returning to uk

[misterbill]

i am a british citizen i've been living in the usa since 2004. i'm returning to live in the uk. do i need a visa or can i just come home. i'm bringing my wife of over 3 years with me. she's a usa citizen. i'm assuming she'll need a spouse visa. any help would be appeciated.

[John]

You are British, of course you don't need a visa!

Your wife? Yes, as you say, she will need to get a spouse visa before journeing to the UK. Have a look at the www.BritainUSA.com website for more information.

[magsi23]

i am a british citizen i've been living in the usa since 2004. i'm returning to live in the uk. do i need a visa or can i just come home. i'm bringing my wife of over 3 years with me. she's a usa citizen. i'm assuming she'll need a spouse visa. any help would be appeciated.

Why on earth someone coming home would need a visa?

[misterbill]

I read on the chicago embassy webpage that if you have been out of the UK for two years or more you need a visa. I must have got the wrong end of the stick.

Thanks for the reply

[Docterror]

That applies only for the Permanent Residents in the UK who have not yet been naturalised as British Citizens. So, no fear there.

[JAJ]

i am a british citizen i've been living in the usa since 2004. i'm returning to live in the uk. do i need a visa or can i just come home. i'm bringing my wife of over 3 years with me. she's a usa citizen. i'm assuming she'll need a spouse visa. any help would be appeciated.

Your wife needs a spouse visa. http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk
You don't, of course.

However before you abandon your green card (assuming that's your status) have you thought about whether you would like to become a U.S. citizen before you leave?

[misterbill]

I do have my green card and i will be giving it up. I have another year before i can get citizenship. The economy in the state where we live is in bad shape. We already own a home in the uk so were relocating there.

[SYH]

I do have my green card and i will be giving it up. I have another year before i can get citizenship. The economy in the state where we live is in bad shape. We already own a home in the uk so were relocating there.

Well you need to double check but I do believe if you touch base with the US once a year, you can keep the green card. It is a shame to give up possibility of citizenship should you decide to relocate back to the states

[misterbill]

Thanks for your interest . As far as i am aware the problem would be that i have to file taxes here and not be out of the USA for more than 6 months. My wife and i are both 51 and we need to settle for good. i can't foresee us moving back to the USA. The crunch came when she needed surgery on her foot , even with insurance it cost us $6000. I lived in Britain all my life until i came to the US and with the NHS it never crossed my mind how much surgerey was. I think we'll be better off back in the UK without the worry of medical bills. As i wrote earlier we have a house there and i have a job waiting for me.

[SYH]

Thanks for your interest . As far as i am aware the problem would be that i have to file taxes here and not be out of the USA for more than 6 months. My wife and i are both 51 and we need to settle for good. i can't foresee us moving back to the USA. The crunch came when she needed surgery on her foot , even with insurance it cost us $6000. I lived in Britain all my life until i came to the US and with the NHS it never crossed my mind how much surgerey was. I think we'll be better off back in the UK without the worry of medical bills. As i wrote earlier we have a house there and i have a job waiting for me.

Then I gues you are all set