BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice

Subject: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 04:16 PM

Hello, I'm a 'catter but don't want to make any announcements yet as things are still up in the air. My friend and I have been visiting back and forth for several years and as we get older (late forties/early fifties) we're beginning to feel like we would like to move in together. One of us would have to move and he doesn't like the US at all - on the other hand I do quite like Britain and would be willing to pull up stakes and emigrate. That means, I guess, that we would have to legally tie the knot in order for me to get residency. Has anyone who has done this got any advice about the legal red tape involved - immigration authorities, etc. I know I would have to apply for a "fiance visa" but the problem is my friend is disabled and has been for some years - so he receives public assistance and lives in a council house. I work and would plan to do so in Britain, and I could probably muster up around $20,000 after selling everything here to take over with me. I wouldn't want to sell the house and burn the bridges here, however, only to be told that I can't move over there because my husband-to-be can't support me. Any advice? The requirements state that the British spouse has to have means of supporting the partner without recourse to public assistance, and that's what has me worried.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 04:46 PM

I married a non British national, and there were no problems, as long as the authorities are satisfied that the marriage is not for the purposes of obtaining a British passport alone. The problems will arise after marriage, in that he may lose some of his benefit entitlements, due to your income once you find work. I don't know how disabled he is, or whether his council accomodation is adapted for special needs, or is only scheduled for single person occupancy. These are things you need to look into, but as far as marrying is concerned I don't know of any reason why you should encounter problems. Go for it, and good luck, be happy.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Willie-O
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 05:03 PM

Hmm. I married an American 19 years ago, and she immigrated to Canada. I did have to sign an undertaking to support her for ten years, but the threshold for income I had to demonstrate was ridiculously low ($5,000/yr, and I was raking in a cool nine grand.)

You wouldn't necessarily need a fiance-based immigration certificate. You could apply to immigrate on your own merits--if you are well-educated, have savings and ideally a job offer, you should be accepted. Even easier, if you had a parent or grandparent born in the UK and can provide the paper trail to prove it, they have to let you live there. It's called a certificate of patriation.

As far as dealing with immigration officers who might think it's a marriage of convenience, what they look for is if two people seem very oddly matched--significant age or cultural difference. In our case, we met at college, and that was about all I had to say.

Good luck and go for it.
Willie-O

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Amos
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 05:18 PM

You could do your immigration first, before selling everything.

Then come back and sell it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Morticia
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 06:29 PM

The issue may be that the emigrant is not allowed to obtain work until they are legally married to the resident but the 20 thou you are bringing with you should put their minds at ease,I would have thought....Allan and I are hip deep in all this stuff at the moment so if you want to join the Mudcat you could PM either one of us and we can pool our knowledge.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 10:09 PM

"if you had a parent or grandparent born in the UK" - or in Ireland for that matter, in which case you'd be entitled to an Irish passport, and could live and work anywhere in the European Union. There are probably similar rules for various other European countries.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 08:44 AM

Thanks, everyone. There are some websites devoted to this that I've been checking out. The main thing that has me worried is that he is on disability and that might prevent me from getting a visa since he can't support me. We'll just have to see how it works out.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 09:09 AM

Are you sure about the parent/grandparent thing for *American* citizens? I know it is true (or was, when I moved to Britain) for Canada and other Commonwealth nations but 23 years ago it was not the case for Americans. Things may have changed ...

sian

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: GUEST,Philip
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 12:29 PM

I was born in England and have dual citizanship in the US. My wife is American. We were together for 25 years before getting married last year. What are the laws/rules etc. regarding marrying an American, ie, is she qualified for a British passport, citizenship, etc.? Are their web sites than can answer these kinds of questions? Thanks. Phil

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: jacqui.c
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 12:38 PM

I married an American four years ago and had to go through all the hoops applying for residency in the USA. I think that you will find that in neither country does the fact that you are married automatically confer citizenship on your spouse.

As in the USA, the UK authorities want to know that the marriage is genuine, although I don't know how stringent the rules are - Kendall would never want to live permanently in the UK so that has been a moot point for us.

Both countries want to be sure that the immigrant will not become a drain on the public purse so the matter of being supported/supporting yourself is crucial.

You might find some information here

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 12:55 PM

The grandparent / parent clause applies only to those residents of the British Commonwealth. I believe.

