Why is it so difficult???

[aemdee]

I am a UK citizen with an American girlfriend who i want to come and live with me and be able to work here so she can contribute. I have made initial enquiries and have come to the conclusion that the only way she would be able to do this is, is if she comes here on a fiance visa (i know she can't work until we are married) but then we have only 6 months to tie the knot which puts both of us under pressure!!

Is there any other way she can get over here? (She does have an English Grandmother living in the States and family living here).

Should i employ an immigration lawyer? I am getting desperate. There has to be a loophole of some kind. Have even thought about her trying to get another EU country passport.

Would be grateful for any info and help you can offer!!!

[JAJ]

Is there any other way she can get over here? (She does have an English Grandmother living in the States and family living here).

Ancestry visa won't work because she's not a citizen of a Commonwealth country.

Have you looked at an unmarried partner visa, if you've been living together 2 years.

Otherwise, depending on her skills - work permit or HSMP?

[aemdee]

Unfortunately haven't been together 2 years. And i don't quite understand how you 'live together' for 2 years if you can't get a visa!!

She doesn't have any qualifications other than an English Degree and doesn't qualify for HSMP so can't get work permit.

Any other ideas???? This is starting to drive me mental!!!

[RobinLondon]

Unless you get married, your girlfriend attends a university full-time or manages to finagle a work permit (very hard), there's going to be no way she's getting to the UK. That's the hassle of intercontinental relationships. Trust me, I know.

As for a "loophole", forget it. UK immigration rules are pretty tough for legal migrants. But you do want her over here, and no one wants the problems that come with illegal migration. So if this is something you really need, start thinking about marriage, uni or work! Then again, what basis does she have for citizenship in another EU country?

Good luck.

[L_E_O]

Should i employ an immigration lawyer? <snip> There has to be a loophole of some kind.

No, you shouldn't and no, there isn't.

These are your options:

• 1. Your girlfriend gets a fiancée visa and you get married. Six months is long enough to arrange a wedding.
  2. You go to the States and get married. Your girlfriend will apply for Limited Leave to Enter before coming to the UK and she will be able to work upon arrival.
  3. Your girlfriend can try to get a work permit (just because she doesn't qualify for the HSMP doesn't mean she can't get a work permit).
  4. Your girlfriend can apply to a university and come over as a student.
  5. If your girlfriend has recently left university (less than six months ago) she can use BUNAC.

[aemdee]

Thanks all for your advice...i appreciate it!!

It just sucks that if we want to do this legit we have to go through so much red tape!!!

Maybe i should get her to write a book about how to get a visa for the UK, get it published and then come over here on a writers visa...lol. How ironic would that be?