USA girlfriend moving to UK
Discussion
Hi all
Looking for some advice. I have been with my girlfriend now for 3 years, she lives in US, I live in UK. We tend to spend quite a bit of time together travelling either way (flexible jobs help) but it’s getting tiring
The plan is for her to move to England. Ideally we would like to marry in USA in a few years, but accept we may need to accelerate this
Ideally she will keep her job and work remotely so wouldn’t need to be eligible to work in UK immediately
In order for her to legally come and spend extended time in the UK prior to marriage what is needed? Can she come and stay if we are engaged? Once married can she stay immediately or does she need some sort of entry status? Also I assume we can marry in US with me on an ESTA?
Would appreciate any advice. I’ve looked around and seen various pieces of information, but as everyone’s circumstances are different it is difficult to be sure of next steps.
Thanks folks
Looking for some advice. I have been with my girlfriend now for 3 years, she lives in US, I live in UK. We tend to spend quite a bit of time together travelling either way (flexible jobs help) but it’s getting tiring
The plan is for her to move to England. Ideally we would like to marry in USA in a few years, but accept we may need to accelerate this
Ideally she will keep her job and work remotely so wouldn’t need to be eligible to work in UK immediately
In order for her to legally come and spend extended time in the UK prior to marriage what is needed? Can she come and stay if we are engaged? Once married can she stay immediately or does she need some sort of entry status? Also I assume we can marry in US with me on an ESTA?
Would appreciate any advice. I’ve looked around and seen various pieces of information, but as everyone’s circumstances are different it is difficult to be sure of next steps.
Thanks folks
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Enjoy!
Note - it will probably be easier and cheaper for you to move to the US than for her to move to the UK
Can she come and stay if we are engaged?
Yes, but only as a normal tourist
Once married can she stay immediately or does she need some sort of entry status?
Needs marriage visa.
https://www.gov.uk/come-uk-married
Also I assume we can marry in US with me on an ESTA?
You will need to check with the US immigration. Probably not without pre-clearance from US Immigration
Enjoy!
Note - it will probably be easier and cheaper for you to move to the US than for her to move to the UK
Can she come and stay if we are engaged?
Yes, but only as a normal tourist
Once married can she stay immediately or does she need some sort of entry status?
Needs marriage visa.
https://www.gov.uk/come-uk-married
Also I assume we can marry in US with me on an ESTA?
You will need to check with the US immigration. Probably not without pre-clearance from US Immigration
Edited by wisbech on Thursday 16th January 02:04
Be a little careful, if you intend to marry in the UK, then she needs to enter on a fiancé visa, to get one you need to book a wedding. I had this with my girlfriend, we got married in UK in 2007.
I know you said you intend to marry in USA but plan can change. You can not convert to a fiancé visa from a visit visa you need to leave and apply from outside. This was brought in by Blair to prevent victors from the Sub Continent marrying
I know you said you intend to marry in USA but plan can change. You can not convert to a fiancé visa from a visit visa you need to leave and apply from outside. This was brought in by Blair to prevent victors from the Sub Continent marrying
wisbech said:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Enjoy!
Note - it will probably be easier and cheaper for you to move to the US than for her to move to the UK
It is mental expensive if you play things by the book.Enjoy!
Note - it will probably be easier and cheaper for you to move to the US than for her to move to the UK
My sister's husband is Turkish and the paperwork he has to produce and the cost of his visa every three years (it's over 3k) is pretty high. It's annoying to see someone who is here paying tax, working and being an active member of the local community having to pay all this to be here, yet a load of illegals rock in and get housed, fed etc (we have a huge number of "asylum seekers" here) and pay nothing. I find it a bit embarrassing to be honest.
You can marry in the US if you are on a fiancé visa. You *can* marry on ESTA, but only if you didn't go there with the intention of marrying (good luck proving a negative).
When I brought my US wife to the UK in 2010, it took about 3 months for her marriage visa to come through, and then we had to extend her ILR before she eventually became a UK citizen about 6 years later.
None of these bit of paperwork are desperately difficult, but they all take time and care, and every step seems to cost a thousand of the local currency unit.
When I brought my US wife to the UK in 2010, it took about 3 months for her marriage visa to come through, and then we had to extend her ILR before she eventually became a UK citizen about 6 years later.
None of these bit of paperwork are desperately difficult, but they all take time and care, and every step seems to cost a thousand of the local currency unit.
My wife is from LA, we met here in the UK while she was on a student VISA.
The UK VISA process is expensive, confusing, time consuming and generally a pain in the ass.
Including the NHS fees, solicitor costs, actual VISA costs, marriage license etc etc I think we spent about £4000 switching her student VISA to a spouse VISA, and that's just for the first 2.5 years... after that we have to renew it, another couple of grand... then finally at the 5 year mark she can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and probably cost another couple grand.
It all got approved etc, but the application process is a major headache and the paperwork and evidence you need to supply is a huge amount.
It's just about the same level of ballache if you were to go to the US tbh, unless you can get over there on a work VISA.
If you need a decent immigration solicitor PM me, i'll pass the details on of the firm we use.
