Before you permanently move to the US

[rocks 494]

I think its completely out of order. I know that there have to be restrictions, but these rules were clearly made by somebody who knows very little about what people go through to be with their family members from abroad. I hate to say it, but im ashamed that my country will just destroy family units just for a few numbers.

I heard about this in the beginning on the news. They were doing that little argument thing they always do about changes, yet nobody was even making any sense out of it. They were just rambling on about numbers and not once did the affect on UK citizens come into it.

I am ashamed too. We wanted to move back so that our child could have a family as we have no family here in America anymore. The conservative government clearly have no idea (and don't care) how this will affect families. Numbers are more important than supporting its own citizens, it's truly amazing that they have done this.

[Keeto 12]

Some discussion here from time to time regarding moving back to Great Britain.

Here are the new rules. Read 'em and weep.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/soi-fam-mig.pdf

Just wait till Labour takes over again and they'll change it all back again....crazy.

[Boiler 45,319]

It is all a consequence of the unfettered immigration policies of the past.

And of course people are now getting caught up in it who shouldn't, you can put that down to PC ism.

[Holly2234 66]

I am ashamed too. We wanted to move back so that our child could have a family as we have no family here in America anymore. The conservative government clearly have no idea (and don't care) how this will affect families. Numbers are more important than supporting its own citizens, it's truly amazing that they have done this.

It seems lately all of these cuts, budget or immigration related, seem to all be attacking families. Nothing good has come out of this for those types of people. How old is your child now? You never know, it might be a good thing if you cant return! My opinions here are biased i have to say! But these are reasons i dont want to bring my child up here. Local schools have got so full you have to apply for a place and they can just say no. I know of somebody with 3 young children, all primary school age which have had to go to three separate schools. The schools then dont MAKE children learn. Its more of a production line. Theres no graduation to strive for or try to pass a grade. And as they get older and become adults, learning to drive is too expensive, getting a job is near enough impossible, university fees have gone up. All of those i say from experience. I dont want that for my daughter because im still attempting to get through those flaws in the system myself. I'm doing GCSE maths at college now because i didnt do it at school, i never learnt to drive, i never had a job that paid more than peanuts. I want things to be different for her. I dont like to say better, because both countries really do have good things and bad things. But from my own experiences (thats why i said its biased from the beginning)and comparing them to my husbands experiences through the same "growing up" stage, mine are vastly different.

Sorry for going on a bit there!

Just wait till Labour takes over again and they'll change it all back again....crazy.

We all know its going to happen! I always vote Labour. But thats another story

[Boiler 45,319]

You voted for it, and then complain about the consequences?

[Holly2234 66]

You voted for it, and then complain about the consequences?

Sorry? No complaints about Labour. They are not in power at the moment.

[Boiler 45,319]

Well that's OK then!

[rocks 494]

So what benefits can a for example US Spouse not obtain in the UK?

The US has options limited to particular Nationals, DV, TN E3 come to mind.

As I already told you, European Nationals do not require any visa. They also do not require an offer of employment, that is nothing like the DV, TN or E3.

Under European law, you do not need to obtain documentation confirming your right of residence in the UK if you are a national of a country in the EEA.

The UK spouse would be ineligible for any income based benefits due to their income and or savings.

The US spouse would be ineligible for anything that is classed as a public fund.

Public funds include a range of benefits that are given to people on a low income, as well as housing support. These are:

• income-based jobseeker's allowance;
  
• income support;
  
• child tax credit;
  
• working tax credit;
  
• a social fund payment;
  
• child benefit;
  
• housing benefit;
  
• council tax benefit;
  
• state pension credit;
  
• attendance allowance;
  
• severe disablement allowance;
  
• carer's allowance;
  
• disability living allowance;
  
• an allocation of local authority housing;
  
• local authority homelessness assistance;
  
• health in pregnancy grant; and
  
• income-related employment and support allowance.
  

Sorry? No complaints about Labour. They are not in power at the moment.

You voted for it, and then complain about the consequences?

The Conservative party are the ones responsible for this, namely Theresa May. Do you even know who is in power there?

