New here - Getting married in Sep and figuring out the rest!

Wow - Thank you so much for the very fast replies! This forum is amazing.

I think based on finances, we may be better off having me use the marriage visitor visa for our wedding and return to the states as planned, and then go for the marriage visa. I'll still be employed when applying for the visitor visa. I can't go 6 months without healthcare, and I haven't found a private insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions. (Ehlers Danlos is genetic, it's multi-systemic and runs the risk of spontaneous artery rupture.) If you have any private insurance recommendations I'll happily take those too!

I think based on finances, we may be better off having me use the marriage visitor visa for our wedding and return to the states as planned, and then go for the marriage visa.

Yeah, that might be cheaper, though obviously you've got the extra flights back to the US, which may offset the price.

Marriage Visitor Visa = £87
Spousal visa from the US = £1,195 plus £600 NHS surcharge
Total = £1,882

Or

Fiance visa = £1,195
FLR(M) visa =£1,311
Total = £2,506

The difference between the two is £624... which is about the cost of the flights back to the US and then back to the UK again.... so it may actually work out about the same price.

Just to note, in terms of terminology, that a marriage visa is a fiance visa... so if you were to select 'Marriage' as the visa type, you would be applying for a fiance visa.

So, when you apply online:

To apply for a fiance visa (before getting married), you select Settlement -> Settlement -> Marriage

To apply for a spousal visa (after getting married), you select Settlement -> Settlement -> Wife (or Husband)

I'll still be employed when applying for the visitor visa. I can't go 6 months without healthcare, and I haven't found a private insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions. (Ehlers Danlos is genetic, it's multi-systemic and runs the risk of spontaneous artery rupture.) If you have any private insurance recommendations I'll happily take those too!

You really must purchase private insurance if you come over on either a Marriage Visitor Visa (i.e. standard travel insurance) or a Fiance visa.

If you left your job and came here on a fiance visa, you won't be without healthcare because the NHS is legally obliged to treat everyone and give them all the care they need... however, if you need any non-emergency NHS treatment while in the UK on either a fiance visa or a marriage visitor visa, and you DO NOT have private insurance, you will be charged 150% of the cost of the treatment.

But if you do have private insurance, you will only be charged the normal 100% cost of the treatment.

And over here we all have tumble dryers and I can't even walk out my door when the neighbors are doing their wash because the laundry soap & fabric softener are so strong! (I make my own)

Wow! Just out of curiosity, do you make your own because you want to or because the dye and fragrance free detergents still bother you? I know there were 2 or 3 major brands that had that option and some smaller ones at places like Vitamin Cottage/Whole Foods.

It must be hard. Something we don't think about enough - that you guys are amongst us and we may be causing discomfort. I know I have never been able to find dishwashing liquid that doesn't offend my family. So I can imagine it is hard for someone who actually has a physical reaction.

Vitamin Cottage/Whole Foods.

I may see if they have fragrance free dish soap.

You really must purchase private insurance if you come over on either a Marriage Visitor Visa (i.e. standard travel insurance) or a Fiance visa.

I *always* buy short term travel insurance! I never travel without it, but I wasn't sure about longer term when my residence address has changed. My fiancee ended up needing an emergency appendectomy while visiting me 2 years ago, and thank goodness for his coverage. It was amazing to not have to worry about the cost and just get him better.  His exposure to the US health system through that was enough for him to never want to live here though - one surgery had 6 different companies billing him! His co-pay for the travel insurance was less than what I pay for my US insurance monthly through my employer though.

And you're right - it may work out about the same cost wise. I just know my house will sell better in April (it's not ready right now), and we'll be a lot better off not spending the first 6 months of our relationship crammed into a tiny London flat meant for 1 person while he works on transferring. *sigh* I really wish that my job hadn't thrown this massive wrench into our plans!

Wow! Just out of curiosity, do you make your own because you want to or because the dye and fragrance free detergents still bother you? I know there were 2 or 3 major brands that had that option and some smaller ones at places like Vitamin Cottage/Whole Foods

Yeah - I'm still allergic to the free & clear ones. So I make my own from a shredded soap bar (dr bronner's here), 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax.  The medical term for all of my reactions is Mast Cell Activation Disorder if you feel like doing any reading on a very poorly understood condition! I have to be careful with foods too, so I need to learn what all of the preservatives are there (since they go by #'s instead of names). It keeps life ... interesting!

I may see if they have fragrance free dish soap.

Hmm, I haven't looked for fragrance free over here.
They just started making a big deal of the big brand names going dye and fragrance free in the US. The one that sticks in my head is 'All - Free &Clear'. I definitely remember those ads before I moved over. They also had 'All - Small & Mighty'. haha. (I'm a communications major, I actually enjoy watching commercials)

Yeah - I'm still allergic to the free & clear ones. So I make my own from a shredded soap bar (dr bronner's here), 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax.  The medical term for all of my reactions is Mast Cell Activation Disorder if you feel like doing any reading on a very poorly understood condition! I have to be careful with foods too, so I need to learn what all of the preservatives are there (since they go by #'s instead of names). It keeps life ... interesting!

Ah, okay. I recognise Dr bronners. I've seen several recipes for clothes detergent on pinterest. I know it's pretty easy to do, if a bit time consuming. I wish you the best of luck! I know they don't allow a lot of the same preservatives in the UK that are allowed back in the US. Everything here seems to have a shorter use by date.

If you left your job and came here on a fiance visa, you won't be without healthcare because the NHS is legally obliged to treat everyone and give them all the care they need...

