Perfect Timing- Hello!

If you pursue the relationship route, your UK partner will need to meet the minimum financial requirement to sponsor your visa.  There are various ways of doing this, and one of the ways is having £62,500 in savings held for at least 6 months.  If he or yourself had that in savings, it wouldn't matter if his income was at or above the minimum threshold because you could apply via the savings category instead of using income.

What do you qualify for with 62k savings?

It's a way of meeting the financial requirement for a fiance or spousal visa if you don't have any other income.

There are various different categories in which the financial requirement can be met (some categories can be combined, others can't):
Category A and B: Employment Income (Salaried or non-salaried employment)
Category C: Non-Employment Income (i.e. rent from property you own, interest from stocks/shares, academic stipends, child maintenance etc.)
Category D: Cash Savings
Category E: Pension Income
Category F and G: Self-Employment Income

So, if you have a certain amount in cash savings, which have been held in full in your bank account(s) for at least 6 months, you can use those savings to meet the financial requirement under Category D, without needing to have any employment income

However, the minimum amount of cash savings needed to meet Category D on its own is £62,500. This is because the first £16,000 of savings don't count, and then you need to show you have the same amount in savings as 2.5 years' worth of £18,600 annual income. So, the savings requirement calculation is: £16,000 + (2.5 years x £18,600) = £62,500

Alternatively, say your UK partner is employed, but doesn't earn enough to meet the £18,600 requirement, you can combine savings with that income to meet the requirement. In which case, the calculation is £16,000 + [2.5 years x (£18,600 - UK partner's income)].

So, if for example, he only earns £12,000 per year, the financial requirement could be met by using his income of £12,000 plus cash savings of at least £32,500 (£16,000 + [2.5 x (£18,600 - £12,000)] = £32,500).

haha no. I wish. He has no pension... we don't own any property. No 401k. Barely any savings. What we need are some good jobs- and for a recession to not happen every 10 years.  All of our money has been going to rent for the past 10 years. What do you qualify for with 62k savings?

  I hate to say this, but there are no good jobs here.  Most people's wages have barely gone up at all for 15 years, while inflation has skyrocketed.  That means that most people earn LESS than they did 15 years ago.   Jobs are crappier over here and pay literally half of what you would earn in the states.  Rents are twice what you would pay in the states for a house one quarter the size.  If you find yourself in a crappy situation because of the way "the system" is designed in the states, you haven't seen nothing yet. 

It's a way of meeting the financial requirement for a fiance or spousal visa if you don't have any other income.

There are various different categories in which the financial requirement can be met (some categories can be combined, others can't):
Category A and B: Employment Income (Salaried or non-salaried employment)
Category C: Non-Employment Income (i.e. rent from property you own, interest from stocks/shares, academic stipends, child maintenance etc.)
Category D: Cash Savings
Category E: Pension Income
Category F and G: Self-Employment Income

So, if you have a certain amount in cash savings, which have been held in full in your bank account(s) for at least 6 months, you can use those savings to meet the financial requirement under Category D, without needing to have any employment income

However, the minimum amount of cash savings needed to meet Category D on its own is £62,500. This is because the first £16,000 of savings don't count, and then you need to show you have the same amount in savings as 2.5 years' worth of £18,600 annual income. So, the savings requirement calculation is: £16,000 + (2.5 years x £18,600) = £62,500

Alternatively, say your UK partner is employed, but doesn't earn enough to meet the £18,600 requirement, you can combine savings with that income to meet the requirement. In which case, the calculation is £16,000 + [2.5 years x (£18,600 - UK partner's income)].

So, if for example, he only earns £12,000 per year, the financial requirement could be met by using his income of £12,000 plus cash savings of at least £32,500 (£16,000 + [2.5 x (£18,600 - £12,000)] = £32,500).

Good to know, however as mentioned before- we don't meet the 2 years living together requirement, so we wouldn't qualify, correct?

  I hate to say this, but there are no good jobs here.  Most people's wages have barely gone up at all for 15 years, while inflation has skyrocketed.  That means that most people earn LESS than they did 15 years ago.   Jobs are crappier over here and pay literally half of what you would earn in the states.  Rents are twice what you would pay in the states for a house one quarter the size.  If you find yourself in a crappy situation because of the way "the system" is designed in the states, you haven't seen nothing yet.

Normally I would agree with you, but I live in Massachusetts, the 3rd most expensive state in the US. Rent for a studio apartment here is at least $1700/month with nothing included. Buying a house is a minimum of 400k for a house that is about 1200 square feet or less and needs a lot of work. Then you need to have a car/insurance because there is no public transport unless you live in Boston. It is much more expensive for me to live here than in Leicester. So respectfully, the cost of living is much less in England... unless you're from an area where rents are still affordable, like the south, midwest, or the sticks.. Oh! Not to mention the ridiculous cost of health insurance here! And jobs may pay less there, but don't forget the exchange rate and since the cost of living is less, money goes further.

