Visitor Visa or Permit Free Visa?

[AdamJCopeland]

My wife and I are stuck in a pretty annoying situation.

We are both US citizens. I am halfway through a yearlong post working at a church in Scotland. I am here on a Permit Free Visa for Missionary Work.

Prior to her travel, my wife did not get a visa--now we're learning this was wrong--as she was heading back and forth several times in the year and would not stay in the UK longer than 6 months. However, on last entry to UK she was detained and barely let through. They told her not to try to get back again without a visa.

Now it seems she must fly back to US to apply for visa to UK. But which one?

She has a job in US, apartment there, and plans to travel a fair amount while in UK and outwith. But I am in UK on missionary visa. Should she apply for a Visitor Visa and say the reason of visit is to visit family--myself. Or should she apply for a Permit Free Visa as that is my visa?

We're out of resources here. Your help would be greatly appreciated.