First post so I'll try for a good one!

Maybe there is an element of grass is greener in my perception of life now but I will say this - after spending a fair amount of time farting around, trying to find something better than the UK, I have finally had enough and I cant tell you guys how much I want to come home now. Something I notice also now that I am in my 30's and have travelled a bit, is that 'home' refers to the UK... not my hometown or even my home Country (Scotland).

So in this vein - the last couple of weeks have seen my partner and I say stuff this for a game of soldiers...lets go home.

We have set a date for return at April/May 2012...so 10 months it is and the countdown begins! And wow, Im not even excited, Im stressed...because of the Visa we need to sort for my Mrs and the potential for time apart. The mere thought of it literally made her cry yesterday.

The plan - well, Im coming to London to stay with some friends and find work - hopefully it wont take long, no more than 6 weeks say and then I shall go on the hunt for an apartment. Hopefully my Mrs can use my friends address for her Visa, although Im not sure if they would see it as being overcrowded and reject her application. With that, and a letter of offer and money coming in I am hoping it'll be a shoe-in application of 30 days and hey presto... my hot Latin American Mrs will be in British-Landia to make my friends jealous.

10 months... nervous and excited at the same time. Being apart is going to REALLY suck.

I hate to reply to my own thread but by way of update for anyone who needs to know about visas etc, the process for us is a little long winded.

Its gonna mean like 3 or 4 months apart from my partner. First 6 weeks say finding work, 4 weeks working and finding an apartment, then another 4 weeks processing time for my partners visa! Not a happy prospect I have to say...

Last night we were talking about the things shes gonna have to try, things from MY country ...

Was a fun conversation. Hopefully she likes it there.

Aww good luck! Sucks that you'll be apart for so long but in the end it'll be worth it!

I'm leaving too after 23 years. Finally going home hopefully August 12th (if we ever get our passports back from washington dc).

Hope it all works out for you guys and I hope she just loves England!

thanks! and good luck to you!!

Don't know if they do it from the country you're in, but I know from the US you can pay extra ($300 US extra) for an expediated spouse visa, and using that service people have had their visas in one week.