Deciding Where to Live: US vs UK

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I got engaged about a month ago, and are now trying to decide where to live: New York or London. I'm a US citizen, and he's a UK citizen, so either way we will have to go through a visa application process.

The process for getting a US Green Card takes way longer than getting a UK Spouse Visa (about a year versus a few months). I love London and would be interested in living there but I also love my job in NYC. My question is: Would there be any downside (from a UK immigration perspective) to starting the US Green Card process (ie, we get married in the UK and then apply for the US Spouse Visa), but then changing our minds during the course of the year and applying for a UK Spouse Visa instead? As in, will we penalized for pursuing both routes (beyond the obvious added expense)?

Grateful for any advice!

I think getting married in the US is better for both processes. The spousal visa for UK is for a travel window of 30 days and I think you can’t be out of the country for more than 270, so I wouldn’t bother with that if you are pursuing the US route. It’s a lot of money to waste.


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It truly is a personal choice.

Yes, a US visa takes longer but is about 10x cheaper than a UK visa.  Your earning power will also be drastically higher in the USA regardless of what you each do for a living.  You will need a visa to marry in the UK even if you decide to live in the USA. 

I’m nervous for Brexit and what that may/will do to the UK economy.

All that being said, I like it here (helps that we’ve had an actual summer this year). 

For me, I would chose based on where you have the most support.  Especially if you plan to have kids in the future.  We live near my inlaws and see them MAYBE six times a year.  We had to have a seriously intense schedule in place for who was available and when for when we had our second (to watch the first while giving birth) as my inlaws are not “those” grandparents.  So in my experience, I’m VERY envious of people who have family support.

Best of luck no matter which country you chose.  Both are pretty fabulous!  And both are screwed up politically, particularly around immigration.

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I got engaged about a month ago, and are now trying to decide where to live: New York or London. I'm a US citizen, and he's a UK citizen, so either way we will have to go through a visa application process.

The process for getting a US Green Card takes way longer than getting a UK Spouse Visa (about a year versus a few months). I love London and would be interested in living there but I also love my job in NYC. My question is: Would there be any downside (from a UK immigration perspective) to starting the US Green Card process (ie, we get married in the UK and then apply for the US Spouse Visa), but then changing our minds during the course of the year and applying for a UK Spouse Visa instead? As in, will we penalized for pursuing both routes (beyond the obvious added expense)?

Grateful for any advice!

 Theoretically you could apply for both at the same time but one of the criteria for the UK spouse visa is that you intend to live permanently in the UK with your spouse so I am not sure if riding out the time while you are waiting for a US visa would be considered permanent enough. It would probably be ok but something to be aware of.  You would also have to explain the previous application if you later decided to apply for another UK spouse visa.  So you wouldn't be penalised as such but there would be a bit more explaining to do.

It's a really expensive process though so not something that most people would consider for the short term only. And don't forget the IHS which is due to increase from £200 to £400 per year (paid upfront for the duration of the visa) some time this year, in addition to the visa fees and associated costs.

Think as already statedby KFDancer - personal choice

My partner came here but he had just managed to retire at 53, his mother had passed away 18 months before that and he has no sisters or brothers

He loves it here and some days when Ive had a rubbish day at work or encountered some setback I tend to scream “we should have moved to X or Y or Z in America”. 

We have pulled out our hair at the flr and ilr requirements and costs and think yeagh doing the one off green card would  have been a lot less aggravation and cost but there you go

He says he find bureaucracy easier to deal with here; loves the NHS and adores the BBC!

Quick to tell the people in the USA when the say “weve heard this or that about the grocery stores or the NHS..” how NHS can be as good as any private healthcare he used in the US and questions have you been yourself to Waitrose or M&S and even how our local Asda is ncier than most US supermarkets etc

So I think if we had out time again I think we would stick to the Uk move BUT the driving factors in that is probably NHS and weather related (less extremes) and the fact I still have family here

Hope you come to a decision that youll both be happy with

 

He says he find bureaucracy easier to deal with here

 

REALLY?!?  I feel like beuracracy was invented and mastered in the UK! 

Well says that he finds in the UK people who sit behind glass boothes/on the telephone are more inclined to listen and try to find  a solution/assist you versus the US where “the rules say...” and “maaam you need to step back from the booth” reply

Well says that he finds in the UK people who sit behind glass boothes/on the telephone are more inclined to listen and try to find  a solution/assist you versus the US where “the rules say...” and “maaam you need to step back from the booth” reply

I want to live where you live!!!! 

I want your nice ASDA! Our grocery stores are nothing compared to my local grocers in Ohio. I miss local brands. They do both sell Tiptree Jam, though.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you are able to retain your passport and continue visiting the USA while your greencard application is processing. For the UK visa, you will be without your passport for the months that it is processing as you are required to send it to Sheffield with your application.