Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Jun 11th 2018, 12:49 pm
#1
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Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Hello, not sure this is the correct place to ask. I’m a newly retired nurse from the USA soon to be married to my British fiancée in the U.K. As we are getting married here without the proper visa, I will sadly be returning to the USA shortly after the wedding. We have secured a rental property in Normandy which is near both a ferry port and an airport allowing my soon-to-be husband to commute to his engineering job in the U.K.
I realise that I must apply for my long stay in the USA as I am a citizen. Not sure if I apply on my own to retire there or as a spouse of citizen of the E.U. Any advice? Thank you.
I realise that I must apply for my long stay in the USA as I am a citizen. Not sure if I apply on my own to retire there or as a spouse of citizen of the E.U. Any advice? Thank you.
Jun 11th 2018, 1:01 pm
#2
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,545
Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Hello, not sure this is the correct place to ask. I’m a newly retired nurse from the USA soon to be married to my British fiancée in the U.K. As we are getting married here without the proper visa, I will sadly be returning to the USA shortly after the wedding. We have secured a rental property in Normandy which is near both a ferry port and an airport allowing my soon-to-be husband to commute to his engineering job in the U.K.
I realise that I must apply for my long stay in the USA as I am a citizen. Not sure if I apply on my own to retire there or as a spouse of citizen of the E.U. Any advice? Thank you.
I realise that I must apply for my long stay in the USA as I am a citizen. Not sure if I apply on my own to retire there or as a spouse of citizen of the E.U. Any advice? Thank you.
Jun 13th 2018, 10:59 pm
#3
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,613
Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Hi there and welcome to BE.
I have moved your query into our UK forum.
regards
BEVS
I have moved your query into our UK forum.
regards
BEVS
Jun 14th 2018, 5:09 am
#4
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Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Where are you going to live after you get married? In France or the UK? No point in giving information about how to emigrate to the UK if you are going to live permanently in France.
Where are you getting married?
Where are you getting married?
Jun 14th 2018, 6:33 am
#5
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
I would love to be married here in the U.K. however, the fees for a fiancée visa are outrageous. Money I had saved was spent on a recent return to the states to help care for a seriously ill family member. The wait time is also very long. We do have an appointment to file our intent but without the proper visa in hand, I doubt the Home Office will approve our application. We meet all other requirements such as income and housing, valid relationship, ecetera.
I’m also registered with the Nurse Midwifery Council which, because I’m a foreign national, charges almost £1500 just to take exams and is a lengthy process. The morning news has just reported that the Hiome Office plans to ease immigration rules for foreign national doctors and nurses. This is positive news and could possibly help to ease the current shortage of skilled healthcare workers....probably a bit late to benefit me.
The France route, applying for a long term visa, takes a few weeks to obtain, at a reasonable cost of under £100. Our new plan is my living in France for a year or so to establish residency, marrying in France, then getting the necessary spouse visa to join my husband in the U.K. if that is still what we want.
Bottom line is...in its rigorous attempts to control illegal immigration, the Home Office makes it very difficult for two people who truly love each other to have a life together. It’s taken all of the joy from what should be the happiest time of our lives. We’re not keeping our intent to marry appointment... 70 day wait period only to be told that our application has been denied....
I’m also registered with the Nurse Midwifery Council which, because I’m a foreign national, charges almost £1500 just to take exams and is a lengthy process. The morning news has just reported that the Hiome Office plans to ease immigration rules for foreign national doctors and nurses. This is positive news and could possibly help to ease the current shortage of skilled healthcare workers....probably a bit late to benefit me.
The France route, applying for a long term visa, takes a few weeks to obtain, at a reasonable cost of under £100. Our new plan is my living in France for a year or so to establish residency, marrying in France, then getting the necessary spouse visa to join my husband in the U.K. if that is still what we want.
