I have my spouse visa--what has changed...

I have my spouse/settlement visa now and am traveling to live in the UK with my husband on Wednesday. I have have a couple of questions:

#Do I have to fill out a landing card when arriving?
# Which line do I have to go through at immigration? What about when with hubby? Seems stupid that we go through different lines. What about when going to America?
# Do i need to contact the US embassy for any reason when I arrive?
# How long does it take to get a NI number?

Thank you for all of your help!! It really is appreciated!

Landing card. Everyone fills one out.
Which line. Probably the foreign line. Some are able to go through with their UK spouse but then again they can send you over to the foreign line. Depends whos working and how long the line is.
You don't have to register with the US Embassy.
I think you get a NI cards shortly after you start work.
Which line arriving US. US Citizen line if you R.

The line I was referring to was when he comes to America. You make a good point about when I'm coming back to the UK--who is the officer. Thank you for your help.

The line I was referring to was when he comes to America.

You should ask the person at the end of the lines directing traffic as they will direct you (and possibly your DH too) to the proper line. You might go through together and you might not. There has been no consistent one or the other on this. If he travels to the US alone he will have to go through the Non Resident/Non Citizen line.

As far as your National Insurance number (like a social security number and not an NHS number) you can apply for it once you arrive in the UK by post and it takes about 3 ish weeks to get the acutal number the card itself shows up about 6 weeks after you apply.

Now an National Health Service (NHS number) you need to register with a GP and you'll be assigned a number in the computer that your GP will have in a couple of days. Whether you get an actual NHS card is unknown as some Primary Care Trusts (PCT's) do not acutally issue cards anymore, but you don't need the card in order to receive services.

hiya,

My husband has always gone through the same line as me, either going to the US or coming back to the UK.  I think he's just gone through the non-eu one here, but we could just choose the shortest and hope for pity when I'm traveling alone it's the non-eu line I go through. Don't worry if you get in the wrong line. They'll tell you.

When you arrive you need to fill out a landing card. As long as you are entering the UK on your US passport you will need to fill one out.

You get your NI number either when you arrive, or after you start work. You don't need one to start working, your employer will simply give you a temporary number.

Good luck!

About the airport lines, I would ask--there seems to be no consistency at all with this (we've been sent to different lines in Heathrow/Manchester/Stansted)--the IO's, in general, seem okay with me being in the UK line with my spouse as long as we're traveling together, but otherwise I go through the non-EU line. (but only for two more years!)

I was told by an IO at Gatwick not a month ago that if your spouse is present with you in Immigration, you can join either line. This means he can join you in non-EU as well. I had no clue about this until last month when, upon returning from a trip to Germany, the IO asked me where my husband was and I pointed past the barriers and said 'Oh he's been waiting over there for 20 minutes!' IO laughed and waved DH over and explained to us that since we are 'family' that we can go through immigration together, through either line. 

Though not sure if it that's standard in other countries as well...

With regards to your NI number, once you're employed, your employer will give you a temporary number. Then call up JobCentre Plus for an appointment for interview. It's about 6 weeks to receive your number by post.

Congratulations btw. x

With regards to your NI number, once you're employed, your employer will give you a temporary number. Then call up JobCentre Plus for an appointment for interview. It's about 6 weeks to receive your number by post.

Congratulations btw. x

This is no longer true.  You don't need a job and you no longer need an appointment.  They no longer do temp. numbers either.  

Call the local job centre when you get here and they will talk you through it. 

This is no longer true.  You don't need a job and you no longer need an appointment.  They no longer do temp. numbers either.  

Call the local job centre when you get here and they will talk you through it. 

Thank you for the update!

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/number.htm#3

If you hold a visa, go through the visa holder/returning resident line at the airport.  Why wait in the other line that has 10000000 people in it? 

If you hold a visa, go through the visa holder/returning resident line at the airport.  Why wait in the other line that has 10000000 people in it? 

so when I go to the UK next week (I have a spousal visa) I don't have to stand in the tourist line?

so when I go to the UK next week (I have a spousal visa) I don't have to stand in the tourist line?

If you're entering by yourself then yes you do.  If you're with your husband, ask someone which line you should go in. 

If you hold a visa, go through the visa holder/returning resident line at the airport.  Why wait in the other line that has 10000000 people in it? 

I've been through all the major London airports in the last two years and none of them has had a visa holder line open.  I saw one once, but it was closed. 

I have always gone through the Non-EU line, but since we go on holiday to other EU countries that line is usually shorter.