New here today, Hello!

My name is Bryan, originally from Texas, and moved to North Carolina several years ago for my company. I now find myself in love with, and engaged to, a beautiful English lady that lives outside of Newmarket, Suffolk. I've flown over for holiday this past Christmas, and am going back for another 10 days on 15 February. We are desperately trying to get things in order to apply for my fiancee visa, and start our life together. We're not old, but certainly not spring chickens and the wait,frustration, and difficulty that the UKBA causes is at times maddening for someone like myself, who has an excellent background and marketable skills as opposed to some groups that may waltz right on in whether they do or not :/. I'm certain that I'm not the only one that feels, or has felt, this pain. Anyway, Hello to all!

Hiya Bryan and welcome.

Sorry to say, you're not the only one who has felt the frustration of moving to the UK to be with their partner. I just received my FLR(M) - Further Leave to Remain/Marriage visa after nearly a TEN month wait. Our circumstances should have made for a quick, uncomplicated application. Still, we waited for nearly a year. This was after receiving my fiancee visa, so in fact we were only resubmitting the same information, just updated, and including our marriage certificate. It was absolutely maddening.

You will find many, many, many (did I say 'many'? ) posts about this same topic on the forum. My advice is to make a flawless application, and purchase a massive jar of patience!

If you can get married in the US, I'd advise you to do so. Then you will only have to apply for a spousal visa from the US, rather than applying for a fiance visa from the US, then applying for FLR(M) after you get married in the UK. You will have to stay in the US until your spousal visa is approved, but it would probably take much less time overall, and it is certainly less money than having to apply for two visas.

Welcome to UKY, Bryan! I'm from Texas, as well - there are a few of us floating around on here. (:

You will find many, many, many (did I say 'many'? ) posts about this same topic on the forum. My advice is to make a flawless application, and purchase a massive jar of patience!

^ This, exactly!

Might I also second Fallgal's advice to marry in the US and apply for a spousal visa there. It does indeed cut a long/expensive step out of the immigration process, and helps when applying for a National Insurance Number (which is free, in and of itself, but there have been some horror stories about JobCentre Plus appointments for those who applied for FLR(M) in the UK). The money saved in skipping the fiance visa could potentially be made up in extra airfare - you just have to weigh the options of your own situation and go from there.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Welcome again to the forum - I'm sure you'll find it most helpful, as many of us have. (:

we married in the Us  and  went to England after.. Sounds like it is less hectic.. Welcome to the boards..

Another vote here for getting married in the US then applying for the spousal visa. Took DW's visa 2 weeks to come through.

Thanks to all, for the warm welcomes!
 When she and I fell in love, we actually didn't know what lay ahead for us. I've spent hours and hours...and more hours online looking into things. Nice, isn't it, the twisted and convoluted trail the UKBS lays out before you? I truly appreciate all the kind words and advice given to date, you are all great folks here.

As I said on another post on another string, my fiancee doesn't work full time, in order to be home in the afternoon for her youngest son, 9. Therefore, she doesn't make the minimum income required to sponsor me. However, she will be getting her share of the home her and her ex shared in her previous marriage when it sells, and will put her well above that minimum, in savings. I just two days ago discovered that she'll have to show a minimum balance, increased because of her shortcomings of the 18,600 annual, for six months...RIDICULOUS!

We've talked about getting married here in the States, maybe flying her over Easter and doing it, while she's off a week at the Uni she works at, then applying for the spousal visa when she goes back and sidestepping the time and expense involved with fiancee visa first. This brings a very important question to mind if we did that, however. She receives an income credit presently, and even though I'll still be here for some time and won't be there working in England when we first marry to contribute to the household officially, will she automatically lose that? And, if not, can that credit be counted towards her annual income in the formula for minimum income to sponsor? Did I lose anyone here?

Sorry guys/gals, it's just so overwhelming at times, trying to keep sane through this!