Leaving on a jet plane. Eventually.

Hey kids,

Quick introduction, I am American living outside Detroit, headed to Notts to join my husband, who is a UK citizen.  Hopefully getting a lawyer relative to help me through the visa process -- it doesn't look hard, just expensive, and fraught with "Ha ha, you missed a line, stay out you bloody foreigner!" pitfalls.

Just me, no pets, no dependents.  Got a couple rooms full of furniture that I have to sell, and a couple large items I want to take (an antique radio, and a console home organ being the largest), and trying to get it all together!  I'll be perusing the boards first before asking any super newbie questions like "how in the world do I get my stuff there".  But, thought I'd say hi first..

Hi!

Hi We have the same fears about the visa, how misunderstanding one question could negate the whole thing - but this forum is really helpful and all the solicitors we spoke to said how simple it was and how straightforward our case is so we're saving the extra and doing it ourselves (in probably more detail than they would!)

Good luck

Good luck with your move .

As StubbornBrit says, you really shouldn't need a lawyer unless you have serious reasons to believe your application could be refused... such as serious criminal convictions or a bad UK immigration history (refused visas, illegal overstaying or working in the UK etc.).

It is a very straightforward application and is a tick-box visa, meaning if you meet the requirements and send the listed documents, they have to issue the visa.

As it is so expensive already, and there is plenty of good advice here on the forum, I would save the money you would spend on a lawyer (if they are charging you, that is) and put it towards your visa and your move to the UK instead.

There are a number of lawyers around who claim they know the process but actually have given visa applicants some very incorrect advice because they actually don't understand the visa requirements at all - if you use your lawyer relative, I would make sure they specialise in UK immigration law, are OISC registered, are very familiar with every single document and requirement for a spousal visa and have dealt with several cases this year (preferably in the last 3 months because some of the rules have changed recently). There are only 2 main immigration law firms we recommend here on the forum because we know they know their stuff and they are Laura Devine (based in NYC and London) and Medivisas (based in London).

Good luck I'm originally from Toledo and have lived in the UK for 13 years whereabouts in MI are u ?

Thank you for the information and support!  My lawyer relative is an American immigration lawyer, and was going to take a look and see if I could do it myself (consensus here is apparently 'yes') and if not, she was going to call in a favor with a UK immigration lawyer she knows.  But, I don't know anything about her friend, where he/she works, etc.  And I would rather not be tied to the pro bono timetable I have been subject to.

As far as I know I shouldn't have any disqualifying conditions, since I speak English, my husband is employed and makes a smidge over the £18,600 required (gross), and I haven't tried to immigrate before nor do I have any convictions in the US.

Blondshania, currently I'm living just outside Hell, though I spent most of my years here in St Clair Shores, a couple in Ann Arbor, and was actually raised in the state of Wyoming.  When I visited, the Midlands seemed to have a bit of rust belt flair.  Seemed like a more temperate, less sprawled microcosm of Michigan in fact.