to think that alot of people don't realise...

[firstforthought]

that a non-British spouse/ partner has to pay for the privalige of being here?
This topic stems from my Mother telling me that she nearly had an arguement with someone who would not accept that my husband first had to pay 500 for a 2 YR spouse visa and secondly, when that expires, has to pay nearly 1000 for indefinite leave to remain.
As a side topic- if we didn't raise the 1000, will dh/ daddy/ employee/ valuable member of society be kicked of the UK no questions asked??

[OiYouThere]

And you have to pay all over again to become a citizen

[tyler80]

I wasn't sure on the commonwealth thing, most of the aussies I know over here have at least one British grandparent so don't have to bother with the visa thing at all.

[expatinscotland]

Well, if you don't like it, you don't like the rules here (and yes, I went through the whole process myself), you can leave.

If DH wanted to go to the US it would cost a king's ransom.

[OiYouThere]

True tyler, the ancestral visa is easier to get! Why, does anyone know, is the ancestral thing only carried through the male line? Very annoying!

[OiYouThere]

I dont want to leave, and I dont mind the rules. I am willing to live by them and abide by, just like I would in my own country. Thats not the issue. I would willingly walk through a burning house to enable me to be with my family.

My irritation arises when people who are ignorant about the process made judgements about us.

[TheBride]

I think anyone who hasn't been living under a rock their entire lives realises that you have to pay money to get a visa for every single country in the entire world. It's hardly shocking. They do have to pay people to process these visas. Who should pay, other than the direct beneficiary?

[ruddynorah]

My ex was an illegal immigrant. Was here for 10years. Got arrested for benefit fraud. His solicitor told him to seek asylum. Did that. Went to jail for the fraud, got 9 months, served 3 then 3 on a tag. On release he had to sign in at the police station every week.5 years later his case was finally closed and he was given indefinite leave to remain. He was Jamaican.

[OiYouThere]

Thebride - again, I do not mind paying. I would sell my body if that is what it took to raise the money (without breaking any laws that would invalidate my visa!) (and not that anyone would want this saggy old thing! )

[Morloth]

Shrug, if you want to live in a country other than your own you have to do follow whatever rules that country has to achieve this.

That's the way it goes in pretty much every country, certainly every country I have needed visas for I have had to pay.

The ancestral thing isn't carried only through the male line for Australians. DH had an ancestry visa for the UK based on his maternal grandmother being English.

[CurlyBoy]

I'm from the US and when I came over to marry my Yorkshire lass in 2002 I had to pay about $400 for my fiance visa which was good for 6 months. We had to get married in that 6 months and then I applied for temporary leave to remain for 1 year. That cost about £300. A year later I applied for permanent leave to remain for another £300. Last year I became a citizen because I wanted to vote and that cost me about £500.

I don't mind the fees so much, it's how inappropriately high they are. For example, when I got my US passport renewed a few years ago the fee was $75. I had to send it to the embassy in London so that fee included them posting it to the states and back then back to me. To get a new permanent leave to remain visa stamped in my new US passport the UK wanted £350!! Robbing bastards! They had to do no checks as I was already permanent, just stamp it again. I found that WAY out of line.

[firstforthought]

that is daylight robbery, curlyboy. these fees have only gone up recently but they were still expensive before.
we don't mind paying either but a price that is reasonable would be fair.

[startail]

My Canadian friend decided it was cheaper to become a British citizen than keep renewing her visa. She also says it makes customs much simpler because as a mon EU passport holder she had to join a different queue to her British DH and DCs and they were guaranteed not to go at the same speed.

[garlicbutter]

No, I didn't know that.
OiYou, is the ancestral thing only carried through the male line? Outrageous!!

[karmakameleon]

To get a new permanent leave to remain visa stamped in my new US passport the UK wanted £350!!

[karmakameleon]

OiYou, think the rules are changed now and the ancestral rights can be carried through the male or female line.

[ohnoudidnt]

I didnt know that but do agree with it.

[firstforthought]

startail - we had that problem once, spoke to Immigration official about it - she told me of course your husband can join you in the British queue and we can check him here!

[firstforthought]

Karmakameleon - Thankyou! We just spoke about DH having to renew passport and the fee to transfer visas!!

[firstforthought]

and it is absolutely outrageous that they take the 350 without telling you it is not necessary to transfer the visas, just keep the old passport!

[TheMonster]

I don't think the costs are that bad. We're not talking tens of thousands of pounds, are we?

[karmakameleon]

No problem firstforthough! Glad to help!

BodyOfEeyore, we are talking a lot of money though. firstfor's DH would have to pay £1500 for his visas and nearly paid another £350 to have a stamp transferred between passports. £1850 is a lot of money to most people.

[whiteglovetest]

I didnt have granparents ancestry, I came over on a work permit originally.

[expatinscotland]

shitmagnet, they didn't used to charge but a small fee. They brought fees in in about 2002 or so, IIRC.

I know one person who was eligible for nationality back in 2003. But she kept procrastinating. She wound up paying nearly £800 in 2007.

DH renewed his passport in 2009. It was £81 with photos.