fishandcrisps

On 4/13/2021 at 11:21 PM, AlcantarA said:

Because of work commitments and the fact that I want to be able to spend enough time with my husband, I am planning to leave on May 15th. I have just struggled to get into contact with anyone to understand if we are exempt. These trips should not be considered holidays.

Unfortunately, the law is so vague and what irks me most is that circumstances might be different for everyone, it really should be a case by case.

I wish you the best of luck. I hope you get through without issues, it would be ridiculous if you couldnt, as these are definitely essential!

If you can, please report back on the results, it would really help.

On 3/23/2021 at 12:01 PM, AlcantarA said:

I too am wondering if we are exempt from the latest travel restrictions if we want to visit our spouse abroad?

The UK are now introducing £5000 fines to anyone travelling on holiday and this rule will come into effect Monday 29th March https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56493002

 

I have not been able to find anything on long distance marriages through any of the government portals so it is really difficult to know. 

Are you waiting until after 17th May to book?

On 2/24/2021 at 12:17 AM, JPD91 said:

I recently travelled from the UK to the US to see my wife and for the birth of my child. From my experience you should be fine to travel, nobody at the airport asked for a reason for travelling, they simply needed to check I was exempt from the US travel ban (which I was due to being married to a USC).

 

I'm not sure where you are in regards to your visa process or what visa you are applying for (I assume spouse visa), but you will have to return home for your medical and interview once you actually get to that point. I would be careful with how you word everything once entering the US as well, telling then you will be there for the full stay of the of your ESTA and that you are planning on living there may seem skeptical. 

 

I'm sure there are others on here who will have much better information with all this than me though. 

thanks for feedback on your experience. Yes I will need to be absolutely clear at US immigration that I have no intention to stay to live at this stage.  I've traveled once before the UK introduced the travel ban.  Not sure how hard the UK are enforcing the rules, they seem to be taking it seriously especially with the fines now. Unfortunately I am not sure where I stand, given this isn't really a holiday but it might be perceived to be. Probably safe to consider after 17th May. 

Would welcome anyone's experiences if they have been in a similar situation recently

Has anyone had any experience recently with 'visiting' their spouse in the US, travelling from the UK? If so what do the airlines need to see?

International travel is only permitted from the UK if you have a legally permitted reason https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#international-travel 

The law sets out the reasons: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made

My situation: I have taken a career break as I want to travel to see my US spouse in April 2021  to live with him for the max period permitted (on ESTA this is 3 months). But with the lockdown rules I don't know whether this would be considered a 'visit' as I do not yet have the right to live there (currently in the process of getting visa). I wondered therefore if this would be deemed a good enough reason - technically I am moving there with him, albeit I will be leaving after 3 months if I dont get a response back from immigration.

thanks

I assume going to the US to VISIT a spouse is not going to be a valid  reason for the airline to allow you to travel. If you are moving there to live with your spouse then I assume that would be OK.

I want to travel to see my US spouse in April 2021. But with the lockdown rules i dont think I am allowed? I want to eventually live there with him so I am in the process of getting visa but i dont have the right to live in the US yet, unless it is granted when I stay there, otherwise i have to leave in 3 months (ESTA). I don't have any evidence that I have a right to stay otherwise. So i feel i'd be rejected! 

Good news there was a cancellation at our local county clerk office!

3 hours ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Have you checked to see if any neighboring county clerk's offices are open for issuing marriage licenses without an appointment (probably not, but worth checking) or allow some notaries to issue confidential marriage licenses (some CA counties do)?

 

Also, depending on where you are in CA, checking into whether a road trip to Vegas (~4 hrs by car from LA) or Reno (~4 hrs by car from the SF Bay Area) would work might be worth looking into.

Hi 

Yes we checked neighbouring county's offices and all of them are issuing marriage licenses remotely or require appointments. Thanks for letting me know about the notary, I had no idea that was possible but just did a search and can't find any close by.

Will speak to my partner about Reno, I only have a couple of days left so it is probably too rushed now. But helpful tips, thank you.

6 hours ago, James120383 said:

Spouses of US citizens and green card holders are exempted . there is no ban. 

 

stay and get AOS or go back to UK and apply CR1. 

Thank you. I don't think I can get married in time, my admission expires in a few days. So do you know if I would be able to return to the US on the visa waiver programme and get married but with the intention to go back to the UK and then file for CR1?

thanks

hey all, I've seen some helpful advice on this forum so posting for thoughts.

• I am a UK citizen and boyfriend is a US citizen.
• I visited him in early March on the Visa Waiver Program just before the US banned travel from the UK. I was only intending to stay here for 1.5 weeks but all my flights (6 to date) had been cancelled. I've now been in the US (California) for over 90 days and was granted satisfactory departure recently (so now 27 days into the 30 day satisfactory departure extension).
• We decided we wanted to get married and applied for a marriage license and appointment. The County office are due to get back to us this week to confirm an appointment - so not legally married yet. 
• But I have a flight booked on the day of admission expiry (in 4 days) but it can be moved back if needed. 
• I do not intend to stay or move to the US immediately, my goal is maybe move in the next 6-12 months (if permitted). So plan was always for me to go back to UK after marriage if it were to happen here. However, it is now looking unlikely that we'll get married before I return home to the UK due to the County office not responding, so I was wondering what my best options are.

I really want to marry him before I return home so that we can start applying for the relevant visa as I know it can take a long time but also so that I can visit him if the covid-19 ban were to be extended for a lot longer (assuming those on spousal visas are exempt from travel ban?).

- Do I stay here a little longer and overstay by a couple of weeks (assuming marriage appointment isn't too far into future)? I'm not sure how this would look to USCIS when I get around to applying for a marriage based visa and how it would impact my next visit to the US.

- Do I just go home and get married on my next visit to the US - can I next visit on a visa waiver programme, get married and go home to UK? WOuld that be allowed, or do I need some sort of marriage based visa before I get married even if I was returning to the UK?

-Marry in the UK then apply for relevant visa? There's a US ban to visitors from the UK so we are considering option of getting married in the UK but there's a long waiting list, and no remote option and more costly so this option isn't ideal. If we do this, can I apply for the relevant marriage visa from abroad and enter the US without issues?

-Any other options I've missed?

thanks