Didn't that change under the Immigration Act 2014 law and now the NHS can refuse treatment if they can't prove they can pay? If it is life threatening they can't refuse. i.e heart attack: although they will still be billed for that emergency treatment if it is not under the A&E ward.

Under present laws, treatment in A&E is free for all but under the consultation the government ran for England at the end of last year, it reads like that will end in England. For those not allowed to use the NHS for free, they spoke of billing for A&E and ambulances in England and I think I read for walk in centres too. There was even something in there about billing their sponsor now if they didn't pay their bill.  The government did say that when the IHS was up and running that they would end free A&E in England, so it's not a complete surprise.

I assume they usually do what they put in the consulations? I'm not sure how long it takes from consulations to becoming a reality, but is is something to be aware of. The government have recently ended or tightened up some of the reciprocal health agreements some countries had with the UK to make sure they didn't remain one sided.

Yeah - I'm still allergic to the free & clear ones. So I make my own from a shredded soap bar (dr bronner's here), 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax. 

A few people over here use white vinegar as a fabric softner in their washing machines.

A few people over here use white vinegar as a fabric softner in their washing machines.

Yes - I do that too! It works very well and the clothes don't smell like vinegar when dry. Over here, people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that. I also use vinegar & baking soda or dilute peroxide for cleaning solutions. And for dish soap I use the Seventh Generation brand - I'll probably bring some with me to tide me over til I find safe products. I know finding them will not be nearly as convenient as my local grocery store which has a huge section dedicated to natural products - I will really miss Wegmans!

And for dish soap I use the Seventh Generation brand - I'll probably bring some with me to tide me over til I find safe products. I know finding them will not be nearly as convenient as my local grocery store which has a huge section dedicated to natural products - I will really miss Wegmans!

Is Simple Soap ok for you?

http://www.simple-barsoap.co.uk/products/pure-soap-125g-1.html

Is Simple Soap ok for you?

http://www.simple-barsoap.co.uk/products/pure-soap-125g-1.html

It might be, but I'm not familiar with some of the ingredients. No fragrance is good! Definitely worth a try - my fiance could use it if I can't.  

I *always* buy short term travel insurance! I never travel without it, but I wasn't sure about longer term when my residence address has changed. My fiancee ended up needing an emergency appendectomy while visiting me 2 years ago, and thank goodness for his coverage. It was amazing to not have to worry about the cost and just get him better.  His exposure to the US health system through that was enough for him to never want to live here though - one surgery had 6 different companies billing him! His co-pay for the travel insurance was less than what I pay for my US insurance monthly through my employer though.

And you're right - it may work out about the same cost wise. I just know my house will sell better in April (it's not ready right now), and we'll be a lot better off not spending the first 6 months of our relationship crammed into a tiny London flat meant for 1 person while he works on transferring. *sigh* I really wish that my job hadn't thrown this massive wrench into our plans!


Yeah - I'm still allergic to the free & clear ones. So I make my own from a shredded soap bar (dr bronner's here), 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax.  The medical term for all of my reactions is Mast Cell Activation Disorder if you feel like doing any reading on a very poorly understood condition! I have to be careful with foods too, so I need to learn what all of the preservatives are there (since they go by #'s instead of names). It keeps life ... interesting!

FYI, the borax they sell in the shops here is different than what you get back home. Is officially, 'replacement BORAX'.

Employers here seem to be more accomodating but as someone else said, it depends on the employer. I think the difficult part would be getting hired on. If the problem is mentioned in the interview, it could be an issue. I have a medical issue that is not quite as bad as yours, but sometimes causes me problems. I have always been hesitatant to mention it up front as I always thought it might hinder me actually getting hired. That's just personal feelings. But from what I have seen with others here, once you are in, they seem to work with your issues. I always felt back in the US, if I was sick, they always made you feel bad about it and guilty as if you were doing something wrong. I was unaware of the thing KSand mentioned about no NHS while on the Fiancee Visa. I am pretty sure I used them when I was on it, but I was here prior to the levy taking place. I am on my first round of FLR(married) I suspect I will have to pay the levy on my second round.  Oh, also about the NHS. I find visiting a doctor challenging sometimes. Prior to my coming to the UK, I used to have severe panic attacks (on a daily basis where it affected my work and daily life) Since I was here I have had to go to the doctor to get my prescription filled. The one I saw was hesitant to give them to me. I tried to explain that it took years to figure out what was going on and that I could not function until my doctors finally put me on the Rx. I dont LIKE being on meds, but a girl has to be able to live day to day. So for your medical issue, you might have to be persistent in your care because sometimes it feels like you are trying to push down a brick wall. I hope you end up with a good physician that will be compassionate about your health issues. Fingers crossed! As far as the job front, depending on what you intend to do, you may even be able to find something like working from home. That would be ideal considering your medical issues and I am not sure what you are qualified for.  I don't have to work but I do have a small part-time job I do from home scheduling flights on light aircraft for at a small airport here. I am also considering opening my own business here, but that is still in the early stages. If you're anything like me, you'll love living here.

Thanks PeuAPeu. I'm a data analyst so it can be done remotely pretty easily, you just need a company that has a culture and the tools that allow it. I like my current arrangement where I'm in the office a couple days a week and remote the rest of the time, and can work remotely as needed if I'm under the weather and can't make it in (or if there's too much snow to drive safely in the winter, which I won't miss!). Our entire department has that option now and it's really helped me not catch every cold as I have previous years. I've also always been hesitant about mentioning the need for accommodations, but I also don't want to work for a company that wouldn't work with me.  But it's good to know who to contact for support if needed. The thought of finding new employment twice in one year is really terrifying to me, but that's life! You have to roll with it.