Bottom line is...in its rigorous attempts to control illegal immigration, the Home Office makes it very difficult for two people who truly love each other to have a life together. It’s taken all of the joy from what should be the happiest time of our lives. We’re not keeping our intent to marry appointment... 70 day wait period only to be told that our application has been denied....
Jun 14th 2018, 8:12 am
#6
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
If you entered the UK with the intention of getting married without a Marriage Visitor visa then your application is likely, and rightly, to be refused. Note that is not the same visa as a fiancée visa which would allow you to lodge an application to remain in the UK after you marry.
If your intention is to marry and then move to France before attempting to return sometime in the future then I would take a look at the Surinder Singh route. Far cheaper and simpler than a spouse visa. Brexit will end it eventually but if the transition period keeps freedom of movement in place until the end of 2020 it may prove very useful to you.
If your intention is to marry and then move to France before attempting to return sometime in the future then I would take a look at the Surinder Singh route. Far cheaper and simpler than a spouse visa. Brexit will end it eventually but if the transition period keeps freedom of movement in place until the end of 2020 it may prove very useful to you.
Jun 14th 2018, 8:36 am
#7
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Thank you for the great advice. I’ve been back and fourth between the USA and the U.K. since last September to visit my boyfriend, my last arrival in the U.K. was in late April and so I must leave early October. My “boyfriends” proposal came as a complete surprise soon after my arrival. Do you think there is any chance that we will be approved by the Home Office? We have a notice of intent meeting on 2 July and have been told that our application would be screened by the Home Office which could take up to 70 days. We have a wedding date booked with the same Registars Office for 20th September. Think there is a chance for us to be spproved? I would be devastated to plan our special day only to find that we’ve been denied. Thoughts? Thanks again.
Jun 14th 2018, 9:11 am
#8
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Thank you for the great advice. I’ve been back and fourth between the USA and the U.K. since last September to visit my boyfriend, my last arrival in the U.K. was in late April and so I must leave early October. My “boyfriends” proposal came as a complete surprise soon after my arrival. Do you think there is any chance that we will be approved by the Home Office? We have a notice of intent meeting on 2 July and have been told that our application would be screened by the Home Office which could take up to 70 days. We have a wedding date booked with the same Registars Office for 20th September. Think there is a chance for us to be spproved? I would be devastated to plan our special day only to find that we’ve been denied. Thoughts? Thanks again.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigrat...-visitor-rules
V 4.10 The applicant must not intend to marry or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of this, in the UK, except where they have a visit visa endorsed for marriage or civil partnership.
My gut feeling is that you'll likely be fine however if you want a safe option that doesn't require marrying in the US then you could marry easily and legally elsewhere in Europe. You could do a John and Yoko and marry in Gibraltar if you wish to avoid the language barrier and have a British-style marriage certificate. Obviously the more guests you wish to attend your wedding the less practical that becomes.
Jun 14th 2018, 9:41 am
#9
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Wow...just looked at the Gibraltar Registrar website. Very doable and already have all the needed documents. If we choose to do this, will I have any problem returning to (and remaining in) the U.K. with my new husband?
Jun 14th 2018, 1:08 pm
#10
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
If you mean remaining as in living permanently then you'll need a spouse visa for which you'll need to return to the US to apply for.
Jun 14th 2018, 1:10 pm
#11
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Got it and thanks again
Jun 14th 2018, 1:49 pm
#13
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
May do just that.
Jun 14th 2018, 2:18 pm
#14
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
I am intrigued.....how would I go about moving directly to France?
Jun 14th 2018, 3:05 pm
#15
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Re: Confused Yankee in the U.K.
Post your questions regarding marrying and moving France in the French section of this forum. More informed folks there to answer questions about French issues.
There WILL be lots of paperwork to complete for permanent residency in France just as in any other country.
....... and unless you work and pay into the National Health system you will need to take out private medical insurance.
There WILL be lots of paperwork to complete for permanent residency in France just as in any other country.
....... and unless you work and pay into the National Health system you will need to take out private medical insurance.
