How do we go about this? Please advise.

[gracejoy]

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

I am a US citizen, my husband is a UK citizen, and we have been married and living in the U.S. for 9 years. We have two young children. We now wish to move to England to be closer to my husband's family. My husband has a good career, so he will earn enough money to support us -- but he has to get a job first. Our plan would be to move over to live with his parents while he looks for a job, and then once he has solid employment, we will apply for my leave to remain as his spouse.

The question: Can I live in the UK as a visitor (no visa) and just travel back to the US to file the application from outside the UK? I can stay for up to 6 months a time. Or am I forbidden to live in the UK while I'm applying? We have young children, so we can't spend months separated while we go through the process. What do people in this situation usually do?

Thanks again for any info!

[batleykhan]

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

I am a US citizen, my husband is a UK citizen, and we have been married and living in the U.S. for 9 years. We have two young children. We now wish to move to England to be closer to my husband's family. My husband has a good career, so he will earn enough money to support us -- but he has to get a job first. Our plan would be to move over to live with his parents while he looks for a job, and then once he has solid employment, we will apply for my leave to remain as his spouse.

The question: Can I live in the UK as a visitor (no visa) and just travel back to the US to file the application from outside the UK? I can stay for up to 6 months a time. Or am I forbidden to live in the UK while I'm applying? We have young children, so we can't spend months separated while we go through the process. What do people in this situation usually do?

Thanks again for any info!

If you are on a valid visitors visa, the maximum amount you would be allowed to stay is 6 months in any 12 months period. You can stay with whomever you want whilst on this visa in the UK.Unfortunately you will have to leave the UK before the 6 months are up.You will have to apply for a spouse visa from the USA ( you can not do it from within UK) once your husband has found a job and will be able t maintain and support you.The process does not take long in the USA, and you can be with your husband with a few weeks if your application is successful.

You must not overstay the 6 months on your visitors visa,otherwise you may have problems with your spouse visa.You will unfortunately have to spend sometimes apart from your husband as a result of the procedure you have to follow. The sooner your husbands finds a job, its best you go back and apply for your visa.

Good luck, its going to be hard,but unfortunately you don't have alternative choice.