Canada Goose

Hi, I am a dual citizen, married to a Canadian and living in Alberta. Does anyone know the process for my wife to get a work visa in the UK? We are planning on living in the UK for a year or longer to help ageing parents.
CG

SanDiegogirl

She would need to apply for a Tier 2 work via once she has a sponsoring employer who is willing to offer her a job and assist in the obtaining of the visa.

The visas are not easy to come by - one needs specific skills

https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/overview

Any reason why she is seeking a work visa and not a spouse visa to return to the UK?

Canada Goose

I did not know there was such a thing as a spousal visa (does that visa allow her to work in the UK?).

MrMuffin

Check out the wiki as follows:
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spouse_Immigration-UK

I don't know what your longer term plans are but although it's possible to get a spouse visa, the requirements are tough thanks to new rules as of July 2012. Take a read through then come back with questions and someone will hopefully be able to help you. All the best to you!!

Canada Goose

Thanks for the heads up...looks like I need to have a job offer of more than 18k before coming back...
CG

SanDiegogirl

Read the following document for full details of the financial requirements:

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...e_20140324.pdf

There are various routes to qualify for the financial requirements. However where income is involved you need to be earning 18,600 GBP per annum.

ncoomber

or if you have a mere 62500 GBP saved you can go that route.

or some combo of both savings and earnings.

if you are only planning for a year she can enter (as far as I know) as a tourist for six months (but only six months a year).

Good luck
Cheers
Nigel

chaoclive

What about the Surinder Singh route under the EEA regulations. You would have to move to and exercise treaty rights (e.g. employment/self-employment/studying or self-sufficiency) in another EEA country and then apply for an EEA family permit for your wife to return to the UK with you.

You could search on the forum or on Google for more info.

formula

As a UK citizen, you can come back without a job but to sponsor your wife you would need a job or savings.

If you only want to be in the UK for a year and your wife can't get a company to sponsor her, what about a student visa (Tier 4 visa) for your wife?

Or does she have any UK grandparents for an Ancestry visa, which is a work visa too and leads to settlement? Or does her firm have a UK office and will sponsor her on a Tier 2 ICT (Inter Company Transfer) visa?


They want to come to the UK to help ageing parents. The SS route would take too long.

MrMuffin

It's not pretty but keep your chin up and check out the full requirements that SanDiegoGirl sent you and then set your mind to it. Perhaps something good will arise. Good luck to you!!

Canada Goose

Thanks to all for your help
CG

josephforbes

Depending on your ages and if you have kids, or not, you maybe able to do the SWAP UK thing!