Moving home to England from the USA with American spouse, what steps do I need to do?

[andydmarsh62]

Lived in the states for 20 years and moving home end of this year/early next with my American wife. I don’t know where to start, can we move back together and start her immigration process, do I need to move first?, and if so what do I need to to prepare.

Is there anyplace online providing an idiots guide to the process?

Thanks

[andydmarsh62]

Lived in the states for 20 years and moving home end of this year/early next with my American wife. I don’t know where to start, can we move back together and start her immigration process, do I need to move first?, and if so what do I need to to prepare.

Is there anyplace online providing an idiots guide to the process?

Thanks

[JB007]

Lived in the states for 20 years and moving home end of this year/early next with my American wife. I don’t know where to start, can we move back together and start her immigration process, do I need to move first?, and if so what do I need to to prepare.

Is there anyplace online providing an idiots guide to the process?

Thanks

Your wife will need to be granted a spouse visa before she moves and applies for that in the US. You will need to meet the requirements to sponsor her.
https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

[andydmarsh62]

I see that, thanks. It’s not clear if I can start the process from here (USA) or at home, and just what are the requirements?

[TODMATT]

I see that, thanks. It’s not clear if I can start the process from here (USA) or at home, and just what are the requirements?

You can start the process anywhere in the world but your wife must attend biometric in her home country.

[secret.simon]

The spouse visa application needs to be made from a country where your wife has the right to reside on a long-term basis and not where she has only a visit visa.

The spouse visa application can not be made from within the UK if she is not already in the UK on a non-visit visa.

To start with, you (the British citizen spouse) will need to demonstrate
(a) that you currently earn more than £18,600 per annum (for at least six months) AND have a confirmed job offer in the UK paying at least £18,600 starting within three months, or,
(b) currently earn at least £18,600 per annum in the UK (if fixed salary, for at least six months; if variable income, twelve months), or,
(c) show savings of at least £62,500 held in a flexible banking account for at least six months.

For option (b) above, you may have to move to the UK on your own.

If successful, your spouse will be issued a spousal visa for ~2.5 years, after which she will need to repeat the process with the same requirements, albeit from within the UK. After five continuous years of residing in the UK on a spousal visa (with a limit on the number of absences from the UK), she would be eligible for ILR (equivalent to permanent residency). As she is married to a British citizen, immediately after getting ILR, she can apply directly for British citizenship (If she were not married to a British citizen, she'd need to wait an additional year).