Moving back to England with American wife and kids?

[sunnybear 0]

Gareth (English citizen) and I have been toying with the idea of moving to England in a few years...has anyone gone through this process? Is it easier/harder then what we had to go through to bring him here? This is nothing we have 100% decided on but we are def considering it for down the road....

Gareth plans on keeping his England citizenship but myself and our children are American citizens...

Thanks for any input

[Gemmie 142]

I've heard it's easier in terms of speed and paperwork - but it's more expensive.

Maybe someone else will know more about this.

[Boiler 45,982]

He would be a British Citizen.

I would suggest he gets his America one before moving back, save a lot of hassle if you change your mind.

[Chocolot 0]

Gareth (English citizen) and I have been toying with the idea of moving to England in a few years...has anyone gone through this process? Is it easier/harder then what we had to go through to bring him here? This is nothing we have 100% decided on but we are def considering it for down the road....

Gareth plans on keeping his England citizenship but myself and our children are American citizens...

Thanks for any input

After going through the US process it may be wise for him to get citizenship here first so that if you decide to yo-yo between countries you dont have to go through this system again.

I think britishexpats.com has more info on emigrating to the UK, hth

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

this is also a good resource:

http://uk-yankee.com/

[morretti 0]

this is also a good resource:

http://uk-yankee.com/

We did it before so my hubby could come to the UK. It took a couple of weeks, cost more than going to the US but was nowhere near as much hassle as shown by the time scale. It was very simple, can't recall all we had to do cos we're pretty immersed in US immigration now. We plan for me to get my US citizenship (if I ever get there!) before we'd even consider moving back to the UK. But never thought it essential he get his UK citizenship as it's so simple to for USC to get a 2 year spouse visa for the UK. I think we just used the Brit embassy and consulate sites for info, he dealt with Chicago Brit embassy. Good Luck

[rebeccajo 14]

If you are just at the talking stages, things are likely to change by the time you move. UK immigration is set for a 'review' in 2010 and word is the system will be overhauled again.

At present, itis faster to bring a spouse to the UK. You can apply by mail or in-person at a British consulate. Some of the concepts are similar to the US system - i.e. you need to be resident in the UK for two years before you can receive Indefinite Leave to Remain ("greencard), etc. However, if the alien and the UK citizen having been living together as partners outside of the UK for four or more years, the alien can be granted ILR immediately (which is cool). Unike a US greencard though, aliens to the UK need to pass the "Life in the UK Test" - the test is only given over there and at designated locations. It is considerably more difficult than a US citizenship test.

Your husband will need to pass the Habitual Residence Test once he returns in order to regain his NHS benefits and other benefits. This isn't some sort of written test but rather he will need to prove he has cut ties to his former domicile country - such as proof of sale of all real estate in that country, etc. You will be eligible for NHS as well.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

If you are applying for ILR from outside the UK you will have to take the Life in the UK test first, which is only offered in the UK. Possibly save some time, money and hassle by taking it on a holiday over if you plan to go shortly before applying, otherwise you will get FLR which you can adjust to ILR once in the UK.

A friend of mine recently took it for her citizenship and found Life in the UK pretty easy....though she has lived there for 10 years. Having looked at the questions I think you would find it a lot easier if you've been living and breathing that stuff as a resident....otherwise, a lot of stuff to study and learn

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I believe the 2010 changes have to do with the 5 tier system and won't effect family immigration.

[imaisha 1]

otherwise you will get FLR which you can adjust to ILR once in the UK.

Do you know if you can adjust right away or do you have to wait the two years and then apply?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

otherwise you will get FLR which you can adjust to ILR once in the UK.

Do you know if you can adjust right away or do you have to wait the two years and then apply?

if you've been married 4+ years you adjust after you have passed the Life in the UK test for ILR

[sunnybear 0]

He would be a British Citizen.

I would suggest he gets his America one before moving back, save a lot of hassle if you change your mind.

Why would he want to give up his British Citizenship if we were planning on moving back to the UK?! He has his US Greencard already.....

Thanks for the sites folks will check them out!

[imaisha 1]

Becoming a U.S. citizen doesn't mean giving up his British citizenship.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

He would be a British Citizen.

I would suggest he gets his America one before moving back, save a lot of hassle if you change your mind.

Why would he want to give up his British Citizenship if we were planning on moving back to the UK?! He has his US Greencard already.....

Thanks for the sites folks will check them out!

He'll lose the green card if he moves back to the UK. If you decided to move back to the US, you have to go through the whole process again. Not so if he becomes a citizen. You can be a dual US/UK citizen

[imaisha 1]

if you've been married 4+ years you adjust after you have passed the Life in the UK test for ILR

Are you sure about that? The Home Office says you must:

"-already have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (limited leave to remain) as the husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried or same-sex partner of a permanent resident;

-have lived here for two years in this category; and

-are still married or in a civil partnership and plan to live together. "

but I could be reading it all wrong. I guess I shouldn't really worry about it now. By time we're ready to make that move I'm sure it'll all be different (and more difficult)!

Edited July 24, 2009 by imaisha