UGH! Again?? Seriously?

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

So...hi there....again! Been in the UK for about a year now. Hubby is so unhappy. Everything just keeps getting more and more expensive here and he misses America (um yeah, he is NOT the USC). I feel like the last two years have been a HUGE waste of time and money, because he doesn't want to be here (in England) anymore. Our plan was to come over and spend time with his parents as his dad was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after hubby arrived...but we had already given up both cars, both jobs, sold or gave away just about everything to come here...so here we are. I have my second spousal visa for the UK, and I'm due to apply for ILR by June next year. Oh and the fees just went up on that to over £1000.00, plus my life in the UK test. Hubby wants out of here.I had planned on staying here long enough to get my citizenship so we wouldn't have to worry about it...but he says he doesn't ever want to come back here to live. I asked repeatedly...what happens if someone is ill, we won't be able to come back to live (its so hard to get a visa here now) and he says he understands. We still have a LOT to talk about regarding the whole situation. This will be his second time immigrating (he HAD a 10 year GC through me) but obviously being out of the country for so long it is no longer valid. I don't even know where to start, and we're not ready yet...but I thought someone might bring me up to date on the fees?? I can't remember back that far (2008 when we applied last). I know we'll need a co-sponsor this time as my SSDI won't be enough. I really think I need my head examined!

Will the fact that he had a green card previously help or hinder us? Bleh....I can't believe I seriously have to go through all this again! Its a damn good thing I love my husband!

[Done--Really 331]

If it is less than a year, you might be able to reenter on his GC, but if more than a year, check out SB-1 visa

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1333.html

[*Snowdrop* 604]

Poor you, you must be so fed up with filling out forms and bureaucracy!

I don't think having the previous greencard will either help or hinder - it's possible on the one hand the fact that he's been approved for a greencard once may make the background checks go quicker but you may also have to explain the abandoning of the previous card - although I think if you cover than in the initial packet then you should be fine.

One good thing is you will get the ten year card immediately so you don't need to go through the removing conditions again.

How long would you have to wait to get your UK citizenship - that's got to be worthwhile - just in case you ever need to come back - so you don't have to do this again.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

If it is less than a year, you might be able to reenter on his GC, but if more than a year, check out SB-1 visa

http://www.travel.st.../info_1333.html

I don't think that will be an option for us. We did intend to stay for awhile...we just weren't intending for his dad to pass so soon after he arrived. He's been back here since Sept 2011.I didn't get here till March of 2012. If it was doable, I would love to...but I think we'd get turned down.

Poor you, you must be so fed up with filling out forms and bureaucracy!

I don't think having the previous greencard will either help or hinder - it's possible on the one hand the fact that he's been approved for a greencard once may make the background checks go quicker but you may also have to explain the abandoning of the previous card - although I think if you cover than in the initial packet then you should be fine.

One good thing is you will get the ten year card immediately so you don't need to go through the removing conditions again.

How long would you have to wait to get your UK citizenship - that's got to be worthwhile - just in case you ever need to come back - so you don't have to do this again.

I have another 2 years to wait for citizenship....and a total cost of about £2000-2355 between ILR fees and Citizenship fees. But if he is serious about not coming back, then that would just be more wasted money. He wonders why I'm all stressed out...LMAO, we've done nothing but deal with the UCIS or the UKBA for the last 6 years.

[Done--Really 331]

I'd have a chat with the embassy since he has been out of the US less than two years--if I understnd it correctly, once you pass the two year mark it gets really tough.

[*Snowdrop* 604]

I don't think that will be an option for us. We did intend to stay for awhile...we just weren't intending for his dad to pass so soon after he arrived. He's been back here since Sept 2011.I didn't get here till March of 2012. If it was doable, I would love to...but I think we'd get turned down.

I have another 2 years to wait for citizenship....and a total cost of about £2000-2355 between ILR fees and Citizenship fees. But if he is serious about not coming back, then that would just be more wasted money. He wonders why I'm all stressed out...LMAO, we've done nothing but deal with the UCIS or the UKBA for the last 6 years.

