Advice please

[Mrs.Me 0]

Hi.

My name is Porsha, I am a UK citizen my husband I have been together for 5 years and we got married last Nov.

He moved to the UK soon after the wedding, but has been struggling to find work here in London. So, we have set ourselves a time limit of Dec till we move back to the USA.

Just wanted to know whether you would recommend applying for the spousal visa in the summer or Dec? Do they take a long time to get processed? Also whether he should go back to the US get a job (he was working in the department of corrections and has been told that there is still a job avaliable for him) and then apply for the spousal visa? or should it be done while we are both still here in the UK?

Any advice or opinions appreciated

[sjmartins 0]

Hi.

My name is Porsha, I am a UK citizen my husband I have been together for 5 years and we got married last Nov.

He moved to the UK soon after the wedding, but has been struggling to find work here in London. So, we have set ourselves a time limit of Dec till we move back to the USA.

Just wanted to know whether you would recommend applying for the spousal visa in the summer or Dec? Do they take a long time to get processed? Also whether he should go back to the US get a job (he was working in the department of corrections and has been told that there is still a job avaliable for him) and then apply for the spousal visa? or should it be done while we are both still here in the UK?

Any advice or opinions appreciated

definately apply here asap it doesn't take as long but the whole process will take minimum 6 months if your lucky. you can't apply here unless he has residence here and can prove it.

[Mrs.Me 0]

you can't apply here unless he has residence here and can prove it.

He is a US citizen, so does he have to go back to the USA before we can apply at all?

[homesick_american 1]

you can't apply here unless he has residence here and can prove it.

He is a US citizen, so does he have to go back to the USA before we can apply at all?

No. I'm a US citizen and I've lived in the UK since 2001; my husband's visa was issued in late 2006.

[MargotDarko 0]

you can't apply here unless he has residence here and can prove it.

He is a US citizen, so does he have to go back to the USA before we can apply at all?

No, but he won't be able to apply directly in London until at least this September/November. If he files now, it will have to be at a US service center.

[simple_male 1]

You can explore DCF (Direct Consular Filing) Vs I-130 and I-129F petition, then decide what you want to do.

you can't apply here unless he has residence here and can prove it.

He is a US citizen, so does he have to go back to the USA before we can apply at all?

No, but he won't be able to apply directly in London until at least this September/November. If he files now, it will have to be at a US service center.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Read the guides - linked at the top of the site - the FAQ, and check out the immigration timelines tab - all of those resources will answer A LOT of your questions and give you enough familiarity to ask more detailed questions and get better help here on the message boards. Good luck!

[Mrs.Me 0]

Read the guides - linked at the top of the site - the FAQ, and check out the immigration timelines tab - all of those resources will answer A LOT of your questions and give you enough familiarity to ask more detailed questions and get better help here on the message boards. Good luck!

Thanks for all of your responses. I have read the guides. But I wasn't sure if the legnth of time he has been in London will affect whether we can apply via Direct Consular Filing? He has been here for 5 months.

Edited April 23, 2007 by Mrs.Me

[homesick_american 1]

Read the guides - linked at the top of the site - the FAQ, and check out the immigration timelines tab - all of those resources will answer A LOT of your questions and give you enough familiarity to ask more detailed questions and get better help here on the message boards. Good luck!

Thanks for all of your responses. I have read the guides. But I wasn't sure if the legnth of time he has been in London will affect whether we can apply via Direct Consular Filing? He has been here for 5 months.

The embassy in London used to state specific time limits but as of this weekend I can't find any references to specific lengths of time that you have to be a UK resident in order to do a DCF. I'd just get on the horn and ask the embassy themselves; you'll get 20 different answers from 10 different people here. When I filed for my husband, the residence limit was 2 years...but that was in 2005, and the rules change all the time. Just call them and ask them.