dj322

Hey all,

So I am a UK citizen with Permanent Residency for Canada. I am married to a Canadian citizen.

So basically, me and my Mrs would like to live in the UK for around 8 months. We currently live in Canada. Being a UK citizen, I'm assuming I can come back and work without any problems but does anyone know what the process is for my wife to be able to work? I'm assuming she will need to apply for some kind of visa and what would the timelines be?

Any advice and similar stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

SanDiegogirl

She can visit the UK without a visa for up to 6 months. (no work, NHS eligibility)

Over and above that time she would need either a student visa/work visa/ancestry visa - not suggesting investment visa as presume she does not want one of those.

Look up these types on the UKBA website.

Timelines are different for different visas. All have different requirements, costs, criteria.

dj322

OK, the UKBA website doesn't make it easy to decide what kind of visa she would need. There are loads of options but it seems like it would be a Tier 2 general visa. Does this sound correct for our situation?

SanDiegogirl

For a Tier 2 work visa she needs to have a sponsoring employer and her work needs to be on the short list.

For a study visa she needs to enroll in a recognised course with a recognised educational institute, the course needs to be over 6 months and she has to have have monies to pay for the course and money to support herself for up to one year.

Apart from that there is the spouse visa ........

You sound as though you are going to be staying somewhat long term?

dj322

Our plan was to stay in the UK for up to 8 months. I would probably find a job and start working straightaway. My Mrs was hoping to work in this time period too.

celine_uk

How old is your wife? She may qualify for a working holiday Visa..

dj322

33

SanDiegogirl

You only moved to Canada in April 2014..... however, you say you want to get a job in the UK ..... your wife also?

Unless she finds a sponsor she won't get a work visa prior to entering the UK.

So you have the choice of a spouse(settlement)visa/working holiday visa or Ancestry visa. All of these visas allow her to work.

All are detailed on the UKBA site:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organi...nd-immigration

With a straightforward application allow 2 to 3 months for processing.

dunroving

I'm just curious how she would be NHS eligible if she is only visiting?

Is there a reciprocal agreement with Canada?

Or do you mean "no work, (and also no) NHS eligibility"?

robin1234

That's how I read it, no work and no NHS.

To dj322 I'd suggest an easy compromise. You return to UK, get a job, settle in temporarily etc, your wife simply visits you for a slightly shorter time, less than six months. The only downside is she wouldn't be able to work, and she wouldn't have NHS.

formula

At age 33, she is too old for a working holiday (Youth Mobility) visa.

formula

"There is no reciprocal agreement on health care between theUKand[sic] Canada".
Health Care

SanDiegogirl

Yes I do. sorry, should have put in that extra NO

between two worlds

I agree with this. It's not worth going through the hassle of doing the spouse visa if you only plan to stay for 8 months.

And as for an employer sponsoring a work visa, I doubt (just a feeling, no experience in this) an employer would do this for someone who only planned to be there 8 months, unless her field of work is extremely specific and hard to find employees in UK.