Lost in Looney House!!!

As some may remember, we went about it all the wrong way.
My wife (now), came over on a visitor visa in October 2001, we started her divorce - it took longer than the six month Visa, so she stayed, as an 'overstayer', until we got married in November 2002.     We then engaged a 'Specialist Immigration Solicitor', who sent off the wrong forms, and unacceptable evidence, which they sent back after 3 months.

We re-applied ourselves, about a month ago, sending all the required bits and bobs, and have just had a letter from them, stating that the application is now correct, but can't be dealt with by the 'Initial Consideration Unit', but will now not be looked at until March 2004, due to the amount of applications from Asylum Seekers!!!

This is all very stressful for us, as we have now had nearly 18 months of being 'In Limbo', and we wonder if anyone else has experience of doing everything wrong, as we have done, and what the outcome was.   Also, when it has taken this long, would they backdate the Leave to remain, due to their inefficiency?

regards

John

John,
Although I cannot give advice to your situation I however would like some from you. I came here March 2002 for a two week visit to my boyfriend. After that two weeks my boyfriend and I decided we wanted a bit more time together so I stayed on for the full 6 month visitor visa. When that was close to ending I applied to the home office for an extension of stay for other purposes/reasons. Little did I know then that the home office would keep my passport for 7 months. At Christmas my boyfriend and I became engaged, and in January started discussing dates to marry. Seeing as the home office had my passport and I had no other proof of identification to register to marry, or any that we thought would be sufficient as I do not have a US drivers license(never got it), we just waited to hear from the home office. Which we finally did in early April. And they just gave me another month to enable me to leave the country or make a further application. We started phoning solicitors, we finally got one that although they only deal with asylum cases one of the solicitors was willing to hear our dilemma over the phone. Basically we asked if we could still get married the answer was yes of course we can. The next question we asked was but what if that takes us passed the time they have allowed me to stay, the solicitor said that I would just be classed as an overstayer and made it sound like it was no big deal and that it was done all the time.
Fast forward now we are married been married a week and I am very stressed as to what to do now. We would like to find a solicitor but now hearing your story are not so sure about that. We have even discussed me returning to the US to get spouse visa but are concerned with that as I am an overstayer. Would that hender that any? Should we just send in forms and all evidence to the home office or get a solicitor for advice and help? If you could offer any advice to us as you have and are still going through almost same situation as we are. We would greatly appriciate it.
Thanks,
Sharon

You could try phoning the British Consulate in New Yprk, LA or Chicago (depending wherever you used to live) and ask their advice. I think the answer will most likely be that it is much quicker and easier to just fly back to the US and get the spousal visa there. Same day in the US versus months at Croydon, I know what I'd choose!