Expatriating after the fact?

[molly_ 1]

I wasn't sure how to name this thread because I'm asking a weird question.

My fiance and I are going through the K-1 Visa process and our I-129F was just approved. He's moving over here to the US, where we plan to get married and live for a good while, etc. My question is, if he moves here and becomes a citizen, will it be very difficult for us if we decide we'd rather live in the UK in the future?

I'm just not sure how all of that works or how to go about searching for that particular info on my own, so I'm curious. Any help would be appreciated.

[milimelo 4,582]

I wasn't sure how to name this thread because I'm asking a weird question.

My fiance and I are going through the K-1 Visa process and our I-129F was just approved. He's moving over here to the US, where we plan to get married and live for a good while, etc. My question is, if he moves here and becomes a citizen, will it be very difficult for us if we decide we'd rather live in the UK in the future?

I'm just not sure how all of that works or how to go about searching for that particular info on my own, so I'm curious. Any help would be appreciated.

Not a problem - after he gets his citizenship you'll start the process for UK immigration - should be similar to what you're going through now except it will be a spousal visa and you'll have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status.

[* Kristin * 49]

The UKBA web site has information on this... as well as uk-yankee.com

It's similar to U.S. immigration; the only thing that would make it 'challenging' is financial requirements. If you're both here, I would suppose it would be hard to show that you'd be able to sustain yourselves in the U.K. (I've heard it's not as strict... but haven't looked into it deeply, as I've personally had enough of the UKBA for a lifetime )

I wasn't sure how to name this thread because I'm asking a weird question.

My fiance and I are going through the K-1 Visa process and our I-129F was just approved. He's moving over here to the US, where we plan to get married and live for a good while, etc. My question is, if he moves here and becomes a citizen, will it be very difficult for us if we decide we'd rather live in the UK in the future?

I'm just not sure how all of that works or how to go about searching for that particular info on my own, so I'm curious. Any help would be appreciated.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

The UKBA web site has information on this... as well as uk-yankee.com

It's similar to U.S. immigration; the only thing that would make it 'challenging' is financial requirements. If you're both here, I would suppose it would be hard to show that you'd be able to sustain yourselves in the U.K. (I've heard it's not as strict... but haven't looked into it deeply, as I've personally had enough of the UKBA for a lifetime )

if you didnt become a US citizen and just kept on renewing your greencard when you needed to (if that is actually possible) could you move back to the UK without having to go through the immigration process??

[villaspurs 65]

if you didnt become a US citizen and just kept on renewing your greencard when you needed to (if that is actually possible) could you move back to the UK without having to go through the immigration process??

We've done a bit of research on this, and from what we've read you can maintain your UK citizenship while acquiring your U.S. citizenship, so you (the dual citizen) won't have to go through the immigration process at all. Your American spouse will, however, as well as any kids you have that do not yet have UK citizenship.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

if you didnt become a US citizen and just kept on renewing your greencard when you needed to (if that is actually possible) could you move back to the UK without having to go through the immigration process??

Yes you can renew the greencard every 10 years forever. But if you leave the US for an extended period of time and take up residence in the UK, the greencard is revoked. If you become a US citizen, then you can leave and return to the US at will.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You are looking at a 2-step process:

First your fiance comes to the U.S. You guys get married, file for AOS, he gets LPR status and his first Green Card, then two years later his second one. If you stay married he can become a U.S. citizen after 3 years.

Then you guys can move to England at any time. He would petition for you as his spouse, and you can then immigrate to the U.K. You'll get ILR status and after a few years in the Kingdom can apply for U-kay citizenship.

Then you can divorce and you both can live in the U-ess or the U-kay or in all of Europe at your hearts' desire.

Let's call this the 10-year plan.

[molly_ 1]

You are looking at a 2-step process:

First your fiance comes to the U.S. You guys get married, file for AOS, he gets LPR status and his first Green Card, then two years later his second one. If you stay married he can become a U.S. citizen after 3 years.

Then you guys can move to England at any time. He would petition for you as his spouse, and you can then immigrate to the U.K. You'll get ILR status and after a few years in the Kingdom can apply for U-kay citizenship.

Then you can divorce and you both can live in the U-ess or the U-kay or in all of Europe at your hearts' desire.

Let's call this the 10-year plan.

Was the divorce thing a joke? This isn't some clever plan to swap countries on each other, we're just thinking about living in the UK when we're older.

Thanks for the help, everyone!