Query Citizenship Process and Emigration

[AmyRose 0]

Hi

I moved here from the U.K. back in April 2013, and married my partner (now-husband) of 2 years here in NYC with the intention of settling down. He is a US Citizen. We've had very poor luck with getting work and at this point I am not 100% on whether or not I want to live here in the long run, in fact it declines more and more each day. I must admit I would rather us live in England where we have greater prospects and I can be near my family (my mother is old, has arthritis and needs me and so does my sister, tbh). My hubby is not so picky with where he lives (as long as he has a computer and video games he's fine) We have our own floor within his parents' house (a converted basement) but I'm never quite at home here as I am when I'm back home and he knows this, so it's no secret.

My husband is concerned that he may encounter problems moving to the U.K. with immigration and the like, and he thinks we should wait until I have attained my U.S. Citizenship. I gather he thinks that down the line, should we move back to the US, that I might encounter problems with any additional steps to continue the Citizenship application? Would there be a penalty for me moving back to England (with him) without completing the Citizenship process, or would the process simply start from scratch with hiccups should we return to the US?

I'm not very good at all this immigration stuff, so I'd be grateful if anyone could help make sense of it.

Also, if anyone knows anything regarding US Citizens moving to their non-US Citizen spouse's country (in this case, England) I would really appreciate it. I am quite desperate for ideas here as this situation we're in right now is not doing our new marriage any good.

Thanks a million

~ Amy Rose

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

There is no penalty for leaving, and no one is ever required to get US citizenship. If you ever wanted to come back, you would just to the same process over again, no problem.

For moving to the UK, there is a thread about it in the Uk subforum. They have become more stringent, do not allow cosponsors, and require a UK job or assets, so it's kind of bad. Maybe they have relaxed it a bit lately. Good luck.

[Boiler 46,000]

All down really to whether you can qualify to sponsor him.

[Ryan H 3,828]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to UK regional forum.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

You've been here only a year. That's not long to acclimate. You probably need to give it some more time.

That being said - it's no problem for you to choose not to naturalize if you don't want to. Having abandoned a greencard isn't reason enough for the Service to not give you a second one.

Your bigger problem is going home to the UK with a non-EU spouse. Unless you have savings of around $105,000.00 USD - or you the UK citizen has a job in the UK earning more than £18,600 - you can't move back.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Rebecca Jo

[Dianna. 5]

There is a loop hole to move back...if you temporary live and work somewhere in Europe, other than the UK for a period of three or more months you then have the rights associated with EEA citizenship and free movement to gain access UK while being covered by European law.

This route triggers European rights of free movement that have otherwise been removed from UK citizens by UK legislation.

Status as a European citizen takes priority over status as a UK citizen.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Dianna.