beginning immigration research

This week has brought many changes into my life, including a new relationship.
Last night we already began discussing potential courses of action on how to proceed once my visitor's VISA expires.
I am scheduled to return to the States on 15 March.

I'm hoping someone here will be able to tell me what options I have.
Can I extend my stay if it is still under the 6 months that is stamped in my passport?
If I return to the States, and then want to return to be with him, what will I need to do? Can I come again as a visitor or should I apply  for another type of VISA?
And if I want to be able to work legally, what do I need to do?

I am chock full of questions but I want to start figuring things out now rather than wait til the "last minute".
Thanks for any/all advice you can offer...

Hi

This forum is a very good place to start.  There are many threads about being with partners in the UK so you may want to try a search.

The government website you need to look at is www.ukvisas.gov.uk  This shows all the different kind of visas that are possible.  However, the first thing you need to do is work out what you want to do.  Do you want to move here permanently?  Are you planning on getting married, and if so where and when?  If not, do you have work experience or qualifications which could get you an employment related visa?

You can't extend your visit visa past the six months, but if your visa is valid past the 15th March, you are permitted to change your plans and stay longer than originally stated.  You can't do anything to work legally on this visa.

Any more questions, ask away!

Victoria

Wow! How crazy that things have so suddenly and drastically changed!

Victoria is right - the govt. website she gave is absolutely the place to start.

Working is not easy unless you're trained in a shortage profession or unless you want to be a student (which would allow you to work part-time.) If you were to get married you wouldn't be able to work on a fiance visa (which would be a 6 mos. visa) but would be once married.

Good luck - you're smart not to leave it all to the last minute - immigration isn't the easiest thing in the whole world!

Can I extend my stay if it is still under the 6 months that is stamped in my passport?

Yes.  If you've been granted leave to enter for 6 months, you can stay those six months.
 

If I return to the States, and then want to return to be with him, what will I need to do? Can I come again as a visitor or should I apply  for another type of VISA?

You can come in again as a visitor, though you'll need to be prepared to answer questions about the nature of your relationship and will need to be able to prove that you can support yourself while you're here (bank statements, money from family/your friend, credit cards) and that you intend to return to the US (mortgage/lease papers, letter from your job, etc.).

And if I want to be able to work legally, what do I need to do?

You can't work as a visitor at all (not even volunteering!).  If you want to work, you'll need to be here as a spouse, on a work permit, a HSMP visa, or on a student visa (can work up to 20 hpw).  Are you a student or a recent graduate?  If so, you might want to check out the BUNAC programme.

Thanks to all who have replied so far. I find the technical/legal jargon on the Home Office website extremely convoluted and confusing.
Hopefully you guys will be able  to continue walking thru everything w/me and helping me understand. 

If things are still going this well when my return date approaches, I am going to consider extending my stay.  Is that something I need special permission for? The stamp in my Passport says 6 months and is dated 24 November. However there is a handwritten number on it (a tracking number?)as the IO seemed concerned about my  intentions and financial circumstances.

I don't think I qualify for the BUNAC program as I am  not in a US university and also due to my age. Last time I looked (ages ago) you had to be 26 or under for that? I am well past that I fear...

We have discussed having him  come stay in Florida temporarily until we get things sorted out. But we are fairly certain that long range we want to settle here in Leicestershire. He owns a house here, has a good job, etc.

Yes, it is astonishing how quickly all this has come about. But I can't remember when I've ever been this happy.
I may be getting well ahead of myself but I need to know what my (OUR!) options are.

Thanks again

As Victoria stated above you can't extend a visitor visa beyond 6 months so you would need to look at some other options, like student visa, fiance visa etc.

I'm not trying to extend it beyond the 6 months, I'm trying to sort out what to do as my return ticket is dated well before the full 6 months will be up.
When I came in, I was questioned extensively by the IO, made to show my  return ticket, and she then wrote a number in my passport which she said she knew where to find me if there was suspicion of my status.
My ticket says 15 March.
The 6 months (which is also stamped in my  Passport) is not up til 24 May.
Do I need to notify anyone specifically (if it does indeed happen) that I am extending my visit until 24  May?

Also, anyone who knows more about self employment issues, please read my thread in the On the Job folder entitled "legalities? a self employment question"

Thanks again

No, just extend your ticket, you can stay up to the date on your visa. 

v.cool! Thanks! that's a bit of a relief!

What you have to do to stay longer than your return date but not over your visa time is to get in touch with the airline that issued you your flight ticket and just ask to have the date moved to a different date.
They will charge you a fee to do this, but its really as simple as that.

Hope this helps

yes, thank you...I'm waiting awhile to do that to see how things are going
it's still very eaarly on
cheers