Hello,

I am a US citizen (24 years old) currently living in the UK with my husband (30 years old) who is a UK citizen. We were married in Nov. 2007 in California which is where I am from. I am currently living with him and working as I obtained a UK Spouse VISA. My VISA runs out in July and am unaware what to do at this point since I plan on moving back home at the end of June to go back to school since I was studying to become a civil engineer. I don't necessarily want to obtain dual nationality, but can I do anything to become like a permanent resident so I do not have much hassle with UK customs when travelling back and forth? I've been working here since 2008 and paying taxes and have a pension established with my job. Would I be eligible for UK citizenship, if so how long would this take to process and when should I begin the process?

Also, my husband does not wish to move back with me in June and wants to wait in the UK for his redundancy and redundancy package from his current IT job. It is our plan to save up as much as possible while living in the UK and transfer the funds to the US when the exchange rate increases since this would help us purchase a home. We have just been back from spending Christmas back home and as we asked banks about mortgages, we have found out that once he does go the States and receives his SSN that his credit will begin at zero. Is there no way to have his credit from the UK be acknowleged in the US? In addition to this, I am aware that I can apply for his green card whilst living in the UK, I believe this would be beneficial as I am currently working full time and show my income here and my money I have saved up and sitting in states to show I could support him. Would I be able to apply for all this, him go to the US, get his green card and SSN and then go back to the UK until he was made redundant or does he have to stay in the US for some period before he could leave the country? The reason I believe this would be beneficial is so that his credit could start building as I could add him to my accounts.

Should I wait to apply for him until I am living at home? My only concern with this is that I will be working part time and going to school and living with my parents. My parents have advised that they would be able to confirm that they can support us financially if need be, would this help? Above all this, I haven't paid any taxes for 2009 and now for 2010 as I haven't been in the US to do so but I have been paying taxes since I was 18 (working part time since was a student), how would this effect me?

Once my husband has had his green card and has been living with me in the US, how long would he have to wait before he could apply for citizenship?

I know I have a lot of queries but I would greatly appreciate any and all help from yourselves, I know the post is pretty daunting.

Thank you for your time,
Nav

Apply as soon as possible, don't delay. This can take some time to get through... In my case it took 2 years and we were talking 18 years ago when I started it (and even then it took political connections to get it done), not sure of the processing times today but they are still lengthy.

Just because they are a spouse of a US Citizen does NOT grant them a green card automatically, far from it.

Bring him over without papers (after 6 months he becomes just another illegal) and they WON'T process them while he's here when that happens. Trust me there.

As far as SSI, you have to pay it here to the USA to get credit for it... what he pays to the UK isn't associated or related to US SSI.

As far as the green card... I don't remember what if any travel restrictions might apply.

Thank you for your reply, but are you able to elaborate a bit more? Should I apply for him right now while I'm living in the uk? And what should I do about my visa expiring?

Do not bring him over on Visa Waiver Program... get proper document if you don't want to pay attorney fee.

Please read: http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Str...uides/A1en.pdf

That's fine thank you very much. But will he be able to go back to the uk once he has a green card? And what are my options in regards to permanent residency in the uk?

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Originally Posted by nav1189

Thank you for your reply, but are you able to elaborate a bit more? Should I apply for him right now while I'm living in the uk? And what should I do about my visa expiring?

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Your UK Visa to stay in the UK with him is unrelated to any green card visa for him to come here. Your case is with the UK and his case is with the US Immgrations. I know nothing about the UK end, but the US end you want to get his underway ASAP... its going to take a lot longer than 6 months unless you have close friends in the right high places.

And as far as the UK side... its likely the same. You never want to wait until the last minute when you are dealing with Bureaucrats... they move as fast as glaciers most of the time. Get BOTH in process as soon as you are able. Or you might find yourself separated.

After my dealings with the INS and the ineptitude I encounted at two offices I dealt with I became intimately aware of the popular term "Going Postal" and how someone can be driven to that level of frustration. I hope your encounter is far less stressful than mine. In case I never mentioned. I was born the US Citizen, while my wife was a EU citizen. I am legally entitled to work in the EU without a VISA (I'm grandfathered into the old immigration laws) and she now holds a dual citizenship.

Sorry, but I can't answer your question about when and how long he can travel once he has a green card.

You can apply for indefinate leave to remain the same as my american husband did, which you should do after living in the uk for two years, you can come back and forward on that to the states but like the green card if you are out of the country too long it becomes void, and you have to start all over again. My husband will be applying for my visa to the american embassy early next year 2011 even though we will not be moving back to the states until 2012, my advice is to apply for your husband why you are here to the american embassy.

Hi,

I am in the very beginning stage of all this. My fiancé and I are looking to get married and are trying to figure out what we have to do. He is Scottish and lives in the UK, I am a US Citizen. We will be getting married in the US, go to our honeymoon in the Domicna Republic (is he able to go there, or will he have to notify the UK) return back the US for a few days and Move to Scotland, UK..

These are our plans and we want to get married as soon as we can and able to. What has to be done so this can happen. I have read so many websites and am so confused, but what intrigued me is that you have already done the first step and can help me out much better than guessing.or is there a number that I have to call to speak to someone.

Thank you anyone who can help..