firefox

Hi all,

I am thinking of moving back to the uk next year since we don’t have an income of 18k but do have the 62k savings. I am on a small Canadian disability pension and unable to work myself. How long do I have to keep the savings at 62k and how long before I can claim any benefits for myself. I know that my wife would not be able to claim anything.

It sucks when you have been married 14 years and can’t get back home

Pulaski

You have to have the cash in a bank account for 6 months (can be 5 months plus two part months to make up six months total).

It just has to be your cash, in an account, so in principle there is nothing to stop you moving it between accounts, between banks, or even between countries, but you must be able to prove that you have held the money on deposit seamlessly, not at any point drawn any part of it for use, no matter how briefly.

The usual advice is that it takes three months to get benefits, but I am not sure if that is a stipulated rule, or just how long it takes to get registered, assessed and approved.

SanDiegogirl

.... and it is 62,500 GBP not 62K

BritInParis

If you have £62,500 in cash savings and you have held these savings for at least six months then you can come home with your wife. Does your wife have any recent British, Irish or other European ancestry?

firefox

No she does not but when we first married she lived in the uk for 18 months before moving to Canada and she as a national insurance number from then.

I was told that I had to start from scratch sins it was 11years ago.

firefox

So do I do it from Canada or can I do it from the uk when arriving on the 6 month visa.

SanDiegogirl

You apply from Canada.

Read the following to see how you apply for the visa:

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

The following document provides details as to what to show as evidence of meeting the financial requirements:

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

firefox

But do I need to pay the health care if we are moving permanently for my wife

HKG3

As a British Citizen returning to the UK to settle, you are entitle to use the NHS as soon as you are in the UK. With regards to other welfare benefits, you will need to pass the habitual residence test before you can get anything -

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/be...esidence-test/

Your non EEA national wife will need to pay the UK's immigration health surcharge (IHS) -

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

One more point for the OP - is his wife Canadian and have at lease one grandparent born in the UK? If the answer is yes, she may qualifies for the UK Ancestry visa, which is easier to get than a spouse visa. Please see link below for details -

https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa

HKG3

Your wife cannot switch from a 6 month tourist visa to a spouse visa in the UK. Her application will be refused, money and time wasted and she may even be deported from the UK as a result.

SanDiegogirl

If you mean the NHS surcharge fee, then, yes, you pay that when you apply for the visa.

Pulaski

Well his wife pays, or he pays for his wife. Returning British citizens do not pay the NHS surcharge (for themselves).

mrken30

The documents on this site may help you

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...family-members

If you have the savings now, it may be worth applying now while the pound is still weak and you won't have to transfer your savings to the UK yet.

Income or cash savings in a foreign currency will be converted to pounds sterling (£) using the closing spot exchange rate which appears on www.oanda.com on the date of application.

firefox

Hi thanks for getting back to me but if I read it right the habitual residence test is if your coming from the EU but what about coming back from Canada after 13 years. Plus I don’t think I can get anything since we have the 62500 in savings.

My wife is originally from Malaysia and lived with me in the uk for 18 months before moving to Canada.

Do you have the link for the forms I need and if we are not successful do we get the fee back for the visa and nhs charge.

Looking forward to your reply.

firefox

I know this is a strange question but how do you fill,in about accommodation since we are both in Canada and will be sorting it out when we get to the UK.

I have registered at the website but do I apply for my wife or does she do it herself through her own account since we are both here in Canada. proofing the funds is easy since most of the funds came through a court case.

Many thanks

Andrew