a new attitude about visas / are ECOs so bad?

you know, the more i read on this site - the more i think that my spousal visa is gonna be fine and go through.

for those of you who haven't read my threads and my fiance (dazed and confused); i have overstayed and have been denied entry in 2007 after inadvertently overstaying.  I didn't realize that i couldn't be in the UK more than 6 months in a year. I was spending lots of time travelling about but ended up in the UK most of the time because i had another boyfriend back then. Anyway, I was ignorant to the whole concept when it happened - but this last time I overstayed with the intentions of finding a way to get another work permit sorted, but was never able to. Kept having trying to sort something out and it just kept falling through. Finally we gave up on that ... and decided to get married. I was worried about my history and how i broke the rules this last time when i knew better. I just kept thinking that i could find someone to help me get another work permit. I'm a musician and my agent got me one work permit but then had some kind of nervous break down, left his wife and dropped the ball. I thought i'll find another agent to sort it, and weeks turned into months and that has turned into 9.  Yikes!

All that background said .... here's the thing i think gets us all through. Perhaps ECOs aren't trying to be picky and difficult, but are just trying to (quoting someone here from another thread - )"protecting the borders" which is their job. If that is the case, then even with a tainted history, if i can prove that we are no threat to society, *smile*, and that we can support ourselves, and that we are a legitimate couple, then is the battle won?

It's just i've been looking at this all wrong ... I've been kind of looking at like I'm being sent to the principal (or headmasters) office and not sure how much trouble i'm in and whether or not i'll be able to go out on the playground or is it detention or the paddle.

i am on this site so much the past few days and can't help but be chatty as I am on my own right now and a bit lonely if i'm honest. so, fingers crossed that when we meet in atlanta, get married, and i apply for my visa, i'll present a very strong case for the ECO and the application will sail through or at the very least dog paddle in!  anyway, that's the hope! 

am i being overly optimistic or is this revelation realistic?

songbird

If that is the case, then even with a tainted history, if i can prove that we are no threat to society, *smile*, and that we can support ourselves, and that we are a legitimate couple, then is the battle won?

Quite simply, with applications from the US, then yes, this is right.


Vicky

vicky, sorry to impose, just trying to get together paperwork -- and sort out things -- i read somewhere about the criminal background checks - somewhere i found on google while looking up spousal visa things - anyway they said that applications can take a long time because of the criminal background checks if you have lived in more than one state?  Anyway, i haven't read anything about that on this site except for asking about traffic violations offenses - and i think i remember garry saying something about they send some off in bundles randomly - but i didn't really understand it all to be honest -- can you give me the short answer about that bit -- I am not the brightest!  sorry!

It rarely happens where no criminal record is declared.

Vicky

despite all my other issues ... that's one i can say i don't have ... no criminal history!  *smile*

that thing on that yahoo answer site said that i would be red flagged because i had lived in more than two states in my life.  wasn't saying it directly to me but to someone else. Didn't sound right, but I had to check to give myself peace of mind ...

i am gonna quit searching the net because there are lots of misinformation -- people (including me) sometimes forget that just because you read it online doesn't make it true. 

thanks for clearing that up.

Yahoo answers is not a reliable place to go to for immigration advice.  I used to post there, but got fed up with all the misinformation.

Vicky

If you're looking for the 'official' information regarding spousal visa's & immigration here are the websites:

UKBA
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukresidency/eligibility/partnersandchildren/husbandwifecivilpartner/

UKVisa's
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf4husbandswivespartners

If you're looking for experiences of others in your similar situation...you're already here!

But, if you're having difficulty I would seriously recommend using a professional like Vicky to assist you with your visa to make sure that you're addressing all the issues with your situation.

Hope that helps.

Yahoo answers is not a reliable place to go to for immigration advice.  I used to post there, but got fed up with all the misinformation.

Vicky

Yahoo answers is not a reliable place to go for *any* advice.

Yahoo answers is not a reliable place to go for *any* advice.

But it can  be  immensely entertaining

you know, i should have known better -- there is so much information on this site why continue searching anywhere (except the official sites, garry's site, and vicky's site) ... but you just get worried and you start over analyzing everything -- the irony is the order of this thread ... me saying that i have this new attitude and then looking up more stuff ... *giggle*

but i really do feel better ... just had that one little thing still niggling away at me ... hoepfully things will go smoothly and quickly ... if they do, i have saved a bundle on airline tickets - if they don't, i haven't really lost anything but a few more days. After all we've been through the past few months, that's a small price to pay to have everything sorted.

As Vicky and Garry often tell people who look to them for advice in person, don't read things on the internet!

Like I have always said, there are two types of people in this forum.  Those who have run into trouble and those who are curious/anxious, those who have run into trouble scare the crap out of us curious/anxious people and we all end up with a skewed view of the way things work.

But it can  be  immensely entertaining

Those are too funny

Quite simply, with applications from the US, then yes, this is right.
Vicky

This. As much as it doesn't seem like it sometimes, being American is a definite perk when it comes to immigrating to the UK, especially if you're applying for a visa outside the PBS (like a family visa.)