Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

I am 38yr old Englishman who married an American lady back in 2003. We have 3 children, 1 that I adopted from my wife's previous marriage and 2 of our own. We are looking to move to the U.K. and settle there and build a life for our family.
I have many family living in the Birmingham area and that is where we would aim to live. I have always worked since I left school except for a period in 06-07 when we came to the UK for 6 months to take care of my elderly parents.
Both my parents have now passed and feel long term this would be best for our family. I am training to be a teacher while I am a Director at a YMCA here in America.

I am just wondering how difficult it would be for us to go back, and what hoops we would have to jump through. One issue we have is my wife suffers with bi-polar and needs medication and would probably need it for the rest of her life. I am just wondering if she would be able to get her medication once we got there?

We have 3 young children 9,4 and 2 and we want family around them while they grow up. Any advice will be appreciated.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Definitely get in touch with the General Teaching Council of England to find out what you need to do to register to teach in the country. I did this with Scotland, and it takes a while to get all the paperwork sorted, so it is best to find out as soon as possible what is required.

Don't really know how to answer any of your other questions, but the helpful people on BE will be along soon to help:D

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk for your wife.

If you have legally adopted the child, have you thought about applying for the child to be registered as a British citizen?

As for your own natural children, as long as you are U.K. born they are British citizens => just get them British consular birth certificates and British passports.

Are you still on a green card? Have you thought through the consequences of abandoning your status in the United States and/or whether you should become a U.S. citizen?

(your 6 month absence may or may not have re-set the naturalisation clock).

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Would it not be possible to get a transfer with the YMCA to the UK until you have finished your studys.

As for your lady wife I cannot see any reason why she would not be able to get the medication in the UK, do you mean the exact same as she is on now is that what worries you.....hopefully it will be a damn site cheaper for you in the UK as well :)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Cost of schooling may be much higher than what he is paying here in the US seeing he will not be eligible for resident tuition in the UK. Also, some classes will more than likely not transfer, as it's a different system.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

See if she can get a couple of months on her prescription done a ahead of time before you go. This will give you some "room" while setting up with a GP and the local PCT. Once you are set up she will have no problems getting her medication.

I did a quick search online to see if my son's medication is approved over there. Maybe you can do the same for your wife's medicine.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Really he can't just put the kids in school in the UK and be done with it WOW.
I had no idea learnt something new, but then I have no kids so what do I know :confused: :)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

fyi ~ NHS >

http://www.emigrantadvice.ie/images/...Healthcare.pdf

good luck :)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

not a lot poppy, not a lot :rofl: :wub:

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Its a good job your my friend lol :p:wub:

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

without hi-jacking this thread anymore i'll just say that you do have some very good ideas, i'll give you that ;)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

And my last input to the thread hi-jack is..............I have a bloody over imaginative mind lol ;)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Thank you all for responding. I have my permanent residency card here in the U.K. and yes I am slightly concerned if my wife decides to return would I have trouble coming back. We have spoken in length and she says she doesn't want to return as one of the reasons she wants to leave is the worry about affording medication when we both get older.
She has already got the illness I have mentioned and she is worried how we could afford to take care of things when we get older. Her illness as some one as mentioned as cost us a lot already and it may only get worse.

I have thought about getting my green card so I could return later on, but I was told by someone from England who lives here that if my wife became a British citizen she would have to give up her American citizenship so she wouldn't be able to come back anyway. Is this true?

I was unsure about how to get my children British passports or even if I could but will certainly look into it. So I contact the British Embassy in the U.S.A?

I have thought about seeing if I could get a transfer with the YMCA and might look into that. But I am ready to work anywhere to pay my way to make this happen.

We have Home schooled here in the U.S.A and are thinking about continuing that in the U.K. For my own Schooling, I will be checking to see if I can continue it in the U.K. as it is all online based anyway.

Thanks for your continued advice.:)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

http:/ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

If everything went well and we decided to go back;how long would this process normally take?
And I am sure it would go smoother if I had job waiting for me? :)

From what I have read it seems it won't be a problem getting my kids there, but would it be difficult for my wife being a U.S. citizen? I read somewhere it's easier if you have been married for more than 5 years abroad which we have.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

we came the the decision in april 2000 and had my hubby's spousal visa in hand by june 2000 - The first time :-)


And it is always smoother if you have a job or support over there

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

I was talking about the OP's studies to become a teacher. College tuition for him would be a lot more seeing he is not a resident in the UK.

But, I see that he is going to continue his studies online. Didn't know that a teaching degree could be obtained online:confused: As far as I know (seeing I got my teaching degree in the US) you need to be placed in a school to do your teaching practicum, how would that work if you're not in the US:confused:

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

I said I would look into it and see if it was possible. It maybe easier just to look at transfering to U.K. and seeing that I would need to do. Not sure if it is possible or not; will be contacting my school on Monday.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Okay, I see, good luck:thumbup:

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

False!

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

and somewhere to live....what are your plans on that?

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

To start with I would crash with family, and once I get a job find rented accomadation. I hope to bring enough money that I would be able to have six months rent. (Saving as much as we can).
I don't think I would get much help with council property but my brother is looking into it for me. I don't think my years of paying taxes before I left will help me in anyway; just like when I gave up work and returned back for six months to take care of my dying dad they would not help me with any support.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

nope it's not so easy to get council accom from what i hear. this is a good website for accom etc > http://www.gumtree.com/

btw it is ok for you both to hold dual passports. my USC husband has both UK and USA passport and it's not a problem. you might want to spend this time applying for your USA passport being as you are a permanent resident already and that way the door's open if you wish to return...

