American Veteran married to English Lady

Hello Everybody,
I sure do miss England. I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall back in the late 90's and met a English lady and eventually got married, moved to Germany and then New Mexico. I have since retired we have moved to Chicago, Illinois.

I have been thinking about moving back to the Midlands as I miss the UK, the pubs, the countryside, football and slower pace of life. 

Wow, I didn't realize there is so much paperwork involved in trying to move back to England.  I know when my wife got her US Citizenship, it took a couple of years, but its not like she needed a work permit or anything.  I guess the UK, is that much different.  I will definitely have to do more reading of the policies and websites to see if I am eligible.

Thanks,
John

Chicago is not a place I'd choose to retire. Winters too cold.

Yes, there's a very great deal of red tape involved, isn't there? People who haven't gone through it have no idea. Although I've always heard getting into the US legally is hardest of all. Perhaps your being in the military facilitated your wife's immigration...?

Anyhow, welcome! If your wife is a UK citizen and your pension/savings are adequate, you should be a shoo-in. Good luck.

I don't know about the winters here.  This will be our first year.  Yes, my wife is a UK citizen and carries dual nationality and being in the military certainly helped her become a US citizen.  Yes, I believe its harder now than ever before to get US Citizenship.

You mentioned pension/savings? How much is considered adequate? The other things I need to look at is whether or not I'll lose my military pension and how look can I stay in the UK before deciding whether or not in changing citzenship.  I know as an American you cannot hold both because I already spoke with immigration about that.

I know as an American you cannot hold both because I already spoke with immigration about that.

That's not true.
Many of us here are dual US-UK citizens.

You absolutely can hold dual citizenship! In fact, it's really very hard to relinquish your American citizenship. I have every intention of applying to naturalise when my time comes, and I wouldn't mess with my US citizenship for anything.

As for the amount of savings...I don't have specialist knowledge. But the basic idea is that the two of you can support yourselves without the need for public funds.

John - the winters can be brutal, but if you get a good parka and wear a hat, you should be fine.    And best of luck with the immigration, too!  Based on what my US friends tell me about trying to get spouses/adopted children in the US, I think the UK process is more straightforward, though it isn't always easy or without its frustrations.

Assuming your wife was born in the UK and you have been married for > 4 years, it is actually a lot more straight forward (though increasingly expensive) then what most of us have had to go through.  Basically you need to apply for your visa and you would be allowed in (at this point in time) indefinetly.  After 3 years you could apply for your Citzenship.  (I stress at this point in time, because things are shifting a bit, but compared to what your wife had to go through to get her US Citzenship, UK is likely to always be easier).

This website is probablly the best and most official place to start: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukresidency/eligibility/partnersandchildren/husbandwifecivilpartner/.  It outlines what is required and that you would basically be able to get peremenant residence right away.

Supporting yourself for the most part is proving that you are going to come over here and jump on the dole straight away.

Also, I would check with your "immigration folks" (and if they were UK, let us know and so we can go yell at someone).  The US offiicially "ignores" other people's citizenships.  Either you are a US Citizen or you are not.  There was some vaugeness in the late 70's and early 80's that the Secretary of State sorted out.  Now as long as you don't mean to give up your US Citizenship when you take on another one, you will be fine (or service as an officer in the foreign military, take up arms against the US, serve at a foreign policy making level in a foreign government or formally denounce your Citizenship at a US Embassy).