I came to UK with my Scottish husband three years ago & it's been a huge mistake. Going home to Fla. is all I can think about. Been back for summer holidays with my kids, but never seemed to find my way home for good. What should I do next?
Should have thought this through.
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Sorry about your experience.
Before you make any plans to move back to US, think carefully about reasons why moving to Scotland was a mistake. Write on a sheet of paper all the pluses on the left hand side and all the minuses on the right. Do the same with Florida. Discuss thoroughly with your husband. Does he agree, and will he move with you to US if you so decide? Getting his US visa will be a major undertaking, requiring a lot of effort and time (8-10 months is average). Is there anyone you can turn to, and are you in touch with other expats or expat groups? If you'd like to share with us some of your concerns, we may be able to help.
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I'll second Joppa's suggestions. I spent 7 miserable years when I first got to France and married my French husband - mostly immigration and assimilation issues, but with a few health and personal issues thrown into the mix.
First you need to identify just exactly what it is you don't like about where you are. And then you need to take a long, hard, cold look at what you can expect if you return to the US after 3 years away. Nitty gritty stuff like: will your husband come with you? if he does, can he make a living or will you be dependent on your income? what are your job chances back in the States (in the current economy)?
If hubby won't go back with you, are you ready for the legal hassle of separation and divorce? How will this affect the kids?
Other than the kids, I've been through this decision process (over and over during that 7 year period of time) and ultimately I came to the conclusion that I could do something about my situation in France (and in my case it came down to the fact that my French husband would be far more miserable in the US than I was in France). But you have to consider your own situation and take into account everything you will gain vs. everything you'll be giving up to move back (on your own or en famille).
Let me just remind you that, being gone 3 years, you have no credit record, no insurance record (for car or health insurance) and looking for work you'll be seen as having a 3 year hole in your resume, even if you were working in the UK. I've been through this drill - having gone back to the US after only one year away on a job-sponsored transfer where I had the promise of a job on my return - even that didn't go smoothly.
Let us know if we can help in some way with the problems you're having. Just be very careful to be very realistic about what your options are.
Cheers,
Bev
First you need to identify just exactly what it is you don't like about where you are. And then you need to take a long, hard, cold look at what you can expect if you return to the US after 3 years away. Nitty gritty stuff like: will your husband come with you? if he does, can he make a living or will you be dependent on your income? what are your job chances back in the States (in the current economy)?
If hubby won't go back with you, are you ready for the legal hassle of separation and divorce? How will this affect the kids?
Other than the kids, I've been through this decision process (over and over during that 7 year period of time) and ultimately I came to the conclusion that I could do something about my situation in France (and in my case it came down to the fact that my French husband would be far more miserable in the US than I was in France). But you have to consider your own situation and take into account everything you will gain vs. everything you'll be giving up to move back (on your own or en famille).
Let me just remind you that, being gone 3 years, you have no credit record, no insurance record (for car or health insurance) and looking for work you'll be seen as having a 3 year hole in your resume, even if you were working in the UK. I've been through this drill - having gone back to the US after only one year away on a job-sponsored transfer where I had the promise of a job on my return - even that didn't go smoothly.
Let us know if we can help in some way with the problems you're having. Just be very careful to be very realistic about what your options are.
Cheers,
Bev
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