Almost hate to bring this up...

Whatever happened to that couple down south that were trying to get out of going through the visa process? This was a couple of years ago now I think. I think the UK lady had a couple of kids.....American guy but didn't want to leave and they were fighting the system.

Well, their donations/fundraising page doesn't seem to exist anymore, and while their Facebook page is still there, it says they no longer need donations, but they don't seem to have posted an update since Jan 2017, and that's just a generic post saying they are still around and responding to messages.

So I have no idea what actually happened with their situation in the end.

I think they were put on the 10 year path and were happy with that iirc.

I think they were put on the 10 year path and were happy with that iirc.

I don’t like to be bitter but it’s nice for some, eh? Jeeze.

I might be mistaken, but I think with the 10 year path you still need to apply for all the visas at each 2.5 years.  It just takes twice the amount of time to get ILR and citizenship.  It might be more convenient for them since they got to stay in country together, but it's more paperwork, more fees, and a longer wait to be settled.

Someone please correct me if I misunderstood the 10 year path.

I might be mistaken, but I think with the 10 year path you still need to apply for all the visas at each 2.5 years.  It just takes twice the amount of time to get ILR and citizenship.  It might be more convenient for them since they got to stay in country together, but it's more paperwork, more fees, and a longer wait to be settled.

Someone please correct me if I misunderstood the 10 year path.

Yes, that’s correct - it’s 3 FLR(M) visas before ILR... so that’s potentially £15,000-£20,000 in fees over the next 10 years taking into account visa fee rises.

The frustrating thing is that they shouldn’t have been able to get it at all because they applied as a visitor.

Also, if they had gone back to the US and done it the right way, they would have saved themselves all that hassle, time and money, plus they could have ended up on the 5-year path instead.


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The frustrating thing is that they shouldn’t have been able to get it at all because they applied as a visitor.

He has a British baby and she had British citizen children by other father/s so couldn't leave the UK. The Welfare Reform changes will likely hit them hard. Many claimants don’t even realise what is going to happen.

The 10 year route replaced the old Discretionary Leave and that was worse as it helped those who lied to enter the UK and wouldn't go home. They got 2 DL visas of 3 years each, which gave them instant access to all UK benefits in their own name. On 6 years they could apply for ILR.

That rule changed in 2012(?) and some of these on DL are now shocked to find they are refused citizenship as they have a ban of 10 years for overstaying, brought in under the Good Character changes. Some don't even realise this until their BC application is refused and they lose their fee.

Also, if they had gone back to the US and done it the right way, they would have saved themselves all that hassle, time and money, plus they could have ended up on the 5-year path instead.

That's the reason why so many now go back home and apply for a spouse visa once they find they have been put on the 10 year route.

Others who can't get the 10 year route, go back home before the first date they are required to report because they haven't left the UK. They then apply for a spouse visa from their own country.

 

Can someone TL;DR for me what happened with this couple originally?? Don't believe I ever noticed that thread. I think I got the gist of it but it feels like there's a piece or two missing?

Can someone TL;DR for me what happened with this couple originally?? Don't believe I ever noticed that thread. I think I got the gist of it but it feels like there's a piece or two missing?

They met online. They fell in love. He, USC, sold up and moved to the UK sight unseen as a visitor. Because they were in love they felt that he shouldn’t have to leave again. They had a baby together, she has 3 other kids too.

They met online. They fell in love. He, USC, sold up and moved to the UK sight unseen as a visitor. Because they were in love they felt that he shouldn’t have to leave again. They had a baby together, she has 3 other kids too.

Cheers. Think I just stumbled across another thread about them potentially (unless it's just similar?) while looking through all the posts I've missed over the last few days.

Cheers. Think I just stumbled across another thread about them potentially (unless it's just similar?) while looking through all the posts I've missed over the last few days.

This is a young couple, the other recent thread concerns a middle aged couple returning to the UK after years in the US.

This is a young couple, the other recent thread concerns a middle aged couple returning to the UK after years in the US.

Ahhhh right - I was only a few comments in so wasn't sure. Thanks!

Ahhhh right - I was only a few comments in so wasn't sure. Thanks!

It was from about 2 or 3 years ago.

