Settling in the uk.

[thesnapman44]

As my wife is an American, can she, or does she, need a sponsor to enter the United Kingdom, to live and reside?

We are aware that the only other way to gain entry into the UK, is if we both have a combined savings of 18,600 english pounds. Is that correct ? We are living in America. I am a natural born uk citizen. I am not an ex patriot. We have been legally married (14 years).. I am residing in the usa on a Permanent Resident Card.

[MPH80]

Effectively yes ... The only way your wife can enter to live is with a sponsor ... Ether you under the spouse route, a company or a university. They are all just different types of sponsorships in effect.

However, the financial rules you refer to apply to a spouse visa. The income threshold is 18,600, assuming no dependent children, but the savings threshold - if there is no income to show is actually 62,500.

You would need to show a) you'd been earning over the threshold in the USA for the last 12 months and b) you had a confirmed job offer paying over the threshold, starting within 3 months of your return to the uk.

Otherwise you could rely on savings.

Note that the income has to be yours, the savings could be from either of you.

The calculations change if there are also children migrating.

If she was sponsored by a company she wouldn't have to show this income threshold. If she was coming on a student visa there are different financial qualifications.

[thesnapman44]

Just need clarification on the advice already given to me:

1/ As my wife and i both currently live in USA, is my wife able to apply for a spousal visa for the UK whilst we are both in America, and then travel to the UK together ?

2/ If the answer to question 1 is no, does it mean i have to be living in the UK first, then my wife applies for her spousal visa ?

Hopefully, if question 1 applies, we can start making arrangements.

Thank you.

[MPH80]

You can apply before you depart the US.

However, in order to do so - you have to have a confirmed job offer starting in the UK within 3 months which meets the financial threshold, or meet the financial requirements through savings.

Given the job market in the UK - a number of people have previously chosen to travel ahead to find a job.