That is a lot of money to potentially waste - however you really never know what is around the corner and in the long term it could be a good investment. UK citizenship would allow both of you to move freely through the EU as well (assuming we stay in the EU) and having the chance to go and spend the winter in Spain or the Summer in Italy without any visa issues might be nice?

Time wise - say it took you a year to get through the greencard application and move sorted - well that's only a year left to your UK citizenship.

I know I would lobby hard to get the citizenship done if I could, then do your husband's as soon as you can when you are back in the US and you are both free to move at will without immigration.

[Hypnos 6,578]

The bar is extremely high to obtain an SB-1 returning resident visa. You have to demonstrate that you did not intend to remain out of the US for an extended period, and those circumstances that caused you to do so were beyond your control. It's unlikely they would be able to show this, based on the facts indicated (voluntarily leaving, etc.).

[dave01 16]

The bar is extremely high to obtain an SB-1 returning resident visa. You have to demonstrate that you did not intend to remain out of the US for an extended period, and those circumstances that caused you to do so were beyond your control. It's unlikely they would be able to show this, based on the facts indicated (voluntarily leaving, etc.).

They may have reason enough for the SB-1. They went because of his fathers illness and stayed to help get things squared away after his death. A lot will depend on the compassion of the interviewing councilor, Just my opinion

[VanessaTony 3,567]

They may have reason enough for the SB-1. They went because of his fathers illness and stayed to help get things squared away after his death. A lot will depend on the compassion of the interviewing councilor, Just my opinion

Disagree. While that WOULD have worked, them filing for immigration over there shows intent to stay rather than "we just couldn't leave". Plus, he had a year, that's a lot of time to get the most "need to be here" stuff squared away and he could visit the UK when needed. She left her job, sold their possessions, that shows intent.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Will the fact that he had a green card previously help or hinder us?

Well it COULD help in a way, as all your relationship stuff is already on file but it won't speed anything up, I'd just be less stressed out about a denial!

You shouldn't have a hard time of it at all. In case you weren't aware they've added a new fee to the CR-1/IR-1 where you need to pay a fee to get your GC issued BEFORE you leave the country to activate the visa. There's information in the "immigration news" area about it.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Well it COULD help in a way, as all your relationship stuff is already on file but it won't speed anything up, I'd just be less stressed out about a denial!

You shouldn't have a hard time of it at all. In case you weren't aware they've added a new fee to the CR-1/IR-1 where you need to pay a fee to get your GC issued BEFORE you leave the country to activate the visa. There's information in the "immigration news" area about it.

Yeah I wasn't expecting it to speed anything up...but I suppose they've already got a ton of stuff from us having gone through this before so that could help. I did know about the fee...but thank you

[himher 634]

Based on our experience it certainly won't hinder you.

The hardest hurdle for us to get back, as you note, was the I864

So...hi there....again! Been in the UK for about a year now. Hubby is so unhappy. Everything just keeps getting more and more expensive here and he misses America (um yeah, he is NOT the USC). I feel like the last two years have been a HUGE waste of time and money, because he doesn't want to be here (in England) anymore. Our plan was to come over and spend time with his parents as his dad was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after hubby arrived...but we had already given up both cars, both jobs, sold or gave away just about everything to come here...so here we are. I have my second spousal visa for the UK, and I'm due to apply for ILR by June next year. Oh and the fees just went up on that to over £1000.00, plus my life in the UK test. Hubby wants out of here.I had planned on staying here long enough to get my citizenship so we wouldn't have to worry about it...but he says he doesn't ever want to come back here to live. I asked repeatedly...what happens if someone is ill, we won't be able to come back to live (its so hard to get a visa here now) and he says he understands. We still have a LOT to talk about regarding the whole situation. This will be his second time immigrating (he HAD a 10 year GC through me) but obviously being out of the country for so long it is no longer valid. I don't even know where to start, and we're not ready yet...but I thought someone might bring me up to date on the fees?? I can't remember back that far (2008 when we applied last). I know we'll need a co-sponsor this time as my SSDI won't be enough. I really think I need my head examined!

Will the fact that he had a green card previously help or hinder us? Bleh....I can't believe I seriously have to go through all this again! Its a damn good thing I love my husband!