[Konpaito]

Hello I'm a US GC holder living in state of tennessee. My boyfriend lives in the UK and we've been going out for about a year and half, almost.

I recieved my GC on the month of july, 2010. I have not traveled outside of US since then until October, 2011.
We've met several times. The first time was september last year in florida for about 3 weeks. And then on the month of October 24, I left for UK for a span of 6 months (174 days, to be exact).

Problem started when I came back on april 19th, 2011. The border control officer gave me a "warning" for "being out of the states for too long." I'm pretty sure thats illegal, because I did spent more than 50% of my time out of states and I stayed in UK for less than the allotted time. I filed a complaint on cbp.gov but that was 2 days ago and they haven't replied to me yet.

We were getting tired of trying to maintain a relationship through so many obstacles that we decided it'd be easiest for us to get married in US and file for a marriage visa for me to live in UK. The question is... how?

We thought it'd be best if we met up in florida like before. We plan on meeting this september and file for a certificate as well as marriage.

However, I have no clue what to do after that.. Do I have to file forms while I remain in US? Where would I file for it and how? How long will it take and what do i need? The cost? Will the border control stop me from leaving US because I have a "warning" on my file? What about my greencard; would I have to give it up or can I file some sort of form to keep it?


This matter has been stressing me out so much.. I feel kind of glad that I found this site and see so many other people making same choices as me and going through same problems.. LDR is a hard relationship to maintain and I feel so hopeless when every single law seems to be against us.. Please PLEASE help me! Thank you so much.

 

[mistbound4england]

If u search the threads you will find alot of helpful info. If you are getting married in tje states, then you would apply for a spousal visa from the USA. You do it online, i did mine 3 wks ago and the cost was 1,337.00USD. Basically what you need is a log of communication between the two of you from the start of your relationship up until now, call logs, chat logs, screenshots, emails, anything you have showing communication. Airplane tickets showing you have met eachother, hotel receipts if u have any. Pictures of the two of you together, 3-6 months worth of bank statements showing evidence of funds...they will be more interested in your UK sponsors bank acct, wages from working etc. , proof of where you will b staying in the UK, rent costs, utilities your sponsor may be paying, if you can get letters from any friends& family from both sides stating your relationship is genuine that would b good too. You both must also include a letter describing your relationship. an outline basically.

my brain is fried at this point but Im sure others will b aling to help lol

good luck

 

[AnAmericanInScotland]

I think you can legally wed in the USA, but then I think you may have to return to the country of your nationality to apply for the spouse visa.

A green card makes you a legal resident of the US, free to work, and after a period of time, apply for citizenship. But I don't think the green card status entitles you to apply for a settlement visa to any other country from the US.

What is your country of origin, and do you have family there to stay with while applying for the spouse visa if you can't do so from the US?

Welcome to the forum, and hang in there, there is a real wealth of knowledge here!

Meanwhile, start your search for information here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

 

[Crawford]

Hello I'm a US GC holder living in state of tennessee. My boyfriend lives in the UK and we've been going out for about a year and half, almost.

I recieved my GC on the month of july, 2010. I have not traveled outside of US since then until October, 2011.
We've met several times. The first time was september last year in florida for about 3 weeks. And then on the month of October 24, I left for UK for a span of 6 months (174 days, to be exact).

Problem started when I came back on april 19th, 2011. The border control officer gave me a "warning" for "being out of the states for too long." I'm pretty sure thats illegal, because I did spent more than 50% of my time out of states and I stayed in UK for less than the allotted time. I filed a complaint on cbp.gov but that was 2 days ago and they haven't replied to me yet.

We were getting tired of trying to maintain a relationship through so many obstacles that we decided it'd be easiest for us to get married in US and file for a marriage visa for me to live in UK. The question is... how?

We thought it'd be best if we met up in florida like before. We plan on meeting this september and file for a certificate as well as marriage.

However, I have no clue what to do after that.. Do I have to file forms while I remain in US? Where would I file for it and how? How long will it take and what do i need? The cost? Will the border control stop me from leaving US because I have a "warning" on my file? What about my greencard; would I have to give it up or can I file some sort of form to keep it?


This matter has been stressing me out so much.. I feel kind of glad that I found this site and see so many other people making same choices as me and going through same problems.. LDR is a hard relationship to maintain and I feel so hopeless when every single law seems to be against us.. Please PLEASE help me! Thank you so much.

