trying to get USC wife to UK.

[indigo]

Hello one and all. I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right part of Forum.

my wife is a USC, and I'm born and raised UKC. we married in USA. have had a couple of visits since we was married. (over two years ago now)

My wife is worried she will loose her US Citizenship if she comes to live with me in UK and gets a UK passport.

can someone please explain the procedure, maybe some time scale it will take to get her here.

I'm in employment, and am well above minimal wage. i have an address here in UK.

its all confusing for us. any help would be great full.

[Wanderer]

Totally the wrong forum but not to worry - ur wife wont lose her US citizenship, both UK and USA acknowledge dual citizenship.

She needs to apply for a spouse visa and being a USC it's normally a formality and takes a week or two.

So it will take 2/3 years to get UK passport and about £2500 quid over that time in visa fees.

[indigo]

Totally the wrong forum but not to worry - ur wife wont lose her US citizenship, both UK and USA acknowledge dual citizenship.

She needs to apply for a spouse visa and being a USC it's normally a formality and takes a week or two.

So it will take 2/3 years to get UK passport and about £2500 quid over that time in visa fees.

so my wife could come over here stright after that week or two?

[John]

indigo, I have moved this topic to the correct forum.

I suggest you have a look at this webpage on the BritainUSA.com website. Have a good read of the relevant parts of that.

As already said, it is a spouse visa that she needs to apply for, and when issued that is now issued for 27 months. However, 28 days before the 2nd anniversary of her first arriving in the UK using that visa she can apply for ILR ... indefinite leave to remain. But in order to make that application she will first need to pass the Life in the UK Citizenship test.

Having got the ILR, she might be able to apply for Naturalisation as British, as soon as she can pass the "applicant was physically in the UK exactly three years before UKBA receive the Naturalisation application" test, and her dates in the UK as a visitor might well assist her to make an early application.

However the rules for Naturalisation are liable to change, so do keep your eyes open as regards possible change of legislation.

Anyway, for now, the important thing is to get her the spouse visa, to permit her to move to the UK. And before you ask, armed with a spouse visa in her US passport, she has total ability to work in the UK, without requiring a Work Permit.

Also, before you ask, it is not possible for her to come to the UK as a visitor and then switch to a spouse visa in the UK ...... that is not permitted.

[indigo]

thank you very much for your reply, and also for moving to correct place on the forum.