According to their FB group, this was their story... UK wife, US husband, met online in 2012 and began an online relationship in 2013:

- Dec 2013, he left his home, job, car and all his belongings in the US and flew to the UK on a visitor visa. I don't believe they had met in person yet. He gave up everything to be with her and her 2 UK kids (plus unborn 3rd child)
- Dec 2013, he proposed
- April 2014 they got married in the UK, third child born a week later
- June 2014, they had saved up money for him to apply for an FLR visa to stay just before his 6 months ran out (they sold belongings and lived off £40 a week just to save for it)
- July 2014, the FLR payment was declined and the documents sent back
- July 2014, they reapplied, sent more documents, did biometrics
- Dec 2014, visa refused. No right of appeal
- Dec 2014, the children are under social care, who said she can't handle them on her own due to her Social Anxiety, so if the husband has to leave, the kids will be taken away from her
- Dec 2014, they found a lawyer through Google who wanted £2,500 in fees to fight it in court plus the £601 FLR fee
- Dec 2014, they set up a fundraising page to raise the money as they believe they have a case under Article 8. The money is needed by early Jan 2015
- Dec 2014...  lawyer lowers fees to £2201 total
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, a new lawyer found, charging just £1601 instead
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, their MP says he will try to get them an appeal, thereby lowering the money they need to £1,000 (i.e. no £601 visa fee)
- Jan 2015, they decide to apply for a Derivative Residence Card
- Jan 2015, she applies for a passport as the DRC application needs proof of her nationality
- Feb 2015 DRC refused. Children taken off social care
- March 2015... another new lawyer found
- April 2015, new visa application in (not even sure which one now - I assume FLR(FP))
- Dec 2015 immigration interview in Sheffield
- Jan 2016 they finally got the visa (whichever it was... I assume 10-year path)

It was from about 2 or 3 years ago.

According to their FB group, this was their story... UK wife, US husband, met online in 2012 and began an online relationship in 2013:

- Dec 2013, he left his home, job, car and all his belongings in the US and flew to the UK on a visitor visa. I don't believe they had met in person yet. He gave up everything to be with her and her 2 UK kids (plus unborn 3rd child)
- Dec 2013, he proposed
- April 2014 they got married in the UK, third child born a week later
- June 2014, they had saved up money for him to apply for an FLR visa to stay just before his 6 months ran out (they sold belongings and lived off £40 a week just to save for it)
- July 2014, the FLR payment was declined and the documents sent back
- July 2014, they reapplied, sent more documents, did biometrics
- Dec 2014, visa refused. No right of appeal
- Dec 2014, the children are under social care, who said she can't handle them on her own due to her Social Anxiety, so if the husband has to leave, the kids will be taken away from her
- Dec 2014, they found a lawyer through Google who wanted £2,500 in fees to fight it in court plus the £601 FLR fee
- Dec 2014, they set up a fundraising page to raise the money as they believe they have a case under Article 8. The money is needed by early Jan 2015
- Dec 2014...  lawyer lowers fees to £2201 total
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, a new lawyer found, charging just £1601 instead
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, their MP says he will try to get them an appeal, thereby lowering the money they need to £1,000 (i.e. no £601 visa fee)
- Jan 2015, they decide to apply for a Derivative Residence Card
- Jan 2015, she applies for a passport as the DRC application needs proof of her nationality
- Feb 2015 DRC refused. Children taken off social care
- March 2015... another new lawyer found
- April 2015, new visa application in (not even sure which one now - I assume FLR(FP))
- Dec 2015 immigration interview in Sheffield
- Jan 2016 they finally got the visa (whichever it was... I assume 10-year path)

What. A. Saga.


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It was from about 2 or 3 years ago.

According to their FB group, this was their story... UK wife, US husband, met online in 2012 and began an online relationship in 2013:

- Dec 2013, he left his home, job, car and all his belongings in the US and flew to the UK on a visitor visa. I don't believe they had met in person yet. He gave up everything to be with her and her 2 UK kids (plus unborn 3rd child)
- Dec 2013, he proposed
- April 2014 they got married in the UK, third child born a week later
- June 2014, they had saved up money for him to apply for an FLR visa to stay just before his 6 months ran out (they sold belongings and lived off £40 a week just to save for it)
- July 2014, the FLR payment was declined and the documents sent back
- July 2014, they reapplied, sent more documents, did biometrics
- Dec 2014, visa refused. No right of appeal
- Dec 2014, the children are under social care, who said she can't handle them on her own due to her Social Anxiety, so if the husband has to leave, the kids will be taken away from her
- Dec 2014, they found a lawyer through Google who wanted £2,500 in fees to fight it in court plus the £601 FLR fee
- Dec 2014, they set up a fundraising page to raise the money as they believe they have a case under Article 8. The money is needed by early Jan 2015
- Dec 2014...  lawyer lowers fees to £2201 total
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, a new lawyer found, charging just £1601 instead
- Dec 2014 or Jan 2015, their MP says he will try to get them an appeal, thereby lowering the money they need to £1,000 (i.e. no £601 visa fee)
- Jan 2015, they decide to apply for a Derivative Residence Card
- Jan 2015, she applies for a passport as the DRC application needs proof of her nationality
- Feb 2015 DRC refused. Children taken off social care
- March 2015... another new lawyer found
- April 2015, new visa application in (not even sure which one now - I assume FLR(FP))
- Dec 2015 immigration interview in Sheffield
- Jan 2016 they finally got the visa (whichever it was... I assume 10-year path)

Thanks! Covered all the bases there I think...just WOW.