What happens if my husband needs to move back?

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Hello,

I have seen a lot of talk in the pinned topic about new changes to UK immigration laws that make it hard for UKC who moved here on K-1 visa to be able to bring their USC spouses back to the UK with them.

While this is concerning obviously, I was wondering that kind of requirements were placed on the UKC spouse him/herself for getting back into his country.

For example, let's say after a while of living here as a permanent resident through out marriage, my spouse, originally a UKC, receives news that his mother is ill and he wants to move back to the UK in order to help her.

What sort of troubles will he face, if any, for getting back into the UK on his own?

I have tried searching multiple places for information on this and have come up empty handed so far.

Any help is appreciated.

[Boiler 45,663]

None.

[3rd 84]

As long as he remains a citizen of the United Kingdom he will not have a problem going back.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

He has no problems going back.. Living in the UK more than a year, however, could result in his abandoning his green card (without proper leave extensions).

Edited October 15, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

As long as he remains a citizen of the United Kingdom he will not have a problem going back.

I was just a little worried about this because from what I understand, if he does wish to become a US citzen someday part of the process requires him to renounce his citizenship in foreign countries.

It seems as though this is not actually legally binding though, as only the UK is the only one that can actually revoke such a thing.

Also I am aware that my OP was only talking about permanent residence status and not citizenship, so thank you for answering that part of the question for me!

[3rd 84]

He has no problems going back.. Living in the UK more than a year, however, could result in his abandoning his green card (without proper leave extensions).

This.

I was just a little worried about this because from what I understand, if he does wish to become a US citzen someday part of the process requires him to renounce his citizenship in foreign countries.

It seems as though this is not actually legally binding though, as only the UK is the only one that can actually revoke such a thing.

Also I am aware that my OP was only talking about permanent residence status and not citizenship, so thank you for answering that part of the question for me!

Us UK citizens are in the lucky situation where we can have a US citizenship without having to denounce our UK citizenship.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

He can move back by himself at any time. The restrictions are if he wanted you to move with him. If he is a U.S. permanent resident, he needs to know that he can lose the greencard status so do read up on the requirements for maintaining status. Otherwise you could end up starting the visa process over to get him back.

Once he is a U.S. Citizen, he can come and go for however long he wants with no entry restrictions. He can have a US and UK passport.

Maintaining Permanent Residence http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

[AMZJ 61]

He does not have to give up his UK citizenship to become a US citizen. There is no such rule. My daughter is a duel citizen. Some countries make them chose at 18 but the US and UK is not one.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Unfortunately I am getting some very mixed answers from other sources about whether or not the US naturalization process requires citizens to denounce any former citizenship, but overall even the sources that say you must denounce it explain that it's more of a ceremonial process that does not actually remove your citizenship from another country.

At this point I'm not worried about it. Seems like silly semantics to me. The general consensus across the board is that he should have no issue traveling back to his country in case of emergency once he becomes a citizen so that is what matters. Thank you everyone for your answers!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Unfortunately I am getting some very mixed answers from other sources about whether or not the US naturalization process requires citizens to denounce any former citizenship, ....

My husband naturalized and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. He stood, raised his hand, and repeated these words:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

He still has a valid British passport, UK driver license, UK credit card, UK eBay account, UK iTunes account, and will collect his UK pension. He is both British and American. He flies to Heathrow and enters with his UK passport. He returns to Houston And enters using his US passport.

[Boiler 45,663]

How did he update his DL with his US address?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

How did he update his DL with his US address?

He renewed online. It asked his passport number. They retrieved his passport photo and used it on the new license. Delivered to his former address, a bungalow owned by his Mum. She moved back to the house after he left so receives any mail to him.

[Boiler 45,663]

No biggie I suppose but a UK DL requires you to show your current address.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

My husband naturalized and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. He stood, raised his hand, and repeated these words:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

He still has a valid British passport, UK driver license, UK credit card, UK eBay account, UK iTunes account, and will collect his UK pension. He is both British and American. He flies to Heathrow and enters with his UK passport. He returns to Houston And enters using his US passport.

Yeah exactly. That's what I meant when I said in one of my first posts that it wasn't really legally binding and you don't actually lose your status as a British citizen. It just seems ceremonial almost.

[nobbie 105]

This is slightly off thread but regarding your UK drivers licence once you leave the country it's no longer valid. However you can still hire a car with with either licence but if you use a debit card they want proof of residency but credit card they dont. So depends of what ties you have.

Either way I hope to move back to UK soon, 2 yrs in the US