UKC husband and USC wife move to UK

Hi everyone,

Just signed up to the site. I am from the UK & my wife USA. In May or June of 2007 we are planning to move to the UK. I have found out she will need a "settlement" visa and have a few questions, and I hope you experts might be able to help!

*Is "settlement" like a visa for spouses?

*Will my wife be able to get ILR, or will she be issued with FLR?

*What exactly is "entry clearance"?

*I am planning on applying for a job in the UK so I will be able to start work immediately. Is proof of a job offer needed for visa issuance? Will she be able to work immediately with FLR and/or ILR?

*I am planning on renting a house right when we get there, but is proof of accommodation required for the visa? Could I put down my brothers house address as we might stay with him for a while?

*How long does the spouse visa take to process? I have heard about 2-3 weeks by post. (To put it in perspective: I have been in the USA for over three years and  still haven't had my permanent resident status interview here!!!)

Thanks very much....
All the best,
MH

Hi, to answer some of your questions:

"Entry clearance" is what the British Consulate issues to allow your wife to travel to the Uk and be granted a FLR or ILR which is stamped in her passport on arrival at the airport.  If you have been married for less than 2 years you wife will need and FLR, over 2 years it's an ILR.

If it's an FLR your wife applies for she will need to show that she will not become reliant on public funds so will need to show she is employable and/or that you will be capable of supporting her. That doesn't mean you have to have a job lined up necessarily but again that you are employable.

Processing times ... if all is in order the Consulates can issue on the same day if you make the application in person. Not sure about postal times but think it is indeed only a few weeks. Someone who's been through it recently should be able to help  or have a browse around some of the recent threads for an idea of timeframes.

This might all change in the next 2 years before you plan to come over here so it would pay to check closer to the time.

*Will my wife be able to get ILR, or will she be issued with FLR?

*What exactly is "entry clearance"?

If you have been married 4+ years, she will receive ILE - Indefinite Leave to Enter.  If not, she will receive the standard 2 year probationary visa for spouses - like FLR.  ILE confers the same status as ILR.

Entry clearances are issued by the Foreign Office, as opposed to visas and permits, which are issued by the Home Office.  For all practical purposes, an entry clearance is equivalent to a visa.  The current rules mandate that anyone entering the UK on a settlement path needs to have an entry clearance.

I wanted to add that there's some pictures of these at http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/preventing_illegal/uk_passport_stamps.html but some of these are out of date...

Thanks guys, you have been very informative.

Might I ask:
For Britwife: When I (she) applies to the embassy in DC, would she apply for FLR or ILE then? I am a little confused as to what is applied for and when? Would she apply for settlement and ILE (as we will have been married almost 6 years by then), or is the ILE stamped in her passport at Gatwick? 

Does the embassy really care if you put down you are going to stay with a relative for the first few weeks or do they prefer you get a place of your own?
We will be taking maybe £50,000 for a deposit on a house and obviously don't want to be rushed into getting a place.

Thanks for all the great advice, I really appreciate it!

Cheers,
MH

I don't believe the embassy in Washington processes visas. Depending on where you are located in the US, she would apply to either NY, Chicago or Los Angeles. I was living in Florida when I applied, so had to use the NY location for my application. If, as Garry states, you have been married over 4 years, then she would apply for the ILE.

I don't believe the embassy in Washington processes visas. Depending on where you are located in the US, she would apply to either NY, Chicago or Los Angeles. I was living in Florida when I applied, so had to use the NY location for my application. If, as Garry states, you have been married over 4 years, then she would apply for the ILE.

That is correct...the DC Embassy stopped processing visa's a 3-5 years ago. In 2003 I was in Maryland and had to travel to NYC as well.


Julie

I don't believe the embassy in Washington processes visas. Depending on where you are located in the US, she would apply to either NY, Chicago or Los Angeles. I was living in Florida when I applied, so had to use the NY location for my application. If, as Garry states, you have been married over 4 years, then she would apply for the ILE.

I meant New York..my mistake! Just use to saying DC as that's where I registered my boys births and got their UK passports from.

it is possible to do the filing by mail isn't it??  I thought I read it was but now I am wondering if that is only possible for the unmarried partner or fiancee visas...

it is possible to do the filing by mail isn't it??  I thought I read it was but now I am wondering if that is only possible for the unmarried partner or fiancee visas...

You can file by mail yup! http://www.britainusa.com/ This site has all the details of the process.

Helena