UK husband wanting to bring new USA wife into UK

My son is marrying his fiancé in the USA in October. She is a US citizen. The next day they wish to enter the UK and live here certainly for 2 years. She would like to work. She is currently a teacher in the USA.

Having explored the immigration web site and endured a paid call to the enquiry service to simply ask what type of visa to apply for, we have drawn a blank. They cannot advise which visa, they say. Not our job to do so.

We just want to know what route to head down on a very simple question, without paying £100's to a specialist adviser.

Can anyone point us in the right direction?

For what it is worth we think it might be under this category ....

"Apply to remain in the UK with family"

But it would be awful for the new wife to be turned away at border control at Heathrow the day after the wedding, because of some misunderstanding. As she enters she will have completed no forms, and presumably can only be honest and advise their intentions.

Thank you.

Spouse visa aka 'apply to join family in the UK'. She would have to apply from the USA after the wedding so unlikely they will be able to travel together the day after etc. She cannot enter the UK as a visitor and 'switch' into this visa category. If she does try to enter as a visitor intending to settle and stay, she will likely be refused entry.

https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk/overview

Does your son meet the financial requirement of £18,600pa with the evidence to prove?

It would be impossible to travel together the day after the wedding. The official statistics show that most Settlement visa applications submitted in the US are processed within 30 days. Your son will have to take all the relevant documents with him for his wife to submit after the wedding;
his most recent 6 months pay slips and bank statements,
letter from his employer confirming the terms of his employment, salary etc.
Proof of adequate accommodation that will be available on arrival in the UK
Their marriage certificate (and divorce decrees if applicable)
Proof of a genuine relationship, evidence of contact, photos etc.

The current visa fee will be £956. They will also have to pay the new NHS surcharge fee before submitting the application which will be £600 to cover the first 2.5 year probationary period.
https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigrati ... n/overview

That is all really helpful thank you. It is dawning on me that perhaps things are NOT simple. I am wondering too now whether he will get an ways ride flying into the USA to get married, if he is open with them about the reason for entry.

We probably should be engaging professional advice after all ...... .

What does this typically cost, and how do you find someone reliable?

You would likely be best served by going to an internet forum that is *specifically* tailored towards North Americans migrating to the UK, particularly on the basis of joining a spouse or partner. (Not too many Americans come to the UK to strike it rich on their own...)

It's called UK Yankee, and you can find it here:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=17.0

The people there are Americans who have been through everything. Most Americans won't need to engage professional assistance. It really is just a matter of ticking boxes, and the people there will walk you through it.

Good luck!