Hello hello!

Hi everyone!

I've been browsing about on the forum and I figured that I would register and post.

I finally have gotten word that my spousal visa (2 year biometric residency permit) has been approved! (It was denied initially as apparently a few speeding tickets makes you a person of bad character?) My husband and I have been under a forced separation for a year and a half, and we couldn't be more excited to FINALLY be able to begin our life together and start a family.

I'm still waiting to hear from the UKBA, but I am hoping to hear from them soon as it has been nearly a month since the judge overturned their denial (and told them to refund the 140 pound appeal fee as she felt that their initial decision was absurd!). I have been searching the internet with my questions, but I keep finding conflicting and possibly outdated information.

I figured who would know better than someone else who has gone through the exact same thing? So, I searched for forums and found this one - I'm hoping to find answers and perhaps make a few friends along the way.

Once I am settled back in London (I lived there for a year and a half off and on using visitors visas) I'd love any guidance I can get in terms of job searching and home hunting.

My questions are:

Can I use the NHS with my biometric permit?
Can I work/study?
How do I get a NI number?

I thought I'd just ask here and hopefully receive some guidance. I'm stocking up on prescriptions now before I leave, and I have been working with my US doctors to ensure that the medications I use are also available in the UK. (I have some chronic health conditions that need constant care.)

Can't wait to get to know everyone!

Mrs. Crumpet

Welcome to the forum .

My questions are:

Can I use the NHS with my biometric permit?
Can I work/study?
How do I get a NI number?

You will not actually have a biometrics permit, because they are only issued to people who have applied for a visa from inside the UK.

Your visa will be a sticker in your passport, not a biometric permit... but when you apply for your next visa inside the UK in a couple of years, it will be issued as a biometrics permit instead of a aticker.

But, in answer to your questions:

1) Yes, you will have 'free' access to the NHS from the day you arrive in the UK. You just need to register with an NHS doctor

2) Yes, you will be allowed to work or study from the day you arrive in the UK (however, for studying, you won't qualify for the lower UK fees until you have been in the UK at least 3 years AND you have permanent residence (ILR).. but it takes 5 years to get ILR, so you will need to wait 5 years to qualify for home fees).

3) You can find out how to apply for an NI number here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/number.htm