Moving to UK with SO who is UK resident- Visa Procedure?

[AbbeyRoad3057 0]

Hi Everyone- I'm hoping someone can help me out!

In just over a year I will be moving with my boyfriend (who is currently here in the US) back to his hometown in the UK. We have been together since July of 2012 and are planning to get married before the move, but the wedding may not be until a couple of weeks prior to that.

What type of Visa would I apply for? Would I be allowed back with him right away if the wedding is so close to our moving date? I'm not really sure what our first steps should be. I'd appreciate any advice that you might have!

Thanks!

[PearlyLemons 13]

Hi AbbeyRoad3057

Here is a link to the U.K Border Agency;http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

If you got married in the U.S you would not be able to travel & stay in the U.K with your boyfriend. Your husband( assuming you marry in the U.S) will have to go back to the U.K and apply for a spousal visa for you, and this can take a while. Is there any particular reason you guys want to live in the U.K, rather than the U.S? It might be easier for you guys to get married here (assuming the visa he traveled to the U.S on allows him to adjust his status), and then change his status to a spouse, so you guys can live together in the U.S.

Another alternative is you getting married and him going back to the U.K for a while and you applying for a spousal visa for him - I believe this is classed as DCF and it's a CR-1 visa. A further option would be for him to go back to the U.K, and you apply for a K1 visa for him (a fiance visa). However, if you did this, it can take a while and he would not be able to work for a while once he got to the U.S as your fiance and you would then have to apply for him as your spouse( it's called adjusting status).

If legal and possible, you should perhaps look into getting married now and get him to adjust his status, or get married, have him go back and apply for a spousal visa. To live together in the U.K as bi-national couple and with a non-EU spouse is pretty difficult right now. The U.K citizen needs to be earning around 18,500 GBP for at least 6 months for your application to be considered.

Good luck.

Edited January 13, 2014 by PearlyLemons

[AbbeyRoad3057 0]

We have a lot to figure out over the next year. Thanks for your help- I really appreciate it!