From the USA to the UK. Questions
Jul 21st 2009, 3:25 pm
#1
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From the USA to the UK. Questions
After almost a decade in the USA it is time to head back to the UK. I'm wondering if anyone hear with similar experiences might be able to give me any advice on the following points:
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
3. What is the easiest way to physically move? When I moved to the USA I carried everything on my back, now I have a 3-bed house full of belongings...
4. How realistic is it to hope that we can immigrate our 3 cats home with us?
Thanks,
Ian
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
3. What is the easiest way to physically move? When I moved to the USA I carried everything on my back, now I have a 3-bed house full of belongings...
4. How realistic is it to hope that we can immigrate our 3 cats home with us?
Thanks,
Ian
Jul 21st 2009, 3:47 pm
#2
Junior Showtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,759
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
After almost a decade in the USA it is time to head back to the UK. I'm wondering if anyone hear with similar experiences might be able to give me any advice on the following points:
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...swivespartners
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/br...lity/children/
3. What is the easiest way to physically move? When I moved to the USA I carried everything on my back, now I have a 3-bed house full of belongings...
Hire a removal company - do a search on this site
4. How realistic is it to hope that we can immigrate our 3 cats home with us?
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/
Thanks,
Ian
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...swivespartners
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/br...lity/children/
3. What is the easiest way to physically move? When I moved to the USA I carried everything on my back, now I have a 3-bed house full of belongings...
Hire a removal company - do a search on this site
4. How realistic is it to hope that we can immigrate our 3 cats home with us?
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/
Thanks,
Ian
Jul 21st 2009, 3:47 pm
#3
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 711
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
1. I divorced my husband before leaving so never needed to do this but I think you will need to obtain a settlement visa from the embassy before you leave.
2. Your child if born in the US will automatically be a USC by birth and a UKC by decent. You'll need to contact the embassy to register the birth and before you leave would be my best advise.
3. Sell all your white goods, TV, VCR, DVD player etc as they won't work in the UK. Get international movers in to quote but really if you do not want a large shipping bill then sell all your big items and only take centimental items.
4. PETS programme - you'll need to start the process a few months before you want to leave if you want to take the cats with you.
2. Your child if born in the US will automatically be a USC by birth and a UKC by decent. You'll need to contact the embassy to register the birth and before you leave would be my best advise.
3. Sell all your white goods, TV, VCR, DVD player etc as they won't work in the UK. Get international movers in to quote but really if you do not want a large shipping bill then sell all your big items and only take centimental items.
4. PETS programme - you'll need to start the process a few months before you want to leave if you want to take the cats with you.
Jul 22nd 2009, 12:39 am
#4
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
After almost a decade in the USA it is time to head back to the UK. I'm wondering if anyone hear with similar experiences might be able to give me any advice on the following points:
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
1. I am married to a US citizen, where do we start the immigration status to bring my wife into the UK? Does that process need to begin before we go home, or after?
2. My wife is pregnant and our child is likely to be born in the USA. Will this make our child a dual-citizen automatically, or do we need to look out for special paperwork?
2. Your child will be a British citizen by descent if you were born in Britain (not necessarily otherwise). Child will need a British consular birth certificate + British passport + US passport.
You should look at becoming a US citizen before you leave, if you have not already done so.
Jul 22nd 2009, 4:26 pm
#5
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Thanks to everyone for their replies, this has already been a very helpful forum. I wish I had access to something like this when I moved out here!
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home? It would certainly help me to keep my options open if I decided to return in the future...
Would my British citizenship be affected by potential American citizenship? Would my child's status be affected?
Thanks again,
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home? It would certainly help me to keep my options open if I decided to return in the future...
Would my British citizenship be affected by potential American citizenship? Would my child's status be affected?
Thanks again,
Jul 22nd 2009, 4:40 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Thanks to everyone for their replies, this has already been a very helpful forum. I wish I had access to something like this when I moved out here!
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home? It would certainly help me to keep my options open if I decided to return in the future...
Would my British citizenship be affected by potential American citizenship? Would my child's status be affected?
Thanks again,
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home? It would certainly help me to keep my options open if I decided to return in the future...
Would my British citizenship be affected by potential American citizenship? Would my child's status be affected?
Thanks again,
Jul 22nd 2009, 5:04 pm
#7
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,966
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
The big advantage to getting citizenship is you can come and go from the US as you please. The reason why I will apply next month.
