siblings or any nieces and nephews so I don't take it personally!

What other sort of things do they ask?!

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 07/05/2017 22:29

7 years ago for me, both British, think it took about 30-45 mins. No difficult questions.

Original poster
KentMum2008 · 07/05/2017 22:33

I'll feel like I'm being interrogated! I'm one of those people who, when I see police, always feel like I have to act like a perfectly law abiding citizen even though I genuinely am. So if they ask me any questions, I'll probably be really awkward and laugh a bit too loud and cross then uncross my legs repeatedly. I've got issues.

OP posts:
Itscurtainsforyou · 07/05/2017 22:51

Middle names and names of future in laws was something I was asked

JayneAusten · 07/05/2017 22:52

Why did I not have an awkward interview?! I literally never did this. Is it because I got married in Scotland? I married a foreigner as well - surely I deserve a little interrogation? :(

ShoesHaveSouls · 07/05/2017 22:53

I can't really remember - probably took about half an hour.

I was surprised to be taken into separate rooms though, as I wasn't expecting it - I was also surprised by the depth of the questioning. Tbh it was a bit like an interrogation. Being asked his father's occupation and all sorts.

ShoesHaveSouls · 07/05/2017 22:53

*We're both British btw.

scottishdiem · 07/05/2017 22:56

Scotland has different marriage legislation. DP and I (DP a Zimbabwean national) had a nice fun chat and the only hassle was getting the witnesses middle names for the form.

EweAreHere · 07/05/2017 22:56

Sheesh. Makes me glad we got married elsewhere...

HardplaceandRock · 07/05/2017 22:56

We got interviewed speratley....both British citezins since birth.

We were asked what each other's jobs where, how long we had been together, what each other's parents jobs where, where each other was born, and a few others I can't remember

Kathrino · 07/05/2017 22:58

DH and I were in and out in 10 mins. No questions at all. I was somewhat disappointed as I'd been swotting up.

khajiit13 · 07/05/2017 22:59

They always interview separately but it only took OH and me around 40 mins

MsAwesomeDragon · 07/05/2017 23:03

We talked to them separately. I forgot dh's DOB, he forgot my name!!! (Middle name, but still!) They were fine with it, as we both got it right eventually. We were asked about each others jobs as well I think, maybe parents names too. Nothing too taxing, and I'm sure that's all the stuff you'd have learnt about each other if it was a fake marriage.

carjacker1985 · 07/05/2017 23:06

Interviewed separately for us- about ten mins and it was done. Asked me his middle name and date of birth, asked him my date of birth and where I was born. Pretty straightforward stuff, nothing to worry about. A friend of mine got her husband's middle name wrong, they still let them get married Wink

Original poster
KentMum2008 · 07/05/2017 23:06

Holy cow, DP and I are gonna need to go over a few things on the way there! Mostly my birthday, the rest should be ok.

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 07/05/2017 23:07

What ARE you all talking about? An interview before you get married? A Brit to another Brit? Are you both Opus Dei?

Forgive me, I live abroad and got married abroad to a yokel local, no interviews a la Green Card.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 07/05/2017 23:08

My ex is Russian, and sham marriages between Russians and UK nationals are considered a high risk, so we expected it to be a big issue. I think we were in for quite a while but they were perfectly polite and we were reassured that they didn't actually need us to get every question right - it was more about the general picture. So forgetting a name was fine, but seeming totally unfamiliar with the other person was not.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 07/05/2017 23:09

elQuint - the UK has laws against forced marriage. There is an idea that interviews might help prevent it. It's not purely an immigration issue.