Fiance on a work visa

Hi~

I've been browsing this great site...and I haven't been able to find anything about this.  My soon to be hubby will most likely move and begin working in London within a month or 2.  He's an American citizen and will be on an employer sponsored work visa.  The plan for now is for me to move there (from NYC) in the fall after our wedding and our apt lease is up.  

I've read alot about finance/spouse visas on this site, but I assume this applies only to those betrothed to British citizens- or can you get these kinds of visas if you are married to someone on a work visa?  Our original plan was for me to quit my job, move there, perhaps take some time off (clean up whatever mess he's made when left to his own devices for a few months  , get used to living there, etc.) and then hopefully start looking for a job.  Don't necessarily have to work- i.e. we can probably survive on his salary, at least for a little while, but I think that I would go insane for too long in (what I assume will be) a small flat in London by myself all day.

I guess my question is, does this sound like a feasible plan visa-wise?  It sounds like from what I've read that I would need to either get a job before I get there so that an employer sponsors my visa or just initially go on a tourist visa and not work?  Anyone know if there is some way to get a visa to at least live (if not work) in the UK if your spouse is on a work visa? Has anyone had, or know of someone who has had a similar situation?

Thanks in advance for any help!!  Very excited about moving to the UK, BTW!

If your spouse is here on a work visa, you are able to work.  You will need a special visa to do this, which you should be able to get through his employer.

Otherwise, if you're not married, you will only be able to come over and visit (ie, be on a visa waiver) and won't be able to work until you get married.

A friend of mine was in a similar situation.  Her fiance was transferred just before they were married, so they just changed their plans and got married here after he'd been here for a month or so on his own.  So it can be done!

Good luck.  

I was in this situation - back in the mid-1990s I was transferred to London, significant partner was back in US. The wrinkle in my case was that we are a gay couple. However, as I had to become an expert on UK immigration and working in connection with getting him over, I can confirm that once you are married, your visa status will be such that you will be able to work.

What they will do is give you a residence visa "in line" with your husbands. That means that if your husband's visa is for 2 years, your leave to remain in the UK will be two years. There will be no restrictions on working.

Once he is in the UK for a total of four years, he can apply for indefinite leave (permanent residence) and put you down as a dependent so that you get indefinite leave through him at the same time.

We did this and my partner got our indefinite leave on the same day (although partner had not been in the UK for as long as I had - he was getting the indefinite leave through me as my spouse).