the cost of doing things the right way :(

ukdickie31

My wife is a non-EU citizen. She came here in 2002 for a Masters Degree. I am a British National.

To study here, she paid about £10,000 for her 1 year course plus had to fund her own living expenses so did the right thing, saved before she got here and found a part time job to supplement her study. Now graduated, she is in full time employment, paying NI and Tax

In this time, the cost of visa extensions and now applying for Nationalisation is well over £3,000, in fact possibly close to £4,000. The Naturalisation cost £650, and there is an 8 month delay.

Is it any wonder non-EU Nationals try to find another route into the UK ?

chocolatechipcookies

I'm a non EU citizen, and came over in 2005 on a fiance visa. I didn't pay anywhere near as much as your wife, but I know how frustrating it is. I think when I'm all done I'll have paid about £2,500-£3,000 from fiance visa to citizenship. That's like paying 5 months rent for me. Now that we both have money coming in, it doesn't seem to bad because we can save a larger amount each month, but when I first came I couldn't work, then I had to get my second visa with no job and no money. I'm lucky that my in laws let us borrow the money, which they refuse to take back. Then my third visa they raised the price from £500 to £995, so I had three weeks to save about £400, which I somehow managed. I can get citizenship this year, but I have a (renewal of vows) wedding to save for, so I'll do that next year.

ukdickie31

Good luck.... The citizenship is best done through the Local Council who can check forms for you. They validate and photocopy all documents for a fee (about £30). In this way, you hold onto the originals.

They advised us that there was an 8 month delay so don't expect a quick return for the naturalisation certificate and ceremony. If you plan a holiday, best to hang on to your passport and use the checking service.

Backbiter

So all the stuff I read in the papers every day about Britain letting in everybody with no questions asked isn't actually true?

PinkLipgloss

Backbiter wrote: »

So all the stuff I read in the papers every day about Britain letting in everybody with no questions asked isn't actually true?

In my experience this is not the case at all.

I have been living in Japan for the past 4 years - and am moving back to the UK next month. I got married here to a Japanese man and the procedures we had to go through to get our marriage recognised in the UK and his UK spouse visa were time consuming, tedious and expensive.

Firstly we had an interview at the British Consulate in order to get marriage paperwork (to prove I was in fact single and able to marry). This cost 100 pounds and we had to wait 28 days for the paperwork to be checked and processed.

After completing our marriage paperwork at the Japanese City Office we then had to complete a UK visa application form. The form was 18 pages long and required extensive supporting documentation including: dated photographs of us together, utility invoices in both our names proving that we have been living together, bank statements, passports, evidence from family/friends that we are a legitimate couple... etc The application process cost us around 550 pounds in total. :eek:

The form also stated that if they were not fully satisfied with our application that we would be required to attend an interview at the British Embassy in Tokyo (we live in Osaka!). Thankfully a follow up interview was not required.

When my husband attended his appointment to submit his visa application he had his fingerprints taken as well as a photo, and an eye scan thingie (forgot the name). He had to wait for an hour and a half whilst the documentation was checked - and was then allowed to leave when they were satisfied that the application paperwork was in order.

Bamber19

Backbiter wrote: »

So all the stuff I read in the papers every day about Britain letting in everybody with no questions asked isn't actually true?

Not at all, the only people who really get in no questions asked are illegal immigrants, where Britain gets it's poor reputation is in that it seems to do very little about then removing these illegal immigrants, and spends, or at least appears to spend, a lot of money on their comfort and housing, more so than the poor that were born here or came here legally.

The other issue of course is allowing people in as students, this system is currently open to abuse, there was a report recently about the thousands of students coming in on a student visa and never going to their uni to matriculate, instead just disappearing into the cities and working illegally, I think one university alone had 8000 foreign students over 4 years who never showed up but who had entered the country.

ukdickie31

Universities rely on the overseas students to keep them in business.

For some reason, the world still thinks a UK degree is worth something !!

Having discussed Education standards with my wife, it is clear that her country has a far better education system than the UK. The students attitude towards education and teachers is vastly different to those in the UK. Without a degree, most 'normal' jobs cannot be gained and the better paid jobs need a Masters from a top University. That's why so many come to the UK, with their ready cash to fund their course.

Obviously some may not complete their studies and get 'lost' in the system, but my thread was about the cost of doing things the right way.

I guess raising revenue by immigration will never be a vote loser.

chocolatechipcookies

Backbiter wrote: »

So all the stuff I read in the papers every day about Britain letting in everybody with no questions asked isn't actually true?

That's not true for me!

Backbiter

I know what gets printed in the press is just inflammatory nonsense. I know plenty of people get in on tourist visas and just stay put. It's the actual facts about how difficult the country makes it for non-EU people to get in that never get reported.

Rex_Mundi

ukdickie31 wrote: »

My wife is a non-EU citizen. She came here in 2002 for a Masters Degree.

ukdickie31 wrote: »

Having discussed Education standards with my wife, it is clear that her country has a far better education system than the UK.

Looking at your above quotes, I wonder why she ever bothered to come to this country for education.

It could lead people to think that she may have come here for 'other reasons' rather than an (in her words substandard) education.

ukdickie31

The comments were made after completing the course.. on the experience gained whilst studying with people from other countries and knowledge levels.

She had already gained BA degree in her home country so was used to University Education but what was noticeable was the approach different cultures took to their studies. In her home country it meant a lot to get a UK degree. Companies would not employ people without a Degree and a UK Degree helped even more, hence the reason to come to UK. In UK, Degree's do help, but are not the be all and end all.

What was surprising however was how some of the students approached the course.

I hindsight, you may be right... why did she bother... but then.. she would not have met me :rotfl: