Scary times ahead....any advice welcome!

[ThisGirlsCurls 32]

Hi, I'm new to this site and although reasonably read up, i'm missing human interaction with likeminded people in a circle of friends who all seem to be immigration specialists all of a sudden! Who knew?

I have been on Expat Forum but find that the moderators lock down questions very quickly with generic answers stopping the conversation I've been looking for so hopefully I'll find it here.

A little about me, UK based female, aged. 35. I've been with my US partner since 2011 but we only got engaged at New Year and it all seems very real now after blissfully skirting around the elephant in the room all this time about moving countries!

So we'd only really explored the K1 process up until I started reading up on the CR1 recently which seems to have more benefits in that you can apply for work straight away, but as I have a pre existing health condition I think it helps the void I was struggling for answers on if I went down the K1 around interim health cover before we married and I could enter my soon to be husbands work plan for a premium.

I'm now in my more serious research stage, so things I'd love advice on is about banking in the US to get a credit limit, can I do this in advance? How can you get your savings to the US with minimal charges? Can you keep some emergency funds in UK accounts?

Also, on the K1 and CR1 how true is it that you can't enter the US on an ESTA as I can't not see him!? Surely if you have enough evidence of employment, return flights etc you can visit??

The cost of the two visas is not the issue, I understand the CR1 is cheaper. I am however interested in how much people budgeted for international shipping, medical cover, car insurance and time unemployed as I only want to start the move with enough in the reserves. Stupidly, i don't have a pension (i used all my funds in my twenties to clear debts then met an expensive overseas partner!!) so I believe it's recommended to also pay back into National insurance?

I'd love to make some friends who are due to start or in the process of chasing their new life in the US.

Xx

[Hypnos 6,576]

If you're leaving the UK then forget about National Insurance since you won't be there to use it.

As you say, a K-1 is generally quicker to obtain, but at a higher cost, and you have to apply for adjustment of status after entry. A CR-1/IR-1 grants LPR status immediately upon entry, and so you can work and travel from day 1 without issue. It usually takes a few more months to get a CR-1 though. Work and travel authorisation for a K-1 is routinely granted within 90 days of application.

You will likely not be able to open any bank accounts/credit cards in the US until you have a social security number, which you won't be able to get until you arrive here. You may be able to be added to your spouse's bank accounts and credit cards without one, but this varies by financial institution. A social security number (akin to a British National Insurance number) makes almost everything easier, and you are essentially a non-person without one.

You can continue to visit the US using the VWP with an approved ESTA with both a K-1 or CR-1 pending. It is possible you will be asked to show proof of needing to return to the UK, but most of the time this is not necessary. It could happen though, so you may want to have some evidence available.

A K-1 requires you to marry in the US; a CR-1 would mean your partner would need to obtain a British marriage visa, since foreign nationals need to have entry clearance in order to travel to the UK with the intention of marrying. You could also choose to fly to the US, marry, submit your I-130 seeking a CR-1, then return to the UK until your CR-1 interview.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Hypnos

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Welcome to VJ.

[ThisGirlsCurls 32]

If you're leaving the UK then forget about National Insurance since you won't be there to use it.

As you say, a K-1 is generally quicker to obtain, but at a higher cost, and you have to apply for adjustment of status after entry. A CR-1/IR-1 grants LPR status immediately upon entry, and so you can work and travel from day 1 without issue. It usually takes a few more months to get a CR-1 though. Work and travel authorisation for a K-1 is routinely granted within 90 days of application.

You will likely not be able to open any bank accounts/credit cards in the US until you have a social security number, which you won't be able to get until you arrive here. You may be able to be added to your spouse's bank accounts and credit cards without one, but this varies by financial institution. A social security number (akin to a British National Insurance number) makes almost everything easier, and you are essentially a non-person without one.

You can continue to visit the US using the VWP with an approved ESTA with both a K-1 or CR-1 pending. It is possible you will be asked to show proof of needing to return to the UK, but most of the time this is not necessary. It could happen though, so you may want to have some evidence available.

A K-1 requires you to marry in the US; a CR-1 would mean your partner would need to obtain a British marriage visa, since foreign nationals need to have entry clearance in order to travel to the UK with the intention of marrying. You could also choose to fly to the US, marry, submit your I-130 seeking a CR-1, then return to the UK until your CR-1 interview.

Thanks for the reply, I need to read up moreon the narional insurance thing as I believeif you've paid in all your life as I have, then continue to pay from overseas, you can get access to a State pension. And I don't have a pension!

My partner has a 401k plan (which I thought was like an ISA to draw on) but little savings and I am the opposite, no pension and a bit of savings. So now i'm panicking I need to save more before going either route.

It's the healthcare that is my main concern and don't know if to pay to get some advice, and if I need advice, what kind of people can I approach?

[Darnell 8,478]

Welcome Aboard ! We've a comparator page in the Guides section - check it out when yer logged in from a PC.