Returning on Tourist Visa for a few weeks after Spouse Visa expires

Hi everyone,

My US wife's spouse visa expires at the end of February 2019, but we're planning to move to the US at the end of March 2019 so we'd rather avoid the expense of extending her spouse visa for another 2.5 yrs.

With that in mind, is it possible for us to leave for the UK for a few days when her visa expires, and then for her to return on as a tourist for a few weeks while we pack up our stuff etc.?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Hi everyone,

My US wife's spouse visa expires at the end of February 2019, but we're planning to move to the US at the end of March 2019 so we'd rather avoid the expense of extending her spouse visa for another 2.5 yrs.

With that in mind, is it possible for us to leave for the UK for a few days when her visa expires, and then for her to return on as a tourist for a few weeks while we pack up our stuff etc.?

Thanks for your thoughts,

It will be up to the ECO at the airport. She might be let in, she might not.

I personally would not risk it.

She could apply for a visitor visa? That way she would know if she would be let in or not, but that needs to be done from the US... and probably not during the validity of her spouse visa.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, that was my hunch as well, that the IO might let her back in for a few weeks, but then again just as easily might not and it would be up to their discretion.

Even if you have super duper concrete evidence that you are moving and present that to the ECO - the fact will remain that during that one month period she would be LIVING in the UK and not simply VISITING the UK.  Given that, I'd just have her relocate back to the USA a month earlier.  Not fun to have two sets of household expenses but definitely the best option.