Full Version: How about going to the UK to live?
We started the K1 visa for my UK fiance to come to the US.....but now I'm thinking about moving to the UK. Has anyone looked into the pros and cons of which way to go? Would it be better for him to come to the US or me to go to the UK? Any advice?
Quicker, much much quicker.
You might want to consider marrying in the US and then immigrating to the UK. The better option.
You might want to consider marrying in the US and then immigrating to the UK. The better option.
QUOTE(Boiler @ Mar 4 2008, 04:01 AM) 
Quicker, much much quicker.
You might want to consider marrying in the US and then immigrating to the UK. The better option.
You might want to consider marrying in the US and then immigrating to the UK. The better option.
Yes, that is best way to do it, IF you decide to move to UK.
I could be wrong, but i don't think the OP was asking about the visa process, but the pro's and con's of living in either country.
OP - you're going to have to give us more info if you want any advice that's at all useful
We thought about both options before we made a decision and decided on my moving to the US rather than Mark moving to the UK. This was partly to do with family - he has elderly grandparents whereas mine have already died some years ago now - and also the fact that Mark has a much better job than I do with very good prospects. Also, the cost of housing where I live now, which is close to my immediate family, makes it impossible for us to settle near them. I figured if I would have to move to another region anyway, I might as well move to the US. Mark and I agreed that we would pay to fly my Mum over every eighteen months or so to visit with us.
We looked at many different factors and weighed up where for us personally it made more sense to live, and we decided on the US.
You need to make a personal pros and cons list and think very carefully about what is best for you. Good luck!
We looked at many different factors and weighed up where for us personally it made more sense to live, and we decided on the US.
You need to make a personal pros and cons list and think very carefully about what is best for you. Good luck!
We were originally going to have Jeremy move to the UK but then I got disillusioned with the teaching profession following uni and just wanted to get away from the UK and Jeremy got promoted so things changed - it was circumstantial rather than any major desire to live in either country
We considered it lots. Frankly I'm more in love with the Scottish culture than what I've seen here in the US, but I think that's really just loving the city life and not having to drive more than anything 
And the socialized systems...I like those 
I am naive.
Family had some to do with our decision. Iain thinks I'm closer to my family than he is to his. But the big thing really was trying to anticipate career prospects. I was terrified that my degree would mean NOTHING there and I wouldn't be able to get a job, whereas Iain's gone to a kind of globally-recognized school and wants to design video games and there's much more opportunity for that over here.
I haven't looked into the details of immigrating to the UK other than to say I think the US gives you a REALLY hard time about it and stigmatizes you for life. I *think* you have to give up your US citizenship after 5 or 6 years (fair enough), and then on there are restrictions as to how much time you can spend in the US, AND you have to fill out yearly reports on like...what you're up to and stuff for the US gov., and I think they do stuff to your taxes too. Sounded like scary rape to me back when I was looking at it but I could have just been misreading everything so please do your own research and don't take my word for it xD
I know someone in Edinburgh though that used to work for the immigration services there, and she said something once that made it sound like basically you just...move over there, if you want to immigrate. You live with your spouse for a year and save evidence of that and then after a year go file some stuff. Sounded a lot more casual.
I think definately just take all things into consideration, and either way you want to move is completely doable and not that bad once you get into the process. A big thing about the US is it's so big; if you don't like one area there's ridiculous flexibility, can just try another. Whereas I think the UK is mostly just...generally the same.
I shall miss though steak pies and pasties, my beautiful hobnobs, my Aberdeen nana and I never have a CLUE what she's saying about being bonny and giving "rowies" or something, and giggling at fluorescently dressed neds, and how old people have to stop and have tea every hour and a half and I'm only allowed to have coffee at 10 am with scones NOT at breakfast...ahh...what xD
We need more traditions in the US xD
And the socialized systems...I like those I am naive. Family had some to do with our decision. Iain thinks I'm closer to my family than he is to his. But the big thing really was trying to anticipate career prospects. I was terrified that my degree would mean NOTHING there and I wouldn't be able to get a job, whereas Iain's gone to a kind of globally-recognized school and wants to design video games and there's much more opportunity for that over here.
I haven't looked into the details of immigrating to the UK other than to say I think the US gives you a REALLY hard time about it and stigmatizes you for life. I *think* you have to give up your US citizenship after 5 or 6 years (fair enough), and then on there are restrictions as to how much time you can spend in the US, AND you have to fill out yearly reports on like...what you're up to and stuff for the US gov., and I think they do stuff to your taxes too. Sounded like scary rape to me back when I was looking at it but I could have just been misreading everything so please do your own research and don't take my word for it xD
I know someone in Edinburgh though that used to work for the immigration services there, and she said something once that made it sound like basically you just...move over there, if you want to immigrate. You live with your spouse for a year and save evidence of that and then after a year go file some stuff. Sounded a lot more casual.
