Informing the UK of marriage in the US (k1 > Green Card)

[DTLVbrit 3]

Hey there!

Quite a random question, but one I hadn't thought of before but came up in conversation with a friend last night. But first - about me; I came over to the US on a K1 in 2007, married, and successfully AOS'd for the conditional GC. After two years we successfully removed conditions ( green card category CF1 to IF1). Unfortunately, after 4 and a bit years of marriage, we decided to split and get divorced. I haven't applied for citizenship yet, but that's on my agenda!

Now, back to my question - my friend simply asked me, "does the UK recognize you as being married and divorced?" I was quite perplexed as I hadn't really thought about it before. I'm not considering moving back to the UK to live there, I don't pay or owe taxes there, but I am a citizen still... Is this information the UK needs? I would guess no - and I assume the UK would recognize a US marriage regardless if I needed to inform them for any reason?

I thought about Google'ing this question, but I had no idea how to phrase it! haha

What do you guys think?

Cheers

[lost_at_sea 995]

The UK will recognise a US marriage and divorce, and visa versa.

[Stressed Out 81]

Yeah, married is married. Same goes for an official divorce.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Stressed Out

[DTLVbrit 3]

The UK will recognise a US marriage and divorce, and visa versa.

I figured as much - but is there any need to inform them of the marriage, even if you don't plan on living there again (or claim any pensions - I only worked very briefly when I was a student in the UK before moving)?

[lost_at_sea 995]

I figured as much - but is there any need to inform them of the marriage, even if you don't plan on living there again (or claim any pensions - I only worked very briefly when I was a student in the UK before moving)?

Nope.

[Stressed Out 81]

You don't need to make anything official with them. I only made my marriage known to the consulate when I sent in my SSN name change application with my passport just so I'd have some documents to show for our marriage when it came time to file for an IR-1. Same should go for any other country.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Stressed Out

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Send the Queen an email when you get married to a foreigner or you might get issues if you want to live in the UK again

You do not need to tell the UK, there are things that you might need to tell people in the UK though, for example if you have student loans you are meant to inform the student loans company that you are emigrating.

[DTLVbrit 3]

Send the Queen an email when you get married to a foreigner or you might get issues if you want to live in the UK again

You do not need to tell the UK, there are things that you might need to tell people in the UK though, for example if you have student loans you are meant to inform the student loans company that you are emigrating.

Haha! I think I remember the address!

When I left I did inform the student loans company (and still paying) and I filed a P85 - but a year or so after I left as I didn't know!

Anything else I needed to do? I still have a checking account with about £5 I keep open so I can put some cash in just for when I travel to see my family over the holidays!

[DTLVbrit 3]

I guess I should say I didn't have any property so I didn't need to take action there. I also have not been making any voluntary NI contributions as I had only worked in the UK for a year or so when I was a student.

Other than student loans, changing my address with my UK bank, and filing a P85, I don't think there is anything else needed. Let me know if I have missed anything

And thanks for the help everyone!