UKC married to USC, living as Green card holder in US wants to go home

Hello all,

I'm wondering what the procedure would be for me and my hubby to move back to the UK. I came here in June 2005 and have recently got my green card. We're currently expecting our first child, and I was wondering what we would have to apply for if we wanted to move back to the UK permanently.

This is hypothetical because I'm not about to abandon my green card yet, I just want to know what it would entail if we ever did decide to move to the UK in the future. What sort of time scale are we thinking of? I'm assuming he would be able to apply for a Green card to the UK as he is the spouse of a UKC, right? How long does that typically take?

The other thing I was wondering about was naturalisation. Hubby is a police officer here in Dallas, and would want to apply for the UK police if we moved back. However to do that, he'd need to be a naturalised UKC (as far as I know). How long does that process generally take?

Thanks for any advice. Either the baby ate my brain or I'm just stupid, because I cannot find difinative answers to these questions anywhere!!

Jen x

He'd get a spouse visa- if you've been married less than 4 years when you apply he'll get a 2 year visa and he can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residence) once those two years are up.  If you've been married over four years when you move back he will get Indefinite Leave right off instead of a 2 year spouse visa.

The good news is that getting a visa for the UK is a very quick process once your documents are in order- you can get it back in a week or two if you apply by post, or the same day if you apply in person at the consulate that handles your application (that would be Los Angeles if you're in Dallas.)

UK naturalisation- he'd have to have Indefinite Leave to Remain and live in the UK for three years before he is eligible for naturalisation.  I'm not sure how long the actual process takes (from application to ceremony) but I'm sure someone else can answer that question for you.