From VA to the Isle of Man :)

Hello all!  I'm glad I've found a resource for our complex situation.  I'm engaged to a UK citizen that is a Manx resident.  We currently live together in Virginia, where he is doing a master's degree.  He is here on a student visa and we haven't been legally married, but we recently had a blessing ceremony in Winchester, UK (where we met while I was studying abroad 4 years ago). We didn't want to complicate things with his student visa by getting legally married abroad.

I'll be looking for advice on spousal visas to the Isle of Man, as we plan on getting legally married here in the States and then going back to the Isle of Man after he finishes his program.  From what I understand from the governments' websites, it's mostly the same requirements as a normal UK spousal visa but the process itself will be different (ie, where to file forms, etc.).

I will also be asking a lot of questions about employment because I work from home right now (for an American company) and would be able to continue this when I move to the UK. He won't have a job when he returns to the Isle of Man, and I don't know if my employment will count for the financial requirements needed to join him there. From what I've read on government websites, it seems like I won't have permission to continue my work- that I'll have to wait for my fiance to get a stable job and then apply. 

Does anyone have any advice?  I'd really appreciate it!

You are more than welcome to continue to work when you move to the UK as you have permission to work as soon as your spousal visa becomes valid.  But your husband will need to have a job, and it must pay at least 18,600 pounds per year.

Hi Logibear

I live on the Isle of Man and have done so for almost 15 years....I'm origanally from OKlahoma..
You will need to apply to the IOM Immigration office and they send the forms to the UK.

What kind of work do you do or want to do? Once you marry your Manx husband and obtain your Visa you will be able to work straight away once you get here.
As for your fiancée what type of work will he be doing..unfortunately unemployment is kinda high here on the IOM...as the Manx Governemnet lost the tax rebates from the UK Governement we were getting.
If I can help with anything, please let me know. I look forward to welcoming a new Yank to the IOM!

Thanks very much for your advice!  I will continue to work remotely for my current employer doing legal research, but my fiance was hoping to find a either a job in government or in the financial sector.  His undergraduate degree was in Politics and his master's degree will be in Defense and Security. Who knows what he'll actually end up doing- the economy has made survivalists out of us all!

Looks like it will be a while, but I am already feeling better about the move! Thanks again.

Mmm he can look on the gov.im site and it list all the Government current jobs on offer on the Isle of Man..the big thing here is anything to do with the Space industry as the IOM has been named the 5th most likely country to get The next person on the moon.....and also e-gaming....Pokerstars just bought out Full Tilt Poker...

I work for the Department of Education...and I can tell ya the each year they are making HUGE cuts in jobs within the Government...I deal a lot with the Space sector here...