US Citizen bringing UK husband to America

[Indie 0]

Hi Guys,

I have been living in the UK now for 4 years with my husband who is British. Next year I plan on obtaining my UK Citizenship and become a dual citizen of the UK and the US.

The thing is, I have become increasingly homesick and I would really like to go home in 2018. I have been doing only surface-level research regarding bringing a UK spouse to the US, and it seems that I have to go back to the US, get a job, and then file for the I-130 for my husband.

Then, as I understand it (??) once this is approved and we are still in our respective countries, we have to apply for the greencard and only AFTER all of this can he come over the US??? I mean, this is going on roughly 6-9 months if I'm not correct?

Just wondering what other people's experiences are with bringing their SPOUSES to the US, if the applicant is a US Citizen. Also what were your timelines from start to finish?

The idea of being apart from my husband for more than half a year seems ridiculous...and is starting to erase any plans that I was making about going home...which is very depressing for me but I'd rather be with my husband than alone and wondering what the hell the immigration officers are doing.

Thanks,

Indie

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

**** Moving from Bringing family of greencard holders to DCF forum as most applicable *****

You got some things muddled up, hopefully things won;t be as bad

- There are indeed two parts to the process of him moving over; the I-130 you will file and then the visa application he will file. Once he has his spousal visa, he moves to the USA and gets a greencard upon entry.

- The IR-1 spousal visa process usually takes about a year, BUT if the US citizen petitioner lives abroad, in some cases you can file DCF (Direct Consular Filing, ie with the embassy), and that makes it much faster, only a few months. You can do this with the US embassy in London.

- You do not have to live separately, you can stay in the UK until he has his visa. The only problem with that is the financial sponsorship part; you would need to either have three times as many assets as the 125% poverty level to sponsor him on assets (that is about $65'000 if you guys have no kids or other dependents), or find a co-sponsor in the USA; a friend or family member who will stand financial guarantor for him.

[*Snowdrop* 604]

This is a great Facebook group which has many UK/US couples who are going through or have gone through exactly the process you are considering.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4822078887/

[JFH 12,191]

I'm glad you agree that it's ridiculous that couples should be apart this long. You should be able to go through the London embassy which will mean you won't necessarily have to be apart and it should be quicker. Obviously that is based on how things are now. Things may change. But as it stands for now you are in a pretty good situation. The rest of us have the long separation.

I don't think people who are not involved directly in the immigration process have any idea how awful it is. People both here and in the USA have this incorrect theory that anyone can just stroll into the country. I wish!