spouse visa questions

Hi, I'm just looking up the rules on returning to the UK with my US citizen spouse, and just wanted to check I'd read things properly (and ask a couple questions). To be eligible we need:

1. me to have a guaranteed job with salary of GBP18500 or more
2. to have earned at least GBP18500 over the past year
3. somewhere to live
4. evidence of bonafide marriage

Now a couple questions: it seems like these rules are really written for a British citizen currently residing in the UK to bring a foreign spouse. Are these still the same rules for a British citizen returning with a foreign spouse? How does one prove 1.? A contract, or offer letter?

2: does this mean I have to have earned at least 18500/12 per month for the past year, or just that my earnings within the past year are >= 18500? I'm currently not employed, but have easily earned above the threshold if you can take into account the entire year.

3: am I expected to have an apartment lined up before we move over? This seems impossible; will a hotel suffice?

Cheers

It's £18,600 if no dependents.

Yes, you need either a job contract or an offer letter starting in the next 90 days to move together without a separation.  As long as you've made over £18,600 in the prior 12 months (rolling period), there can be a gap so it's perfectly okay to have been unemployed for a bit.

When returning, most people get permission to live with a friend or family member.  Otherwise, you'll need a longer term housing solution.  Corporate style housing for a couple of months works as well.  They just need to know you aren't going to be homeless.

If you have the means then you can also use cash savings instead of employment. My wife and I were in a very similar situation to yours when we first moved back to the UK. I used cash savings to get us over here and didn't have to deal with any employment related paperwork at all.

My wife applied for FLR(M) this year and this time we went with the pay slip method as I have been in the UK for 2.5 years now. I have also spent all my cash savings since moving back buying a house!