The UK VISA process is expensive, confusing, time consuming and generally a pain in the ass.
Including the NHS fees, solicitor costs, actual VISA costs, marriage license etc etc I think we spent about £4000 switching her student VISA to a spouse VISA, and that's just for the first 2.5 years... after that we have to renew it, another couple of grand... then finally at the 5 year mark she can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and probably cost another couple grand.
It all got approved etc, but the application process is a major headache and the paperwork and evidence you need to supply is a huge amount.
It's just about the same level of ballache if you were to go to the US tbh, unless you can get over there on a work VISA.
If you need a decent immigration solicitor PM me, i'll pass the details on of the firm we use.
Edited by designforlife on Thursday 16th January 12:45
NNH said:
You can marry in the US if you are on a fiancé visa. You *can* marry on ESTA, but only if you didn't go there with the intention of marrying (good luck proving a negative).
When I brought my US wife to the UK in 2010, it took about 3 months for her marriage visa to come through, and then we had to extend her ILR before she eventually became a UK citizen about 6 years later.
None of these bit of paperwork are desperately difficult, but they all take time and care, and every step seems to cost a thousand of the local currency unit.
My wife and I were married in the U.S., but as we were, and still are, both U.K. citizens, our story might not help a U.K. guy marrying an American woman.When I brought my US wife to the UK in 2010, it took about 3 months for her marriage visa to come through, and then we had to extend her ILR before she eventually became a UK citizen about 6 years later.
None of these bit of paperwork are desperately difficult, but they all take time and care, and every step seems to cost a thousand of the local currency unit.
We were in Florida in May 1994, and I went to the County Courthouse in Hernando County, FL, to see what we’d need to be legally married there.
I was told that we’d need to be in the country for the previous seven days, our birth certificates, passports, proof of divorce, (if divorced), then purchase of marriage certificate and wedding ceremony conducted by County Clerk’s office.
We returned to FL in October 1994, complied with all legal requirements, and were duly married.
The marriage is recognised as legal by U.K., U.S., and presumably world wide.
At the time my wife travelled with ESTA, while I had, and have, a multiple entry VISA.
rustyuk said:
Harry H said:
Reminds me of that chap many years ago who bought his GF over from the states and needed to shift her wardrobe over that consumed a few containers.
I was just thinking the same thing. Didn't it all go tits up?Get yourself on this and score some extra case for the visa fees 
: https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/90-day-fiance-the-oth...
Also, the accelerating marriage part might well be worth considering. The uncertainty otherwise will get pretty stressful after a while when you have immigration status to take into account in addition to the usual long distance relationship stuff.
: https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/90-day-fiance-the-oth...Also, the accelerating marriage part might well be worth considering. The uncertainty otherwise will get pretty stressful after a while when you have immigration status to take into account in addition to the usual long distance relationship stuff.
Just to give you an idea, having been through this for my wife.
1 - there is no dependants visa for non-married, and i am not sure they even accept commonlaw, although you have not actually been living together anyway so that one is out.
2 - so, you will need to have been married.
3 - you will need to show 2 years history of the relationship
6 - i would recommend getting an immigration lawyer to manage your application, there are lots of nuances to the application process, and one slightly incorrectly filled out box will get an application rejected, it really is that bureaucratic.
7 - The Visa, NI topup, other services, imigration lawyer, flights and hotels cost us nearly GBP10K all told.
edit - remember, everything has to be applied for from a country that she is a resident of, so USA in this case, nothing can be submitted from the UK. You will probably have to use VFSGlobal for the application, they are the most useless shower of s
ts on teh planet.
edit, just looking at all the documents that we had in our folder FYI
1 - there is no dependants visa for non-married, and i am not sure they even accept commonlaw, although you have not actually been living together anyway so that one is out.
2 - so, you will need to have been married.
3 - you will need to show 2 years history of the relationship
- flights together
- hotels together
- holiday snaps together
- shared bank accounts
- any shared bills / invoices
- anything remotely official that has both your names on it
6 - i would recommend getting an immigration lawyer to manage your application, there are lots of nuances to the application process, and one slightly incorrectly filled out box will get an application rejected, it really is that bureaucratic.
7 - The Visa, NI topup, other services, imigration lawyer, flights and hotels cost us nearly GBP10K all told.
edit - remember, everything has to be applied for from a country that she is a resident of, so USA in this case, nothing can be submitted from the UK. You will probably have to use VFSGlobal for the application, they are the most useless shower of s
ts on teh planet. edit, just looking at all the documents that we had in our folder FYI
- birth certs, both of us (and children)
- passports (both of us and children)
- wife's ID cards for Indonesia
- marriage certificate
- previous divorce letter
- all college and university certificates for wife
- english language certificate (Grade 2) (not sure if an American needs to do this)
- photographs of us over the past 2 years (holidays etc)
- flight bookings corresponding to the holidays in the photographs
- all our visa information for previous 2 years in Singapore
- 6 months bank statements
- declaration signed by me
- proof of abode in the UK (tenancy agreement or mortgage document)
- Medical certificate (from approved medical center) issued from country of residence (USA in this case)
Edited by XJSJohn on Thursday 16th January 13:51
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