My wife's a Scot ... no problem (at the time)immigrating here to Canada.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:49 PM

Consult an immigration lawyer. Some things you need to do correctly.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 03:21 PM

I don't know about the UK rules on this, but anyone with a parent or grandparent born in Ireland has the right to Irish citizenship.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: kendall
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 03:39 PM

I love the UK, but I could never leave Maine, not even for another state.
We had no trouble with immigration, of course she had to prove she could sing The Star Spangled Banner better than Robert Goulet did. Almost anyone could do that.
And I had to promise them that I would learn her wicked good English, and teach her to spell color, favor, and harbor.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 04:03 PM

Is that all of Ireland Kevin?
XG

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 04:33 PM

I'm pretty sure it does. Here is an official link explaining it in a fairly convoluted fashion.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:17 PM

Kendall, how about 'aluminum/aluminium'? Which one had to give way on that one?

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:19 PM

Which reminds me: the lovely Micca adheres to 'bazzel' rather than accepting the American pronunciation of 'bayzel'. Which one do you prefer, Jacqui?

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Micca
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 07:00 AM

I assure you Ebbie the cathedral in Red Square Moscow is Saint Baazels not Saint Bayzels!!!! aand Mr Fawlty as played by John Cleese was also Baazel!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: kendall
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:02 AM

In Maine the z is an s.

She still sticks an "F" in lieutenant.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: jacqui.c
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:46 AM

And I had to promise them that I would learn her wicked good English

My Aunt Fannie! I'M teaching him to speak the proper Queen's English - he's trying to teach me to speak some colonial dialect, supposedly American, but in Maine they don't have any R's in the language. It's a good thing that I had a grounding in interpreting Geordie and Cornish dialects - that has really stood me in good stead over here.

As for the spelling. I suppose they're just trying to make it easier for all the little Republicans out there to understand more than one syllable.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:46 AM

But how many As do you each put in haaabr?

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: kendall
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 09:31 AM

H'aabah

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 11:47 AM

I didn't know that Jacqui has an Aunt Fanny. Is she as big a pain in the ***?


I'll go down the cellar quietly now...

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Micca
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 01:04 PM

Sins, fanny is one of those words that has a different meaning on both sides of the Atlantic!!!! ask jacqui (discreetly) for the British useage!

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 04:18 PM

Useful link here

LFF

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Snuffy
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 12:19 PM

In Ireland, Fanny Power is a tune
In America, Fanny Power is a source of renewable energy
In England, Fanny Power is a militant feminist movement

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: GUEST,Philip
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:26 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice and web connections regarding my question on marrage. Also, thanks for the really funny comments on American verses English language.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Gurney
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:00 PM

Kendal, it's leftenant in the British Army, lootenant in the Royal Navy. I think it is leftenant in the RAF too.

Just to confuse Johnny Foreigner.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: kendall
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 09:26 PM

Who are you calling a foreigner? My ancestors entered England in 1066. They simply took a holiday in 1635 and so far, have not returned. We are very moderate in our actions.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 02:02 AM

So my gradfathe's parents came from Ireland, does that mean I can get an Irish passport too?
My Grandmother's parents came from Italy, can I get an Italian passport too?

Barry who wants to be a citizen of the world & hold multi-passports

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: Paul Burke
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 02:05 AM

Who are you calling a foreigner? My ancestors entered England in 1066.

That's a fair definition of a foreigner to a Saxon, who of course is himself a foreigner to a Welshman, who would have probably been a foreigner to those of the Ancient Lost Tribes who possessed all that secret wisdom.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: gnu
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 06:03 AM

Barry... seems to me my cousin investigated sommat about that regarding the Irish side an I was surprised by the results. I forget how many generations back it extends.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 08:16 AM

But will I ever be anything but "from away" in Maine?

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 08:52 AM

"But will I ever be anything but "from away" in Maine?"

NO

Had a friendwho moved to Wells Branch, Maine back in the early 70's to teach at a Montesorri style school setup by all the yuppies invading the Kennebunkport area and "going back to the land." Anyway......Barry and his wife Susan rented an old (like 140 years) farmhouse in Wells Branch from Rodney Wells, a descendant of the founders. Barry was a soft spoken guy with a sincere interest in people and old Rodney was an interesting person to him. Farming had been his life and Barry would stand outside and "talk" to him for hours with much of the conversation on Rodney's part being, "uha, yeh" and a shuffle of feet.

Barry noticed that occasionally Rodney would refer to the family in the next house down the road by saying, "new folks."   Barry finally asked how long the new folks had been there......Turns out it was almost 50 years.

You have a-ways to go.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 09:05 AM

Barry, I think it's three generations for Ireland - my mother could get one based on her grandmother, but I'm too late. On the other hand, my wife could get an Israeli passport, even though nobody from her family has lived there for a l o n g time. Additional requirements apply for both, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: kendall
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:29 PM

If this country gets much worse, I could move to Canada, maybe even England or Scotland.

Subject: RE: BS: American/British Marriage - Legal Advice
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:38 PM

Check in with gnu first, Captain.