USA Partner Moving to UK

gandalftheking

Hi all, am just looking for some advice on first steps here. Once up and running am sure I'll be fine.

My partner lives and works in the US currently and I live and work in the UK. She wants to move to the UK so I am trying to establish whether most of the heavy lifting in terms of applications/paperwork is something she must do from her end, or whether I can facilitate in some way.

Second; we're not currently married but are planning to, so if this makes a difference prior to starting any processes, or is an advantage in some other way, it would be good to know.

Many thanks

Mojisola

Is she coming in as an independent person or as your future spouse -

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/visas-family-and-friends/getting-a-visa-for-your-spouse-or-partner-to-live-in-the-uk/

gandalftheking

Future Spouse

Mojisola

gandalftheking wrote: »

Future Spouse

Follow the link - and get ready to fill in loads of paperwork and collect lots of evidence that you are a couple, have an interview and pay over your money.

gandalftheking

So to my other point in the OP, getting married beforehand would be advantageous to the process it sounds? (given that ours is a whirlwind romance so not much water under the bridge to demonstrate joint bank accounts, residency together and that type of thing)

Mojisola

gandalftheking wrote: »

So to my other point in the OP, getting married beforehand would be advantageous to the process it sounds?

It looks as if she needs to apply for the same visa whether you're already married or just planning to be married within six months of her arrival.

My experience is different in that our DIL was already working in this country.

OhWow

If you can afford to sponsor her (earn at least 18,600 a year)-

She can apply for a 6 month Fiance visa, must marry within that 6 months, can't work, must pay to use the NHS with 50% added to the bill if she doesn't have insurance.She applies for her next visa when she is married and before her 6 month visa expires.

Or you can marry in the US and she can apply for a spouse visa, allows her to work and she pays a fee up front to be able to use the NHS (no free IVF allowed). This cuts out the about 1k fee for a fiance visa.

She must apply for these visas from the US. No coming to the UK as a visitor and trying for these visas as she will be refused.
https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

This site is full of US citizens wanting to move to the UK to be with a Brit and they know the drill-
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=17.0

If you don't want to marry, she can be a student on a Tier 4 visa, but that route isn't cheap as she will be an international student.
https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/overview

If she has a skill the UK needs, she can try to find an employer to sponsor her and get a Tier 2 General visa (only 20,700 of these skilled visa issued each year).
https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general

gandalftheking

Trying to decide between your mention of:

"She can apply for a 6 month Fiance visa, must marry within that 6 months, can't work, must pay to use the NHS with 50% added to the bill if she doesn't have insurance.She applies for her next visa when she is married and before her 6 month visa expires.

Or you can marry in the US and she can apply for a spouse visa, allows her to work and she pays a fee up front to be able to use the NHS (no free IVF allowed). This cuts out the about 1k fee for a fiance visa." (<< OP note: but flight to US would cancel this saving out almost?)

Which of these ultimately could work out the fastest and/or cheapest route?

chesky

If it's such a whirlwind romance, rather than the 'fastest and/or cheapest', it might be better to aim for the safest route in case things don't quite work out the way you think they will.
There is some truth in the old saying 'marry in haste and repent in leisure'.

gandalftheking

Not being funny, but not after relationship advice, more the most expediant way to do this as previous post, given that we have been together a short time. Thanks

Mojisola

gandalftheking wrote: »

Not being funny, but not after relationship advice, more the most expediant way to do this as previous post, given that we have been together a short time.

You do realise that you will have to prove that your relationship is real and not a visa scam - the length of time you've been a couple will be one of the things they look at.

You will need to know a lot about each other and each other's family and friends. You will need evidence that you have done stuff together - photos of a range of social events and holidays, etc.