Me and my husband want to move back to the UK (He already has his 20 yr gcard)

[lilysintrigue 0]

Hello All,

My husband came here on a K1 visa in 2008, we have been married 5 years, and together for 8 year, and he has his 20 year green card already, I am a US born citizen. We are wanting to move back to the UK, in the next year, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? What do I need to do to go over there legally, we already have a place to stay with his family, until we find a place of our own, and we have quite a bit in savings for the move and such. Do I need to apply for a spouse visa, or do we need to go over there, and I apply for indefinite leave to remain once we are there? I have read that since we have been married and together for so long that it will be quite easy for me to become a british citizen and such... Just curious if anyone has any experience, or can direct me to where I can get some more information on this.. All help is greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance!

Kind Regards,

Shawna & Chris

[lost_at_sea 995]

You're probably going to get limited help here, since most folks are dealing with going the other way still I bet there's a mirror forum somewhere on the internet for people immigrating to the UK.

You might want to see this thread, though: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/372449-before-you-permanently-move-to-the-us/

I believe the main sticker is going to be your income / savings. The UK Home Office changed the rules about how much you have to have and how you may prove it last year (as mentioned in that thread above).

This is the UKBA info on the visa you'll be wanting, though: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/citizens-settled/spouse-cp/

[Boiler 45,402]

UK Yankee going the other way.

Presumably the 20 year GC is a typo?

Will he be surrendering it?

Are you aware of the sponsorship requirements for the UK?

They have been tightened up.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I know several who moved back to the UK, then changed their mind once they went through everything to get there. Meanwhile, your husband would lose his greencard if he took up residence in the UK and you would start over from scratch to come back.

He is eligible for US citizenship and if he gets that first, then he can move anywhere he likes and always return to the US with no more than using his US passport. It might be something to consider in case the grass isn't greener on the other side of the pond.

[lilysintrigue 0]

UK Yankee going the other way.

Presumably the 20 year GC is a typo?

Will he be surrendering it?

Are you aware of the sponsorship requirements for the UK?

They have been tightened up.

Yes lol that was a typo... he will not be surrendering it.. Our main question is how do I go back with him and the steps that we need to take.. to ensure that everything is legal and such... I dont know about the rules and such and ive posted on other forums without luck (ppl on this forum are sooo nice and helpful..

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yes lol that was a typo... he will not be surrendering it.. Our main question is how do I go back with him and the steps that we need to take.. to ensure that everything is legal and such... I dont know about the rules and such and ive posted on other forums without luck (ppl on this forum are sooo nice and helpful..

Well you can't move to the UK with him on a GC and he expect to keep it. So the first step should be him acquiring US citizenship.

Also, the rules to immigrate to the UK changed recently (last year or so) and have gotten a lot harder, specifically the financial requirements.

I have reported this thread to be moved to the UK regional forum. There should be some people there that can help you.

Good luck!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes lol that was a typo... he will not be surrendering it.. Our main question is how do I go back with him and the steps that we need to take.. to ensure that everything is legal and such... I dont know about the rules and such and ive posted on other forums without luck (ppl on this forum are sooo nice and helpful..

Going to repeat my post from above because you may not have seen it since you don't think he will have to give up his greencard.

I know several who moved back to the UK, then changed their mind once they went through everything to get there, then decided to come back to the US. Meanwhile, your husband would lose his greencard if he took up residence in the UK and you would start over from scratch to come back.

He is eligible for US citizenship and if he gets that first, then he can move anywhere he likes and always return to the US with no more than using his US passport. It might be something to consider in case the grass isn't greener on the other side of the pond.

[Kajikit 65]

If you've been married five years, he's eligible for US citizenship by now. Get him his citizenship and a US passport and then you can come and go freely... we're starting to think about going to Australia to live, but after going to all the trouble to get me here we wouldn't have wanted to even THINK about leaving before I had my citizenship. It takes less than six months, and far less hassle than any other part of the immigration process, and it's the final step to freedom.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

You cannot enter the UK without a spousal visa and remain there. They don't have an "adjustment of status" process like we do in the US. You have to get your visa while you are still in the US.

They also do not allow third-party sponsorship (what we call "co-sponsors" on VJ). You can stay with his folks, but that's all. They cannot be your sponsor.

You can apply for your visa to the UK on just savings alone................if.........

You said you have "quite a bit" in savings - is it approximately $95,000.00? If not, you don't have enough to go back by just relying on your savings.

The weight of the application then shifts to your husband's earnings. Only his. Does he have a job in the US that pays approximately $28,500.00? If so, would he be able to acquire a UK job, while still living here in the US, that would pay him £18,600.00 within three months of his return?

If not - then your husband must go back to the UK - alone - and find a job paying £18,600.00. He then must hold that job for six months.

Then he can sponsor you for a visa.

That's it in a nutshell.

Edited July 8, 2013 by Rebecca Jo

[Boiler 45,402]

Yes lol that was a typo... he will not be surrendering it.. Our main question is how do I go back with him and the steps that we need to take.. to ensure that everything is legal and such... I dont know about the rules and such and ive posted on other forums without luck (ppl on this forum are sooo nice and helpful..

I would go with the Citizenship comment if he wants to keep options open.

I came to the conclusion that it was theoretically possible to maintain US Residency but impractical for most people.

[Kg111 0]

I would read the uk immigration laws. I'm going to be doing the same thing soon ( I am a uk citizen and am going for my us citizenship this year) we plan to move and to be honest if you have been married for 5 years they won't seperate you.

[Illiria 980]

I would read the uk immigration laws. I'm going to be doing the same thing soon ( I am a uk citizen and am going for my us citizenship this year) we plan to move and to be honest if you have been married for 5 years they won't seperate you.

The UK news actually has examples where they have done just this, with children involved as well.

[britishdakota 18]

The new UK rules are outrageous. The process is quicker if you meet the requirements, good luck.