Here we go again... Thinking of moving home

the_candyman · 21 Aug 2017 at 11:49

Hi All,
Long time reader, not so much in the posting world.
If anyone recalls a long time ago, I posted on here about moving to NZ for a better life with family and never ending beach parties. Yey!

Well that was almost 6 years ago... Wow time flies by.

Long story short, I have a wife (married for 2) who is a NZ Citizen and we are looking to move to England. Reason is that my family in the UK are getting old and we would really love to spend some time with them before time catches up with them. Also the lifestyle here isn't working much for us where the British way does. However I am unsure how to approach the whole moving back to the UK.

I am a UK citizen which means I can walk back in like nothing happened but the wife isn't.

I have had a number of hours breaking Google on how to get the wife in the right way (not in the suitcase). Have anyone on here done this sort of thing? Or know of someone who has?

The sites I've visited have basically said I need to be in the country with a stable job before I can bring the wife in. Is that really the case?
On the other hand, they are also asking that we have 18,600 pounds in the bank to support us for up to 6 months. That's around $37,000 which is a heck of a lot of money for us to hold/save.

I know most of you will say stay away from the UK as it's in the pan or that NZ is super awesome and you should stay. I am just curious and keeping my options open.

TBH if its too hard to jump the hoops, I may just finance the family on holiday here as at this point, that is way cheaper.

Hope this makes sense... bit tired from all the reading.

Any thoughts from this awesome forum would help me greatly.

Cheers,
Ben

tlrBeta · 21 Aug 2017 at 11:57

Do you want the official line or the google line?

If it's official - maybe start by phoning your local UK embassy to understand "true" requirements?

android-fan · 21 Aug 2017 at 12:17

You need to be able to demonstrate you'll be able to support your wife. The requirements are £18,600, which needs to be shown by 6 months wage slips. Do you have children? The financial requirement is higher, think another 2.5k per child.

If you can't meet the financial requirement via employment, then savings can be taken into account, but at 18,600 * 2.5 (basically 2.5 years savings, as you need to apply again after 2.5 years).

Tosno · 21 Aug 2017 at 12:35

I been though it all... The bright side is that your wife doesn't have to do an English test or have an expensive TB test at an approved clinic, so you have it on easier mode than we did. You will have to pay the British government in American dollars for the £1400~ spouse visa application (expect to pay twice if not perfect first time, they will trip you up for any minor mistake) plus a NHS surcharge £500, you will have to earn at least £18,600 (best do it before you have any kids to bring over or it will be £22,600) or have a healthy bank balance.

Hack: If you got any other EU passport than British, none of the rules apply to you and you can bring her in for free (For example someone from Romania can move their NZ Wife to Britain for the price of a plane ticket)... Welcome back to Shutter Island.

Rifte · 21 Aug 2017 at 13:42

Tosno said:
I been though it all... The bright side is that your wife doesn't have to do an English test or have an expensive TB test at an approved clinic, so you have it on easier mode than we did. You will have to pay the British government in American dollars for the £1400~ spouse visa application (expect to pay twice if not perfect first time, they will trip you up for any minor mistake) plus a NHS surcharge £500, you will have to earn at least £18,600 (best do it before you have any kids to bring over or it will be £22,600) or have a healthy bank balance.

Hack: If you got any other EU passport than British, none of the rules apply to you and you can bring her in for free (For example someone from Romania can move their NZ Wife to Britain for the price of a plane ticket)... Welcome back to Shutter Island.

One of my businesses is in immigration and I went through all of this as well with my wife (who is an Indian national by birth).

You will need the combined income requirement if you put her on a spouse visa whilst in NZ. So that means you have to get a job before you come over.

Or alternatively

If she has a NZ passport she doesn't need a visa (they are part of the waiver scheme) to enter the UK as a visitor . Make sure you get a job before the 6 months are out with the salary requirements and apply for a spouse visa whilst in the UK. This means you don't have to get a job before you come over.

The moment you apply for the spouse visa your wife's right to stay in the UK on the visitor visa will go on indefinite hold till they make a decision, which as long as you get a job should be straight forward.

5 years later....apply for her citizenship.