[Boiler 45,319]

You are completely missing the point, UK Citizens have the same rights to move to other EU Countries. The US last time I checked US is not in the EU so it is a false comparison and irrelevant.

The largest State provided benefit that comes to mind is Healthcare, when you add that on to the US minimum it does not look so much different.

[rocks 494]

You are completely missing the point, UK Citizens have the same rights to move to other EU Countries. The US last time I checked US is not in the EU so it is a false comparison and irrelevant.

The largest State provided benefit that comes to mind is Healthcare, when you add that on to the US minimum it does not look so much different.

The US has options limited to particular Nationals, DV, TN E3 come to mind.

What is false and irrelevant is saying this is the same as European nationals being able to move to the UK with no visa. These are visas.

Let me repeat myself, again, and see if you get the point.

The requirement are very similar to the US system.

Not at all. There is no option for a co-sponsor. To move to US as a two person family requires an income of approximately £12,000, not £18,600. In the US there is no option to bypass the system if their partner is a European national. The instructions on this are also terribly written, UKBA has a thing or two to learn from USCIS.

Healthcare has nothing to do with this, at all. Anyone who lives in the UK can access the NHS, including all the European nationals who require no visa.

[Boiler 45,319]

Europeans do not have access to the UK and the Healthcare system.

Somebody immigrating from the US would, a big chunk of change.

[Holly2234 66]

An EU national has access to the NHS if they are visiting and become sick. Or if they are referred to the UK by a doctor in their own country for treatment which is not available in their country. They are also entitled to the NHS if they are ordinarily resident in the UK (even if they have a passport from another EU country).

They are NOT entitled to use the NHS if they come to the UK purely for medical care without a referral. Nor are they entitled if they are not ordinarily resident (does not count for visitors), which is usually determined by length of stay in the UK, often 12 months or more.

The following services are available to EVERYBODY no matter where in the world they are from:

*Treatment given in a hospital accident and emergency department or similar treatment administered by an NHS walk-in centre;

*Family planning services;

*Compulsory treatment for a psychiatric disorder.

*Treatment for some contagious diseases – but different rules apply to AIDS/HIV

So to sum it up, you are both correct. Some people are entitled (most people). And some are not.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

It seems like asylum seekers now have more rights than the spouses of UK citizens

I haven't read the whole thing but this struck me:

It is unfair that a migrant partner who may never have been to the UK or made any tax or National Insurance contribution should get immediate settlement and full access to the welfare system.

But many migrant partners have already been to the UK, lived there and paid taxes along with NI contributions. Seems awfully unfair if they ever wanted to return.

[Holly2234 66]

It seems like asylum seekers now have more rights than the spouses of UK citizens

I haven't read the whole thing but this struck me:

It is unfair that a migrant partner who may never have been to the UK or made any tax or National Insurance contribution should get immediate settlement and full access to the welfare system.

But many migrant partners have already been to the UK, lived there and paid taxes along with NI contributions. Seems awfully unfair if they ever wanted to return.

Exactly! My husband currently lives in the UK, but because his visa was granted outside of the rules, next time we would need to apply for a spouse visa but we dont meet the requirements. We have made a life here. Granted, not one we are happy to continue with so we are moving, but all the same, they dont take that into consideration in these new rules.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The requirement are very similar to the US system.

Go read, Boiler. It is as unlike the US system as it can possibly be.

Minimum income is grounded to no national statistic, unlike the US where it is tied to a statistic that is used as a qualifier in most states for benefits.

Minimum income is inordinately high for many regions of the country, especially Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. Unlike the US where the minimum is slightly higher than the reach of someone with a minimum wage job.

You must first have savings of £16K before you can use the savings ABOVE that amount to offset income. (That's about $25K for those not familiar with the exchange rate). This is a HUGE difference to savings offset in the US system.

You must have been on your job 6 months before the income from it qualifies for use. No such rule in the US.

Permanent residency not granted for 5 years. 2 in the US for spouses.

No immigration benefit to partners who have been in long term marriages.

I could go on. Or you could read the details yourself.