I found my heart in London!

Hello everyone! I'm so glad I stumbled across this forum. My move across the pond is just in it's infancy and I need all the help I can get! Let me give you a little back story as to why I am thinking about becoming a UK Yankee and who I am.

I grew up in Ohio, born and raised, still living in the same house I was born in. I'm finishing up my BS degree (I truly appreciate the double meaning there ) studying special education. Enough about me.

Probably close to three years ago now, I met my soulmate online on a chatroom website. We were both in rocky relationships and became fast friends, never expecting anything more out of it. Thankfully, both of our relationships crumbled, giving us the chance to comfort each other and get to know each other even better. We fell hard and fast, speaking to each other for nearly 12 hours a day on skype. I never smiled so much in my life and never was so happy. We discussed EVERYTHING, from the important details of where we want our lives to go to silly inane topics like what we thought about cupcakes. LOONNNNNG story short, we fell completely in love.

After lots of discussion with him, our families and close friends, we decided it would be good if we met. We decided he should come visit me in Ohio because I was quite anxious and have never left the country, as well as my over protective parents who weren't going to let me fly nearly 4000 miles away from them without meeting this guy first themselves.

He landed in mid-March and I have never been more nervous and excited at the same time in my entire life. That day was the most magical day of my life. A total dream come true. We spent a month together here in Ohio before he had to fly back to London and it was pure bliss.

I decided I needed to go and experience his day-to-day life, meet his family and see his world. I got on a plane at the beginning of August and just came home in mid-September. I absolutely fell in love; with him all over again, with his family, with his city and the culture. Everything there was perfect.

So fast forward until today. We have been discussing a lot recently what our future is going to look like. We both live on skype, connected to each other practically 24/7. We even fall asleep with our laptops right next to us in bed. Cheesy, I know. But even being so "connected" isn't enough. I hate that he is 4000 miles away and I can't take him on adventures or even just cuddle up and watch a movie.

I know I want to move. I'm not 100% yet if I want to make that 4000 mile move yet, but I know that I want out of Ohio ASAP. I definitely loved being there and wouldn't mind spending a lot more time there. Right now, as long as I can be with the man I love and teach special education, I don't really mind where I live.

I've been trying to research what our options are but everything is REALLY confusing. So far, what I have seen is that it is easier to move and get married and stay over there as opposed to here in the states. Is that right?

I've also heard that it is recommended to get a lawyer, but most of the information I have seen is that hiring someone to help can cost thousands. As a young couple, that is not something that would be easy to do.

I am really hoping that this forum can bring people who have gone through the process into my life so that I can learn from their experiences. I'm really looking forward to getting to know people who have been in my shoes and so excited for the future.

Speak to you soon!!

Welcome to UKY.

If you and your BF are planning on getting married, then if monetarily it makes sense, he can visit here and you can get married in the US on the visa waiver.  Otherwise, you'd have to apply for a Fiance Visa, not be allowed to work, get married, then pay more money to switch to FLR (M) which will then allow you to work.  Where if you marry in the states, you can apply for a spousal visa, move there and be allowed to work right away.

Also, I haven't applied for my visa yet, but numerous people on here have and have said that it's straightforward, so no need for a lawyer (unless you have money to burn). 

Keep in mind that the rules are expected to change in April 2012, so keep an eye out.

I've done it from UK -> USA on a fiancée visa and am now going through it in the other direction to bring my Hubby back to the UK 10 years later.

Haven't needed a lawyer for either side. We are pretty simple, first marriage for both of us, no kids, no convictions. We are in the middle of the UK app right now, online portion is in and biometrics were done today so just have to send our physical package in and bite nails for a couple of weeks.

Unless you have something complicated you don't need a lawyer. The forms will make your head spin and beat your head on the desk on occasions and cause many large amounts of stress but most of it is of our own making purely over fear of messing it up.

I would say going to the UK has been a bit easier but then mainly because we have 10 years of marriage behind us and are not required to 'prove our relationship'.

You'll get all the visa help you could possibly need from the Visa subforum (but kbeaumont gave you a good start). I know we see worst cases here, but an awful lot of people have turned up looking for advice that got some bad information from a lawyer, so even laying out a lot of money is not a guarantee of a smooth path. You will get GOOD information here, I promise you.

Beyond the visas, though (as important as that is), you'll find out from UK-Y where to find twist ties and pumpkin pie filling. You know, the really important stuff.

Welcome aboard!

Hello & welcome, Femanomnomnom.
Our stories are similar.

As stoatula states, go the route suggested by kbeaumont.
The visa forum is beyond helpful.
I am sure I would have missed an item or two without it.