You are a Green Card holder in the US. So what nationality/citizen of which country are you?

The Green Card is provided for people to live in the US.

If you spent nearly 6 months living in the UK then he Border Office was just warning you that since you had spent a long time out of the US, if you continued to do so then you could be in violation of your Green Card requirements.


He most certainly did nothing illegal, and you, by filing a complaint, have only drawn attention to the fact that you spent nearly 6 months out of the country while on a Green card.

You will lose your Green card status once you move to live in the UK.

 

[Joppa]

Hello I'm a US GC holder living in state of tennessee. My boyfriend lives in the UK and we've been going out for about a year and half, almost.

I recieved my GC on the month of july, 2010. I have not traveled outside of US since then until October, 2011.
We've met several times. The first time was september last year in florida for about 3 weeks. And then on the month of October 24, I left for UK for a span of 6 months (174 days, to be exact).

Problem started when I came back on april 19th, 2011. The border control officer gave me a "warning" for "being out of the states for too long." I'm pretty sure thats illegal, because I did spent more than 50% of my time out of states and I stayed in UK for less than the allotted time. I filed a complaint on cbp.gov but that was 2 days ago and they haven't replied to me yet.

Though not an expert on US immigration, I have heard similar stories before. The border agents do seem to pick up on those who stay away from US for an extended period - quite legally, of course - and warn them about possible consequences. Without re-entry permit you can stay away for a year, and 2 years with, but people have been picked up and questioned for as short as 6 months (which corresponds to your story). I think the USCIS is wary of people getting LPR status but then spend a lot of time out of US, calling into question your intention to make US your permanent home. You can be denied re-entry if they are convinced you have intended to abandon your LPR status even for an absence of less than a year.

We were getting tired of trying to maintain a relationship through so many obstacles that we decided it'd be easiest for us to get married in US and file for a marriage visa for me to live in UK. The question is... how?

We thought it'd be best if we met up in florida like before. We plan on meeting this september and file for a certificate as well as marriage.

However, I have no clue what to do after that.. Do I have to file forms while I remain in US? Where would I file for it and how? How long will it take and what do i need? The cost? Will the border control stop me from leaving US because I have a "warning" on my file? What about my greencard; would I have to give it up or can I file some sort of form to keep it?

As you are a legal resident in US, you can apply to the UKBA in NYC for your UK spouse visa, just like US citizens can. To keep your LPR (legal permanent resident) status, get a re-entry permit by filing form I-131. While holding the permit isn't a guarantee of hassle-free re-entry, it will make it easier. After 2 years away, you will lose your LPR status in any case. The only sure way of being able to return to US at any time is to wait until you are naturalised as US citizen.

 

[Bevdeforges]

If, on the other hand, you do intend on surrendering your Green Card when you move to the UK, be sure to notify the immigration authorities of your intentions and file a "sailing permit" with the IRS - to bring your tax obligations up to date and close out your file in the US.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Konpaito]

Thank you so much for all the helpful replies!

My nationality is korean, and my boyfriend's is scottish.

Marriage visa seems so costly.. I expected it to be much less.

Is form I-131 same as form I-327?

 

[Konpaito]

How long would it take me to recieve the visa once I file for it?
Is there any other way to prove our interaction aside from chatlogs? I never made a habit of keeping logs (msn/skype/etc) So I dont have any! Would letters from my friends be okay?

 

[Joppa]

Thank you so much for all the helpful replies!

My nationality is korean, and my boyfriend's is scottish.

Marriage visa seems so costly.. I expected it to be much less.

Is form I-131 same as form I-327?

I-327 is the re-entry permit, and I-131 is the form you complete to get your re-entry permit!
USCIS - I-131, Application for Travel Document
The fee is $360.

Visa fees are creeping up everywhere, not just UK. Australian visa for spouse is Aus$1995 or $2070, so more than UK settlement visa.

 

[mistbound4england]

letters from your friends are usually somethg you add to the list of wAys you have kept in touch. Do u ever hand write letters to eachother? You could use those. The border agency needs these things to prove its a genuine relationship because of all the sham marriages. Im afraid just letters from your friends will not suffice if you're planning on having a successful visa