As for jobs, wages here have been stagnant as well... but if you can change jobs you tend to advance... same as over there I'm sure. However, here I make 60k and can't even rent a 2k/month 1 bedroom because there are income minimums that say I must earn 76k to even be able to send the rental application. There, with two part time incomes we would be able to live comfortably in a nice flat. We have seen plenty of good options for  1-2 bedrooms in the 600-950 pound range with washer/dryers, etc. (And like I said I am familiar with council tax, etc. )

Good to know, however as mentioned before- we don't meet the 2 years living together requirement, so we wouldn't qualify, correct?

Not as Unmarried Partners, no. But that visa is not an option for you anyway.

However, if you decide to get married and apply for either a fiance or spousal visa, then cash savings could be used to meet the financial requirement.

Sounds like I need to move to Leicester!

it's supposedly one of the top growth cities at the moment...

But bear in mind average salaries in Leicester. It wouldn’t be at all unusual for take home pay to be less than £1500 a month (this is roughly £23k a year, which is a pretty average non-London/ southeast salary) for full time work. Often less...

So it’s all swings and roundabouts.


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True, but so far my partner has a very good paying teaching job at DMU, he just needs to pick up a few more hours once he's established himself... and I won't be working fast food or retail so I think we'll be ok.

That isn’t for fast food or retail! I am a civil servant (not entry level)... that is a starting salary for teachers too. Nurses too! So yes, professionals here are stupid underpaid. Many doctors don’t make more than £60k.

I am sure your boyfriend can attest, wages here are crazy low... I’m not comparing to the US, they are just low!!

But a huge perk is that healthcare (of a basic standard and not what you’d expect in the US if you have good insurance, which many don’t) is included in your taxes... so again, swings and roundabouts!!


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It sounds to me like the best course of action is to continue what you're doing - researching and keeping options open.   

If you can find a sponsored visa to move over on your own, and can continue your relationship without getting married just yet, then go for it.  If you both decide that you want to get married and go the spouse visa route, then go for it that way. 

Both the US and UK have positive and negative aspects - things that one country does better than the other.  I suggest to have a discussion with your partner about where you think you both would be happier, and which country is a better fit for you.  Things that you might "lose" by coming to the UK might be worth the sacrifice for things you "gain" by moving here.  Or, you might decide that what you could potentially gain here just isn't worth something you'll lose by leaving the US.  I know people who love the UK and couldn't imagine ever going back to the US to live - so strongly that they gave up their US citizenship once eligible.  Conversely, I know other people who moved to the UK and returned to the US, ultimately finding that the UK wasn't a good fit at all.

Aquila always pulls us back to where we need to be.  And she’s right.  One country is DEFINITELY not better than the other.  Complete truth in that.

What’s hard for me is I met my husband while living and working in the U.K.  I was only supposed to be here for 3 years and then move onto my dream international assignment. But I met him.  And that changed everything.

Now it’s more than 10 years later.  I’m married and have two kids. My cousin just welcomed a baby in October and has had both sets of grandparents helping LOADS. I am full on jealous!  I’m so happy she has support. But I realise what life would have looked like if I hadn’t chosen this path.  Instead, I haven’t seen my in-laws who live 7 miles away since Jan 2020 due to lockdowns. And they aren’t “those” in-laws. They are the kind who came over and had US serve THEM tea after having each baby.  We thought they’d have to have boundaries set. Nope!   

Meanwhile we want to extend our house (it’s not even 1200 sq feet but eye watering expensive) but builders are booking a good 18 months out.  Hard to even get quotes. And the quotes are HUGE.  We could  buy an entire house other places.

I’m very grateful for the NHS. But it’s a safety net really.  Life/death.  I spend a fortune on day to day care.     Less of a fortune than in the US. But it’s still a huge amount of money.

A couple of common misconceptions about the U.K.:
1.  Free healthcare. It’s not free and not everything is covered.

2.  Transport is cheap and easy. Easy yes, cheap no.

3.  That you like it grey and rainy and cold. It gets old when it’s cold grey and rainy ALL THE TIME.

But....  my husband is kind of pushing to move to the USA as it’s a good “spot” in life to move for us. Yet I don’t know if I can be asked. I don’t think I relate to Americans anymore. It’s actually a lot harder than you’d think.   

Oh yes, believe me I have been thinking and researching and looking into life in the UK for over 20 years. I first visited in 2001. It is much less daunting when you know some residents though, and now my partner is there, so it feels easier than doing it completely solo.

