Hi folks, pretty off-the-wall topic I know, but....
My girlfriend of 2 years is American and trying to get across here to work. She has an purely American passport, a good degree in Neuroscience and is looking to work. However, this isn't good enough for a Visa.
Can anyone recomment where I can start looking for advice on this? Do the Citezens Advice Bureau offer this sort of thing? Embassies?
Thanks in advance!
You will need to propose. If she comes over to marry you on a fiancee visa she can then apply for indefinite leave to remain as your wife.
x2 on the proposal... it worked for me *L*
propose, it's by far and away the simplest and most straight forward way! and 2 years is the min you need to legitimately go the marriage route!!
*coming up to 10 years*
google it. the embassy website, and uk immigration sites have loads of info on there... just got to sift through pages of poorly constructed website to find it!
[url= http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/partners/unmarriedsamesexpartners/ ]Useful link?[/url]
Ha yeah, the proposal thing is the obvious choice.
Just having a look at the options!
Cheers for that link woody. Yeah, the websites for this sort of thing are a bloomin' nightmare.
Keep 'em coming!
Yep also went down the marriage route when student visa ran out.
My wife had to go back to States and apply for a new finances visa. It was not cheap even 10 years ago, several hundred pounds. She may then need to go for an interview at the time it was either in LA or New York.
Once visa is granted I think you have 6 month to get married before you can get full residency.
Oh and that was the easy part just wait until you try and get an NI number.
If you bring her in under an 'intended spouse' visa, she can't legally work for the 1st 6 months. You also have to get married within that 6 months. That visa costs.
Once married, you can apply for indefinite stay - which costs - but means she can work. If she sends her passport back to the USA for a married name in there, that needs to be done before the visa renewal - so you'd need to be married well within the 6 months to risk sending the passport back to the USA for a name change before sending it to UK officials for the visa renewal. Or accept the maiden name in the passport and carry a copy of the marriage certificate every time she travels.
TBH, the NI number is a breeze these days.
Also remember she would only have a years grace on her driving license before having to get a Brit one - I'd advise paying for proper lessons the minute she arrives (provisional license fairly easy to get)and avioding teaching her / having to do it later after learning more bad habits.
Due to us having to let Europeans into the UK, Americans are quite high on the 'least wanted' immigrant list - and that is from the Home Office. Just get reading the Borders Agency website and learn to embrace red tape and petty rules.
why don't you emigrate to the US. What's left of the UK to stay for?
[i]Once married, you can apply for indefinite stay - which costs - but means she can work.[/i]
Not quite...you will need to complete 2 years leave to remain as a spouse before being eligible for indefinte leave to remain. You can work in the 2 years.
Personally, if she's looking for work, just go down the Work Permits route: find a job and then get the employer to applyer for a Work Permit for her. Then go and get entry clearance from the US. Would be specified employment so she could not get a new job without getting a new work permit. Hmmm...this may have now changed due to Points Based though
a good degree in Neuroscience and is looking to work. However, this isn't good enough for a Visa.
well thats where she is going wrong you see, if she had utterly nothing going for her and wanted into the UK purely to take full advantage of our social benefit/health system with absolutely no intention of giving something back she's be straight in.
i'll get off my soap box and go back to me daily mail now!
: )
a good degree in Neuroscience and is looking to work. However, this isn't good enough for a Visa.
If she has a fairly specialist qualification and were to be offered a job by a UK employer, her future employers should be able to get her a visa without much fuss.