Spouse visa-financial requirement

I am a UKC living in USA past 5.5 years and hope to bring my USC husband and Dual citizenship child to UK to live in 3 years. So far in terms of making this happen I've seen I can either move there and earn at least 16.5k a year for at least 6 months prior to bringing him (not plausible at all as he cant live away from his child that long) or save 2.5 times that and have that in the bank at least 6 months before applying but that's a huge sum of money I dont know if I can realistically save! It looks like you can transfer within the same company to UK if your offer there meets set income requirement but my problem there is I am a vet assistant in the US and in the uk you require a license to do the same job which I dont have so I'm not sure thered be a position there for me. Am I missing any other options? Like would it be considered fraudulent for my husband to stay with me in the UK not working while i earn an income to satisfy requirements?

I am a UKC living in USA past 5.5 years and hope to bring my USC husband and Dual citizenship child to UK to live in 3 years. So far in terms of making this happen I've seen I can either move there and earn at least 16.5k a year for at least 6 months prior to bringing him (not plausible at all as he cant live away from his child that long) or save 2.5 times that and have that in the bank at least 6 months before applying but that's a huge sum of money I dont know if I can realistically save! It looks like you can transfer within the same company to UK if your offer there meets set income requirement but my problem there is I am a vet assistant in the US and in the uk you require a license to do the same job which I dont have so I'm not sure thered be a position there for me. Am I missing any other options? Like would it be considered fraudulent for my husband to stay with me in the UK not working while i earn an income to satisfy requirements?

The figures are actually £18,600 for income or £62,500 for savings. You can also combine the two if income is short but only savings over £16,000 are counted.

If you have earned the required amount over the last year in the US and have a confirmed job offer which meets the requirements starting within 3 months, you could move together.

Some people do have their spouse visit while they are working the first 6 months in the UK but there is always the risk that he would be granted a shorter than 6 months stay or even be declined at the border as it's unusual for a US visitor to be given that much time off work. Remote work on a visit visa is not permitted.

Of course the rules could easily change in the next 3 years but as it stands, here is the financial guidance with all the various ways of meeting the requirements.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783641/Appendix-FM-1-7-Financial-Requirement-ext_1_.pdf

It is permissible to receive a gift of all or part of the savings requirement but this would have to be declared and it can not be a loan so whomever gifted the money to you, would be saying goodbye to it.

Will you be selling a house when you move to the UK?  If you've owned the property at least 6 months before the application, money from the house sale can be used to meet the financial requirement.

Yup, a house sale or a fully vested 401k are often ways people meet the financial requirement.

The UK is very anti-immigration (as is the USA) at the moment.  But believe it or not, it's actually much harder to meet the requirements to come this way.  And a hell of  a lot more expensive too.

If you were to apply today, I'd budget that it'll cost £12,000 over the next 5 years in visa fees.  It's truly daylight robbery.

Yup, a house sale or a fully vested 401k are often ways people meet the financial requirement.

The UK is very anti-immigration (as is the USA) at the moment.  But believe it or not, it's actually much harder to meet the requirements to come this way.  And a hell of  a lot more expensive too.

If you were to apply today, I'd budget that it'll cost £12,000 over the next 5 years in visa fees.  It's truly daylight robbery.

omg that's outrageous! I think we have about 30k usd in retirement plans, would we have to pull it out n face the penalties yo use it towards the savings? We don't have a house unfortunately as they go for 500k plus here minimum in so cal

It is permissible to receive a gift of all or part of the savings requirement but this would have to be declared and it can not be a loan so whomever gifted the money to you, would be saying goodbye to it.

That's good to know thank you! Tht would bring us 25k usd closer as my FIL offered to give that towards a house

That's good to know thank you! Tht would bring us 25k usd closer as my FIL offered to give that towards a house

Any cash savings must be held in your/your partner's name (individually or jointly), for at least six months before you apply, so if this is a route you're thinking of going, make sure he gifts it to you in advance.  Nobody else can be named on the account where the savings are held.

omg that's outrageous! I think we have about 30k usd in retirement plans, would we have to pull it out n face the penalties yo use it towards the savings? We don't have a house unfortunately as they go for 500k plus here minimum in so cal

I would KILL to be able to have a house for only $500k!!!!!  Bargain! 

Any cash savings must be held in your/your partner's name (individually or jointly), for at least six months before you apply, so if this is a route you're thinking of going, make sure he gifts it to you in advance.  Nobody else can be named on the account where the savings are held.

Thank you! I will bring up with him next time I see him and see if can transfer to us early. Any idea if a 401k would have to be cashed out and incur penalties or If i could keep them with the retirement companies and still use as proof?

I would KILL to be able to have a house for only $500k!!!!!  Bargain! 

Lol that'll get you like 800 sq ft and is the absolute minimum. Where do you live?

I would KILL to be able to have a house for only $500k!!!!!  Bargain! 

Move to Wales.  Have you looked at what you can afford out here?  It's incredible!

Lol that'll get you like 800 sq ft and is the absolute minimum. Where do you live?

My house would sell for £650k in the Brexit environment and it's not quite 1200 square feet over 2 floors.  I'm in the southeast.

But yes, I'm told that £20 will buy you a mansion in Newcastle. 

My house would sell for £650k in the Brexit environment and it's not quite 1200 square feet over 2 floors.  I'm in the southeast.

But yes, I'm told that £20 will buy you a mansion in Newcastle. 

I will be moving to the south east! Born in Cantebruy raised in thanet, hoping to move to canterbury if we can afford it