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/form_n400.html

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Would I need to become a U.S. citizen to get a passport to allow our return or would my ten year permanent residency card be enough?

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

You need to become a U.S. citizen.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

The way that I see it, is that there are two immigration issues and then other personal issues.

First, leaving the door open if you want to come back. Your Green Card could well be in jeopardy with the plan that you have as it clearly shows intent to live permanently somewhere else. The safest option as many have said is to get US citizenship before you leave. This way you'll be treated as a US citizen just wanting to come back and that's no problem. Generally, on a green card, you're okay to be out of the country for 6 months, any longer it starts getting sticky and in fact if your intention is not to live in the US you could lose your GC.

Just as an aside if your wife is a US citizen, she could always sponsor you to move back to the US in the future, but there is time, expense, etc involved in this. Also Government can always change their rules, etc. So if you are eligible to apply now and you have the slightest inclination that you might go back in the future, it might be prudent to apply for it now. However, be aware that once you have your citizenship, you have to file returns and be subject to the US IRS rules.

Secondly, moving your family over to the UK. This is where you'll have to apply for a spousal visa. You will have to prove that you have a genuine relationship, accomodation for when you arrive in the UK, money to tide you over and generally that you won't be a burden on public funds.

I believe that once you have moved to the UK, your wife will be eligible for NHS services. I'm not sure about the 'transferability' of the teaching course that you are doing now and that's something that you might want to look into. On the five year rule, you might be referring to the fact that if you have been married for four years you can currently apply directly for Indefinite Leave to Enter as part of the spousal visa. This is not any easier, just that two years down the line in the UK, you don't have to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Thanks all for your response Dave, will certainly think about things and what is best way to do it.

Thanks all. :)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Does anyone know the best number to contact about sorting out getting birth certificates and passports for my birth children.

And where can I find out about getting my adopted daughter British citizenship. All the numbers seem to be pay as you go and seem very expensive. If that's all there is I will call.

I live in Texas.

Thanks.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

check out post 14 for Brit citizenship etc. and remember google is your friend ;)
btw i think you can email but yes the phone calls are not cheap!

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

A couple of times, I've emailed about visas, etc, and to be honest the responses have been not very satisfactory. Unfortunately, sometimes calling them up is the only way, but it may just be I like things explained to me rather than once sentence replies.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

i have used their email a couple of times which just required a yes/no answer and yes, i've heard it's best to call tbh.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Yep, they're pretty helpful over the phone but it's annoying on how much it costs. I just can't see the justification for the cost. If I recall correctly the couple of times I called I spent over $20 each time.

Good luck.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

interesting > http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...9&postcount=22

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Thank you, will look for that free advice. :)

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

We have decided to take our time and make sure we do this the right way. And completed in this order?

1) Get my U.S. Citizenship :- Keeping the doorway open. $650
2) Get my children registered at a british consular. $200 for my birth childen, not been able to find the price it would cost us to get my adopted daughter U.K. citizenship. If anyone know please help and where I can find forms on it.
3) Apply for wifes spousal visa to U.K. A question about this. When she recieves it how long after do we have before she has to enter the U.K.? The main reason we need to know is making sure we save money also for at least 6 months stay in the U.K. Hopefully I will get a job and won't need to worry about expenses. Also does anyone know the cost of this? (spousal visa)

Good news from what my school tell me I will be able to continue studies oversea; just waiting for a finally OK on that.

Thanks.

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

For your adopted daughter the process is different. You need form MN1 and Guide MN1. You can download both here:
http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britis...ritishcitizen/

The form and guide are on the right-hand side near the top. Underneath the link to the forms is another link about eligibility for MN1 applications. If you read that, there is a section specifically about adopted children.

Then, when you get to the next step, applying for British passports, it's the same form and same fee as for your birth children. There is a guidance form/booklet with the actual form that explains what documents you need to provide for birth and adopted children.

The form you want is called C2 plus the C2 notes. Both can be downloaded from here (Poppy Girl already gave you the link but here it is again):
http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports/how-to-apply

Scroll down to "Application forms" and then to C2.

As for yor wife's visa: JAJ already gave you the link:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/

You said that your school says you can continue your studies overseas. You're missing the point here: What's important is whether the kind of teaching qualification you're getting will be acceptable for teaching in England. As Marmalade already said: you need to contact the General Teaching Council for England and find out: http://www.gtce.org.uk/

Gina

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

Thank you Gina. :thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of returning Home - Advice Needed.
 

I 'think' that generally they advise 3 months from the date of the stamp. I think that you can ask them to put the stamp for a future date.. in case you apply a little early but let's say want to make the move in four months.

Also if you have been married for four years and the option of ILE (indefinite leave to enter) is still available at that time, you might want to look into it.

At the moment if you are married for less than two years you use this route..
spousal -> Indefinite Leave to Remain -> Naturalisation, and of course each step is another application and fee.

If you are married for over four years and fulfil the requirements you can go
Indefinite leave to Enter -> Naturalisation.

This is my understanding anyway.

Good luck.