Bit complicated spousal visa application . . .

[cukababy]

Hi, firstly, I wanted to apoligise if my questions have already been answered previously on the website. I've been looking through the website and the posts I've found don't seem to answer my questions about our particular situation.

Anyway, here's our situation:

My husband (a UK citizen) moved to the US with me two years ago on a fiance visa and we have now lived and been married in the US for about two years. However, we want to move back to the UK within the next 6 months or so. We've been considering it for a while and planned to start saving up. However, we recently found out that we are now pregnant and would dearly love to move back before the birth.

What worries me, however, is our ability to prove financial stablity. It is quite possible that I would need to fly over before my husband does therefore, he would not already have a job in the UK. He is an apprentice plumber at present and plans to continue his trade once we return. I have a bachelor's degree from a university also, which will hopefully help show my qualifications for jobs once I am over.

We plan to stay with his parents for a bit until we get enough money saved up to move into our own flat. So if we had a letter showing that they are allowing us to live with them for a bit and support us, do you think that would satisfy the immigration officers as far as the financial aspect is concerned?

Also, on a shorter note, we are assuming that NHS would cover the costs of any prenatal and labor? Is that correct or would that be considered recourse to public funds?

Finally, how long does the visa application generally take for spousal visas? We want to make sure to apply plenty in advance and for me to fly out before the visa expires.

Thanks so much in advance for any and all advice. I used a similiar forum when we applied for my husband's visa and it provided a great source of information and comfort.

[yankeegirl]

We plan to stay with his parents for a bit until we get enough money saved up to move into our own flat. So if we had a letter showing that they are allowing us to live with them for a bit and support us, do you think that would satisfy the immigration officers as far as the financial aspect is concerned?

Staying with his parents should be ok, but other than that, third party support is no longer accepted. Do you have any savings that you could show would tide you over until he and/or you found employment?

It is quite possible that I would need to fly over before my husband does therefore, he would not already have a job in the UK.

I think either your husband has to already be in the UK or accompanying you there if you are entering the UK on a spousal visa for the first time.

Also, on a shorter note, we are assuming that NHS would cover the costs of any prenatal and labor? Is that correct or would that be considered recourse to public funds?

You would be covered by the NHS, that doesn't fall under public funds.

Finally, how long does the visa application generally take for spousal visas? We want to make sure to apply plenty in advance and for me to fly out before the visa expires.

If you apply to the consulate in person (LA, Chicago or New York, depending on which state you live in) you usually receive the visa the same day. Postal applications are usually about a week or two. You can ask the consulate to postdate the visa for up to three months, but you cannot enter the UK until the start date of the visa. You also want to enter the UK within 28 days of the visa start date, or it could cause problems when applying for Indefinite Leave to remain in two years time.

[cukababy]

Staying with his parents should be ok, but other than that, third party support is no longer accepted. Do you have any savings that you could show would tide you over until he and/or you found employment?

Well, hopefully, we'll have at least a couple thousand dollars saved up. We also have 1K GBP in cash but I don't know how we'd prove we still have that? Do you think that would be enough to show we have support until jobs are found?