Concerning the Chicago Office, Fiancee Visas, etc.

My FLR expires on 17th April 2005 - so anytime after about 17/18 March I can apply.  And I plan to do so ASAP!

I am getting very excited about the citizenship bit.  But I'm waiting until I have ILR and then I'll worry about studying for it.  As I've noticed over the past few years, things can change in this funny old immigration/citizenship game. 

I've noticed that too about the changes and I've just started the long process! I think just recently they changed the price of the VAF2 to $520 but they lowered the shipping for visas done by post to $12, and they're tightening up on people getting married before they get their fiance visa as well. One good change though is the E Fast Track. I did mine that way and got my visa by post in less than a week. I'm glad I got mine though because there's so much less to fill out on the FLR application if you have a fiance visa and you don't need all the documents you would if you got married first. I noticed on the britianusa.com web site that the spouse visa is the same price as the VAF2, is that more than the FLR since the spouse visa is for when you get married without a fiance visa right?
I wanted to ask anyone here who's been in Britian for a year to 3 years, how long did it take you to adjust to the changes? Do you think you've learned enough by your experience there that you would easlily be able to ace the citizenship exam? I know there's probably questions in the study guide you'd have to research but I would think after being there that long and if you read the papers and watch the news you would know alot. 

Forgive me for not reading all the posts but I just wanted to comment on my experience with the Chicago office. My fiance at that time met me in Chicago to apply for my fiancee visa. He had every piece of required paperwork under the sun and then some. We got right in and sat in a very small office with chairs lined up. When our name was called we went up the the bank teller type window and had to explain everything through the glass with everyone in the room listening. It was awful. After less than 5 min they turned us away because I didnt have a piece of paperwork from my divorce documents. I didnt see why I needed it as the answer to her question was stated in my decree but she wanted something seperate so simply turned us away. She was very rude.
We decided to go out on a limb and move me to the UK and get married here and apply for a spouse visa. That's exactly what we did. It was very easy and there were no questions asked. No interviews or anything. We applied by mail and that was it. I understand things arent as easy now.

I'm sorry to hear they gave you such a hard time. I would of gone that route too of getting married first but I read that there was going to be changes and I've also heard immigration really frowns apon people getting married first and skipping the fiance visa and it just scared me, I didn't want to take any chances.

We decided to go out on a limb and move me to the UK and get married here and apply for a spouse visa.

How did you move to the UK without a visa? Maybe I misunderstood your post but it sounded like you were turned down because of a document. I know if you opt to get married first you still have to return to your country till your spouse visa is approved. and I thought that the application had to be done from your country and you couldn't do it in the UK? Is that what you did?

Pebbles did what she did YEARS ago before certain rules came into effect.  It would simply NOT be possible to do it that way now.

I think Pebbles went through the process a few years ago.  Now, if you get married in the UK, you'll need to apply for the £135 "permission" visa first (though you'll just need your fiancee' visa if you're marrying a UK citizen).  If you get married in the US, you'll need to apply for your spousal visa before you move to the UK.

Well no matter how you do it, it's really worth it to be with the one you love. I'd jump through hoops of fire for them if it meant I could be with my fiance.

I think Pebbles went through the process a few years ago.  Now, if you get married in the UK, you'll need to apply for the £135 "permission" visa first (and you'll need your fiancee' visa if you're marrying a UK citizen).  Then you'll need to return to the US to apply for your spousal visa.  If you get married in the US, you'll need to apply for your spousal visa before you move to the UK.

The "permission" visa you're referring to doesn't apply to people who have a fiance visa. Also, you don't have to return to the US to get your spousal visa if you're already in the country on a fiance visa.

The "permission" visa you're referring to doesn't apply to people who have a fiance visa. Also, you don't have to return to the US to get your spousal visa if you're already in the country on a fiance visa.

Yeah, I went back and clarified that.

Yes, it was a few years ago. We have been married 4 years on 3 March. We were very very lucky.

Oh maybe it wasn't luck, it could be that you two were just meant to be together. When something's meant to be everything just seems to fall into place. You look very happy in your picture and you have a beautiful baby too. Congrats!

Oh maybe it wasn't luck, it could be that you two were just meant to be together. When something's meant to be everything just seems to fall into place. You look very happy in your picture and you have a beautiful baby too. Congrats!

Thanks Kay for saying so. Im an active Spiritualist so thats also my belief.

I am going to the Chicago office on June 26th with my British fiance (will be husband before we go) to apply for the spousal visa.  My question is this (and if any knows or knows where I can find out for less than $2.00 a minute I'd be so grateful):  Once I have a spousal visa, do we have to return to the UK immediately?  The visas for me and my daughter are going to cost $1000, and we aren't going to be able to afford three plane tickets at summer prices right away.  We are going to stay in America a while longer to save up for the plane fare.  Is there some kind of time period in which you must go to the UK or have to apply all over again?

I am going to the Chicago office on June 26th with my British fiance (will be husband before we go) to apply for the spousal visa.  My question is this (and if any knows or knows where I can find out for less than $2.00 a minute I'd be so grateful):  Once I have a spousal visa, do we have to return to the UK immediately?  The visas for me and my daughter are going to cost $1000, and we aren't going to be able to afford three plane tickets at summer prices right away.  We are going to stay in America a while longer to save up for the plane fare.  Is there some kind of time period in which you must go to the UK or have to apply all over again?

that's a good question.

from what i've read here, my understanding is that you tell them the date you plan to head over to the uk, and your visa is issued from that date.

is that wrong?

I am going to the Chicago office on June 26th with my British fiance (will be husband before we go) to apply for the spousal visa.  My question is this (and if any knows or knows where I can find out for less than $2.00 a minute I'd be so grateful):  Once I have a spousal visa, do we have to return to the UK immediately?  The visas for me and my daughter are going to cost $1000, and we aren't going to be able to afford three plane tickets at summer prices right away.  We are going to stay in America a while longer to save up for the plane fare.  Is there some kind of time period in which you must go to the UK or have to apply all over again?

you can ask the visa to be postdated for up to 3 months...so the latest start date you could request at your appointment in June would be in late September.