I think definately just take all things into consideration, and either way you want to move is completely doable and not that bad once you get into the process. A big thing about the US is it's so big; if you don't like one area there's ridiculous flexibility, can just try another. Whereas I think the UK is mostly just...generally the same.
I shall miss though steak pies and pasties, my beautiful hobnobs, my Aberdeen nana and I never have a CLUE what she's saying about being bonny and giving "rowies" or something, and giggling at fluorescently dressed neds, and how old people have to stop and have tea every hour and a half and I'm only allowed to have coffee at 10 am with scones NOT at breakfast...ahh...what xD
We need more traditions in the US xD
Honestly, the process for me to come live in the UK was a piece of cake compared to the ongoing US Visa process for hubby. We're talking a few weeks vs. a year and counting.
If everything in the UK didn't cost exactly DOUBLE what it would cost in the US, (and petrol is about three times the cost), we would just stay here. Sure, we'll have to pay for him to have medical insurance in the US, but even still, our overall cost of living will be less once we get to the US.
I could live here forever IF I knew that's what we were planning to do. The living in limbo is the worst part of this - not knowing when we will have a visa appointment, whether it will get approved at all, not wanting to get involved in anything requiring long-term commitments, etc. If I knew we were settling down for good, I'd put down some roots. I like roots. Roots are comforting. I am rootless at the moment.
Bottom line, it comes down to your own personal preferences. Don't let the visa process be the deciding factor, because if you are miserable in one country it won't matter how quickly you get a visa.
If everything in the UK didn't cost exactly DOUBLE what it would cost in the US, (and petrol is about three times the cost), we would just stay here. Sure, we'll have to pay for him to have medical insurance in the US, but even still, our overall cost of living will be less once we get to the US.
I could live here forever IF I knew that's what we were planning to do. The living in limbo is the worst part of this - not knowing when we will have a visa appointment, whether it will get approved at all, not wanting to get involved in anything requiring long-term commitments, etc. If I knew we were settling down for good, I'd put down some roots. I like roots. Roots are comforting. I am rootless at the moment.
Bottom line, it comes down to your own personal preferences. Don't let the visa process be the deciding factor, because if you are miserable in one country it won't matter how quickly you get a visa.
QUOTE(latteberry @ Mar 4 2008, 10:10 AM)
Honestly, the process for me to come live in the UK was a piece of cake compared to the ongoing US Visa process for hubby. We're talking a few weeks vs. a year and counting.
If everything in the UK didn't cost exactly DOUBLE what it would cost in the US, (and petrol is about three times the cost), we would just stay here. Sure, we'll have to pay for him to have medical insurance in the US, but even still, our overall cost of living will be less once we get to the US.
I could live here forever IF I knew that's what we were planning to do. The living in limbo is the worst part of this - not knowing when we will have a visa appointment, whether it will get approved at all, not wanting to get involved in anything requiring long-term commitments, etc. If I knew we were settling down for good, I'd put down some roots. I like roots. Roots are comforting. I am rootless at the moment.
Bottom line, it comes down to your own personal preferences. Don't let the visa process be the deciding factor, because if you are miserable in one country it won't matter how quickly you get a visa.
If everything in the UK didn't cost exactly DOUBLE what it would cost in the US, (and petrol is about three times the cost), we would just stay here. Sure, we'll have to pay for him to have medical insurance in the US, but even still, our overall cost of living will be less once we get to the US.
I could live here forever IF I knew that's what we were planning to do. The living in limbo is the worst part of this - not knowing when we will have a visa appointment, whether it will get approved at all, not wanting to get involved in anything requiring long-term commitments, etc. If I knew we were settling down for good, I'd put down some roots. I like roots. Roots are comforting. I am rootless at the moment.
Bottom line, it comes down to your own personal preferences. Don't let the visa process be the deciding factor, because if you are miserable in one country it won't matter how quickly you get a visa.
You can argue endlessly about comparitive costs, Gas being 3 times the price is only relevant if you did not have to drive three times as far to do a comparable task.
For examle my nearest Supermarket is 30 miles away, a gallon of gas in the car, 1 1/2i n the truck, each way.
I could walk to my nearest in the UK, all the big names were within 5 miles.
For me its a wash, my guess is that for most there will not be much in it, some will be better off, some worse off, it all depends.
Have a look here:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111192
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111192
Thank you all very much. This has been very helpful.
Nicky and I never considered moving to the UK as much of an option. When we met I was still finishing university and I had a great career opportunity.
Personally, before I met him I'd always wanted to live in London and I almost did a study abroad there (in the end I couldn't secure the funds necessary). However, my company has an office in London and it's always an option in the future, though to be honest it isn't something we have given much thought to.
Personally, before I met him I'd always wanted to live in London and I almost did a study abroad there (in the end I couldn't secure the funds necessary). However, my company has an office in London and it's always an option in the future, though to be honest it isn't something we have given much thought to.
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