Advice for couples from different countries (US/UK)

[Si2k63]

Hi guys,

I am a U.K citizen but my girlfriend is from the United States. She and I have been together since June 2005 and have basically been hopping back and forth over the Atlantic for some time. However,it is becoming increasingly difficult and immigration is starting to give us a harder and harder time when entering each other's countries.

As things are, I am only allowed to stay in the United States for a maximum of 90 days and she is allowed to stay for 6 months here.

We both feel that we would like to settle down somewhere (either the US or the UK) for a longer period than 6 months but we don't quite feel that we are ready for marriage yet. We are unsure of our options, I have done some light reading about the unmarried couples visa for the UK but I do not think we would qualify for it.

How can we proceed? If you require any additional information in order to answer I will happily post it.

[gimli2222]

Hi guys

We are in the same position as you. Unmarried partners need to have been living together for minimum of two years and need to be able to prove this as well.

If we find a way to sort this out I will let you know, We are trying really hard to get this sorted

Good luck

[JAJ]

We both feel that we would like to settle down somewhere (either the US or the UK) for a longer period than 6 months but we don't quite feel that we are ready for marriage yet. We are unsure of our options, I have done some light reading about the unmarried couples visa for the UK but I do not think we would qualify for it.

Options really boil down to finding a longer-term temporary visa to spend more together until you feel ready for a marriage commitment, or can qualify for a UK unmarried partner visa.

So student visa or work permit seem to be the options. Alternatively maybe a BUNAC program or something? Or both of you take a 12 month working holiday in a third country (eg New Zealand) that's accessible to both British and American citizens?