taking my wife back to UK

[Gemmie 142]

We're not sure if we ever plan on returning to the UK to live (we've been through US immigration now, and want to give our lives a good shot here before deciding something like that).

BUT this is another reason I want to get US citizenship. By then, we would have been married for over 4 years so hubby would be granted ILR and I would have a US passport.

How long is ILR for?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

indefinitely!!

Once you leave the country for a certain length of time (forgot what it is) you lose it though

[gwenneh 7]

ILR is being abolished this year, so by the time you get around to it, there will be something else in place.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I didn't know that - what will come in its place?

[gwenneh 7]

No one knows yet. They're dismantling the system and nothing has been proposed to fill the gap yet. Nice, isn't it?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I thought I had read something about certain regulations for fiances/spouses that was aimed to discourage forced marriages and the like - I wonder what else they might be up to.....

[gwenneh 7]

The forced marriages regulation was just to raise the minimum age for spouse and fiance visas from 18 to 21. Apparently that's the demographic that was in danger.

So far there haven't been any announcements and the whole thing is still being discussed, so no one knows what is happening. All we know is ILR is gone as of July. "Probationary citizenship" is one of the ideas being kicked around, but no requirements for what you would actually have to do to earn it have been announced.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

indefinitely!!

Once you leave the country for a certain length of time (forgot what it is) you lose it though

Last time I came through Heathrow, I was told it was two years. I was also told I need to be entering more frequently to keep my status (I hadn't been back in 16 months). When I go in March, who knows what will happen? I have a feeling I am going to regret being so lazy as to not have gotten my citizenship.

[Gemmie 142]

indefinitely!!

Once you leave the country for a certain length of time (forgot what it is) you lose it though

Blonde moment.

I guess I was seeing it as a 10 year GC equivalent.

[pete molotov 0]

we were wondering if we should fly to the uk with my wife just visiting for a few months then have her return & apply for the visa or should we apply here then both travel out together to the uk?

what would be easier & quicker?

[gwenneh 7]

I don't think there's really an appreciable difference between the two. If you have savings and can get your hands on the information you need, you could have your visa by the end of the week. If you wanted to go back and set up shop, then have her come back and apply for the visa, she'll have it within a few days, too. It's really more up to you.

[pete molotov 0]

I don't think there's really an appreciable difference between the two. If you have savings and can get your hands on the information you need, you could have your visa by the end of the week. If you wanted to go back and set up shop, then have her come back and apply for the visa, she'll have it within a few days, too. It's really more up to you.

we dont have any savings right now just my loving parents to take us in & help us out til we get back on our feet. so it looks like the best thing to would be to go back & set up shop then have her return to get her visa.

[gwenneh 7]

At the moment, yes, that would be your best bet. The problem with using your parents for support is that while a recent court ruling has allowed that third party support is okay, this has not yet trickled down into the system. The official guidelines used for processing visas still state the following:

"If members of the couple’s families in the UK offer to maintain the couple adequately until they can do so from their own resources, such an arrangement would not satisfy the Rules, which require the couple to maintain themselves."

So, you can see where setting up, getting a job, and making arrangements for the long term can only help you right now. You'll need to have a job, proof of your pay, and an "adequate budget".

That last bit is in quotes because, unlike the US, there's no hard and fast rule as far as how much you need to be making. With a family of 2, you need to be able to pay your rent, bills, and have at least £100.95 per week left over. That's fairly ambiguous, since "bills" are different for everyone - but do note that they're only talking about essential bills like council tax and utilities, not things like credit card repayments or anything like that.

Either way, looks like you can get it sorted so you don't have to be separated during the time when you're sorting things out, so that's all to the good.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I believe ILR and ILE are available to immigrants to the UK through July 2011.