Like I said before, part of the allure is lower cost of living. Life might be easier in other parts of the US, but I live in Massachusetts- which equates with living in London. Higher salaries and higher housing costs, higher food costs, higher everything. My partner doesn't want to live in the US long term... granted he's never tried it, but he's heard me complain about it. haha

Yes, NHS might not be "free," but compared to what I pay here it feels free. In the past 5 years it has gotten so much worse- premiums have gone up, and then every plan now has a huge deductible ($2000-$7000 per year typically.) You will pay hundreds of dollars per month for the insurance, then going to the dr requires a copay- could be $5 or $50. Going to the ER has a copay of $100-$500 just to get in the door. If you see a specialist there's add on fees, and everything has to be by referral and in-network otherwise you are going to pay retail out of pocket, thousands of dollars. Right now, I'm going through the drama of finding insurance and finding a dr only takes certain insurance... so believe me... it is HELL. As for dental, I know it's not covered, but when I was in England last summer I had to get a root canal, and it was 1/2 the cost of a root canal in the US. I would gladly take whatever the NHS offers over this insurance nightmare any day!

I was surprised at how expensive the train was, but it's still cheaper than car payments and insurance and petrol...for me currently.

As for weather- again, I'm from Massachusetts- the weather sucks here. It is MUCH colder than England, much snowier, much hotter and more humid in the summer, and it sure feels like it rains just as much or more here. Plus we have absolutely awful thunderstorms in the summer... and we get microbursts which are really scary. We've even started having tornadoes... there was one that went through a Boston suburb a couple of years back.

And it is getting more and more crowded here, the traffic is horrendous. I can't wait to be back where I can walk places again. There's no walking around here. It's drive 10 miles in bumper to bumper traffic. Bleh! Last summer I drove from Eastbourne to Lyme Regis and my only complaint was that there was a roundabout every mile or so for the whole journey!  haha We didn't take the M roads though.

For me, England just makes sense as a logical move, pending employment. My quality of life will be better. Plus the proximity to so much to see and do.

Oh yes, believe me I have been thinking and researching and looking into life in the UK for over 20 years. I first visited in 2001. It is much less daunting when you know some residents though, and now my partner is there, so it feels easier than doing it completely solo.


Like I said before, part of the allure is lower cost of living. Life might be easier in other parts of the US, but I live in Massachusetts- which equates with living in London. Higher salaries and higher housing costs, higher food costs, higher everything. My partner doesn't want to live in the US long term... granted he's never tried it, but he's heard me complain about it. haha

Yes, NHS might not be "free," but compared to what I pay here it feels free. In the past 5 years it has gotten so much worse- premiums have gone up, and then every plan now has a huge deductible ($2000-$7000 per year typically.) You will pay hundreds of dollars per month for the insurance, then going to the dr requires a copay- could be $5 or $50. Going to the ER has a copay of $100-$500 just to get in the door. If you see a specialist there's add on fees, and everything has to be by referral and in-network otherwise you are going to pay retail out of pocket, thousands of dollars. Right now, I'm going through the drama of finding insurance and finding a dr only takes certain insurance... so believe me... it is HELL. As for dental, I know it's not covered, but when I was in England last summer I had to get a root canal, and it was 1/2 the cost of a root canal in the US. I would gladly take whatever the NHS offers over this insurance nightmare any day!

I was surprised at how expensive the train was, but it's still cheaper than car payments and insurance and petrol...for me currently.

As for weather- again, I'm from Massachusetts- the weather sucks here. It is MUCH colder than England, much snowier, much hotter and more humid in the summer, and it sure feels like it rains just as much or more here. Plus we have absolutely awful thunderstorms in the summer... and we get microbursts which are really scary. We've even started having tornadoes... there was one that went through a Boston suburb a couple of years back.

And it is getting more and more crowded here, the traffic is horrendous. I can't wait to be back where I can walk places again. There's no walking around here. It's drive 10 miles in bumper to bumper traffic. Bleh! Last summer I drove from Eastbourne to Lyme Regis and my only complaint was that there was a roundabout every mile or so for the whole journey!  haha We didn't take the M roads though.

For me, England just makes sense as a logical move, pending employment. My quality of life will be better. Plus the proximity to so much to see and do.

  I'm going to disagree with many on here, especially Kfdancer regarding the NHS.  I'd say that the NHS only being good for life or death is a bit of an exaggeration,  there have been plenty of things that the NHS has been fine for like births and braces for teeth.  Granted, I had to buy my own sleep apnea machine and set it up, but now the NHS checks my every year and gives me consumables for it.

I can tell you that if you think the cost of living is lower here, you are in for a surprise.  Stuff like groceries or whatever may be slightly cheaper or the same price, but salaries are 1/4 what they are in the states. 

Regarding trains and cars, you probably will end up paying for both.  You'll want a car to get around on the weekends, and have to pay for the train because you can't park near work without paying $25. 

But the area where I think your feelings are the most at odds with reality are traffic and crowds.  Traffic jams here last for days, literally.  And there are people in every single place you go, trying to do the same thing as you at exactly the same time.  If you are driving and need to turn around, there will be 6 cars behind you impatient that you are not moving fast enough.  If you turn off on a smaller side road so you don't bother them anymore, 3 of those cars will turn as well.  If you then pull into a random driveway in order to run around, one of those cars will want to pull into that very driveway!  How awkward is that?  This happened to me just last weekend.  Especially since the lockdown and people can't go into malls to shop, they are everywhere!