Know of a visa advisor in Chicago?

Hello all!

I am looking to find a visa advisor or an emmigration attorney in Chicago to help with a spouse visa application for a US citizen looking to move to the UK with spouse (UK citizen). 
The UKBA webpage and all the guides read like a stereo manual, and I want to make sure I get it completed in a swift and correct manner so that I can get it approved as soon as possible.

any help would be appreciated

You really don't need an advisor unless you have a particularly complicated situation or the applicant has a criminal history or something of that nature. If you meet the requirements, you should have no trouble being successful without paying for advice.

I think I know and can tell what needs to be filed, but I'd rather get it right than not.  I know the webforms are meant to be straightforward, but they aren't, and not all the info adds up for me.  After reading through multiple posts, forums, websites and getting nowhere unless I pay, I'd rather just retain the help I need.

So again, if anyone knows of any UK visa specialists/advisors/lawyers in Chicago, please let me know.

The vast majority of our posters have prepared and applied for their visas independently. Not that you won't get a recommendation, but don't be surprised if no one has one.

Thanks for the heads up. 

It would be shocking if on a website such as this, that no one would know of any advisors.  But I appreciate your input.

Thanks for the heads up. 

It would be shocking if on a website such as this, that no one would know of any advisors.  But I appreciate your input.

Prepare to be shocked . But the upside is that you can get useful advice here for free!

That's the beauty of this forum, we save people loads of money (especially since an advisor will simply tell you the documents to gather, you'll still fill out the application yourself).

The UK visa is a tick box visa.  You tick the boxes, you get the visa.

If you want to elaborate on your circumstances, we can tell you what you need to do.  We can also check your list of supporting documents.

I did my Fiance Visa, the 6 month marriage visa that allowed me to live in the UK and settle, with no advisor. Just me and my then fiance.  I did my Further Leave to Remain Visa last summer with the help of all these lovely folks.

As they said, unless you have a complicated situation or if your spouse is self employed, it's easily doable. A huge pain in the bum and a bit stressful at times but doable.

Ok then, if you guys and gals are willing to hear and possibly help:

I'm a US citizen, my wife is a British citizen.  We have 2 kids under 5 that are dual and have both passports.  I have a job offer in the London that is pending approval of a visa.  They essentially told me to get the visa and then they can hire me on as getting a work-sponsored visa is not an option for my position.  There are other more intricate factors that I am not at liberty to discuss (with regards to the job), but that is the situation in a nutshell.

We were already looking to move to England anyhow, so all of the timing seems to be right and we decided to go ahead with our move and, obviously, the visa application process.  

As best I can determine, I will need a "family of a settled person" as the wife is a British citizen.  She has been in the US now for 10 years (her green card expires in 2016). As the kids are dual, they don't seem to factor into the financial requirement.

going along with the checklist items on their website:


To apply for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, you must be from outside theEuropean Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.  I am.
Your partner or family member must have one of the following:
•   British citizenship - Wife is.
You must also prove that:
•   you’re 18 or over, unless you’re applying as a child - I am over 18.
•   your relationship to your family member is genuine and recognised in the UK, eg your marriage is legal in your country - we have our Illinois marriage license, and even had a wedding party in the UK for those unable to attend in Chicago
•   you intend to continue living with your family member or partner in the UK after you apply (unless you’re a parent with access rights) - We do.
•   either you or your family member can support and accommodate you and any dependent children while in the UK, or you meet the financial requirement £18,600 per year if you’re applying only for yourself - We're not rich by any means, but we have savings here that will cover that, but not for the full 2.5 year duration of the visa (if that is necessary at the outset).  Also, the job offer I have is for an amount that will be more than double the financial requirement.
•   you and your family will have an adequate place to live in the UK - This vexes me, as we will have a place, but we haven't found one yet.  Should I simply put down my in-laws physical address as a placeholder? We may have to stay with her until we find a flat/house, but I hope that's not needed.
•   you have a good knowledge of English if you’re 18 or over - unless you’re applying as an adult dependent relative - I speak American English, although I understand that is up for debate on how well I speak English as a consequence.  

Documents you need to provide
You’ll need to provide:
•   your current passport or other valid travel ID - no problem
•   previous passports - I don't have them, do I need to request them?
•   1 passport-sized colour photograph again, no problem
•   proof of your relationship to the person you’re joining We had created a 'book of us' for the US authority when applying for her green card, so we know the routine here and will update it with all of what has transpired since then.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances - eg a sponsorship form from your family member in the UK. - This is another area where I have reservations; do I NEED a sponsor in the UK?  If so, can it be my spouse?  If it needs to be someone who actually lives in the UK (as opposed to just a citizen), should I just ask my Mother-In-Law?  I know she'd be willing to, if needed.
You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa. no problem there
You may have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you need to pay before you apply. It appears as though I'd have to pay 600 quid. That was the figure their calculator provided me when I entered the relevant details.

So your primary problem is that you don't qualify for the visa because of the financial requirement. The requirement is that your wife, as the British citizen, needs to have a job offer earning at least £18,600 per annum. If she does not have that job offer, then you need to have savings of at least £62,500 available to show. Therein lies the rub.

Your biggest hurdle is going to be the financial requirement. Essentially your job means nothing to the border agency. They are only concerned about the British citizen's earnings for this visa. Since it seems you need to start your job asap, the quickest thing will be to show that your wife has been earning at least £18.6k/year for the last 6 months and that she has a job offer in the UK starting within 3 months of arrival that will also meet the 18.6 requirement. You can make up shortfall with savings, but the amount of savings you must show is £16k + 2.5x(the amount you are short). You are correct in that your children will not affect the amount you need to show because they are dual citizens.

I'm sure someone else will be along shortly with even more details of that route, but thought I'd  give you an overview.

ETA: x-posted with geeta

Shoooooooot.  The financial requirement is about the British citizen, and has nothing to do with my (potential) wages?  ugh.

I think with some digging we can put together the funds in savings, but it would take a bit of digging.  Is the requirement 62.5 GBP, or 18600 x 2.5 ?  There's quite a difference between the two figures.

They are the same figure. The 62.5 is if you are using savings to cover the entire amount. The 16 + 2.5x is if you are combining savings with income. So if your wife's income hasn't met the threshold you could make up the shortfall using that formula. So if she is £100 short, you'd have to show that you have had £16,250 in savings for the last six months in the sole control of you or you wife.

Basically the UKBA will not count any savings below 16k. Then since your visa lasts 2.5yrs they want to see the amount you are short per year multiplied by 2.5 on top of the 16k.

Is the requirement 62.5 GBP, or 18600 x 2.5 ?  There's quite a difference between the two figures.

62.5 K or £16,000 + 2.5 x (18,600 - BC's current income). Or she could get a job for six months that makes £18,600 and has a job offer starting within three months of her return to the UK.

This savings must be held in a bank account for six months (basically).