Jul 22nd 2009, 5:30 pm
#8
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
You have to fill out the tax forms but your husband is basically already doing this so it's not a major increase in the paperwork hassle. It gives you a great deal of flexibility if...knock on wood...something happens later and your USC spouse takes the USC child back to the US (I know it's not likely, but it's happened before).
I don't know how much longer it would require you to stay in the states though. At least a few months or so I would think.
I don't know how much longer it would require you to stay in the states though. At least a few months or so I would think.
Jul 22nd 2009, 6:05 pm
#9
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 14
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Hey there,
I am UK citizen currently living in the USA but in the process of moving back to the UK with my USA husband. If you need to get a UK settlement visa for your spouse I can recommend this forum: http://www.ukresident.com/forums/spo...sas-f2414.html
I am also bringing back my cat via the PETS scheme...you need to get started on that process fairly soon as it takes 6 months. FYI...it is costing us around $975 to ship our cat from Washington DC to Dublin, Ireland on Aer Lingus and then another 250 euros on the Irish side for the appropriate people to pick him up and process his paperwork! Thats not even counting the Vet visits, rabies shots, microchip, blood tests and flea/tick treatments he has had in order to qualify. Its expensive but totally worth it...I couldn't leave him behind!
Good luck!
I am UK citizen currently living in the USA but in the process of moving back to the UK with my USA husband. If you need to get a UK settlement visa for your spouse I can recommend this forum: http://www.ukresident.com/forums/spo...sas-f2414.html
I am also bringing back my cat via the PETS scheme...you need to get started on that process fairly soon as it takes 6 months. FYI...it is costing us around $975 to ship our cat from Washington DC to Dublin, Ireland on Aer Lingus and then another 250 euros on the Irish side for the appropriate people to pick him up and process his paperwork! Thats not even counting the Vet visits, rabies shots, microchip, blood tests and flea/tick treatments he has had in order to qualify. Its expensive but totally worth it...I couldn't leave him behind!
Good luck!
Jul 22nd 2009, 6:14 pm
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 711
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Definitley get your citizenship before you leave however it may take a while. When I did mine prior to 911 it took a total of 10 months. I'm not sure what the average timeline is now but if i were you I would find out and file the paperwork tomorrow! It's always a lot easier travelling into and out of the US with a USC child when you yourself have a USC passport.
Jul 30th 2009, 6:35 pm
#11
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Thanks again for all the advice.
Bromleygirl... I noticed you were in Cheyenne, I'm actually in Laramie where I've lived for the past 9 years (and only met 2 fellow Brits while I've been here).
Bromleygirl... I noticed you were in Cheyenne, I'm actually in Laramie where I've lived for the past 9 years (and only met 2 fellow Brits while I've been here).
Aug 3rd 2009, 12:13 am
#12
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Here's another question that has occured to me... do I need to do anything in regards to my National Insurance number, given that I've been off the radar for almost ten years.
Does it need to be 'reactivated'? Or when I get a new job in the UK will everything just pick up where I left off?
Also, what about any bills I might have left behind when I left the UK? Will they still be waiting for me with compounded interest after all this time, or do I get a clean slate? Hypthetically speaking, of course
Thanks again, these really are helpful forums.
Does it need to be 'reactivated'? Or when I get a new job in the UK will everything just pick up where I left off?
Also, what about any bills I might have left behind when I left the UK? Will they still be waiting for me with compounded interest after all this time, or do I get a clean slate? Hypthetically speaking, of course
Thanks again, these really are helpful forums.
Aug 3rd 2009, 1:15 am
#13
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Thanks to everyone for their replies, this has already been a very helpful forum. I wish I had access to something like this when I moved out here!
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home?
Regarding the last comment, I had considered applying for American citizenship before I left the country. I have lived here as a resident alien but have never pursued citizenship. My concerns would be, would it be considered dishonest to apply for citizenship knowing that I am planning to return home?
Would my British citizenship be affected by potential American citizenship? Would my child's status be affected?
Aug 7th 2009, 2:14 am
#14
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
Back to something JAJ said earlier... why would my child need two passports to travel? Why would a British consulate birth certificate and British passport not be enough? Especially as all three of us will be travelling together?
Aug 7th 2009, 2:20 am
#15
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Posts: 34,649
Re: From the USA to the UK. Questions
As a US citizen, child also needs a US passport.