Need quick advice for UK job offer

[Sculler]

My fiance currently has her interview scheduled for 3 October in Moscow for her US K-1 visa. I was just offered a one year job in the UK. After waiting 6 months for my package to get approved, I am hesitant to move to the UK if it will delay us getting together. I'm sure she can get a visa to the UK since she got one in June for us to visit a friend of hers and another friend of hers is living in London on a student visa. It sounds like getting a student visa in the UK is fairly easy so she could join me in the UK and she could work on studying for the TOEFL exam which she needs to pass before starting her veterinary certification process in the US. If she gets her K-1 in October, my understanding is that it is only good for 6 months, or maybe a year, but that is not long enough before I return to the US. If she joins me in the UK, what would be the process for getting another visa? File with the Embassy in London? How long would that take? I have to make a decision in the next few days whether to accept the job or not. Since we are so far in the K-1 process, should I just let it continue, stay here and wait for her to join me in October/November? Financially, I could go either way. The UK job is more money (double current pay), but temporary. My job here is less money, but better long-term (possibly).

[BC]

Double pay is great, but what does it cost to live there..  today I just paid 115 bucks for 15 gallons of gas and the price just went down.  In UK the price is even higher..

One dollar is worth about .56 GBP.. and the buying power is probably the same..

You might be getting screwed.

[msmoby_ru]

Double pay is great, but what does it cost to live there..  today I just paid 115 bucks for 15 gallons of gas and the price just went down.  In UK the price is even higher..

One dollar is worth about .56 GBP.. and the buying power is probably the same..

You might be getting screwed.

Hi Sculler

1/ London is the most expensive place to live in the UK - ppl transferred there get a London "weighting alowance" as the cost of buyong / renting is SO much more..... So bear that in mind !  The UK is about to enter recession - as when the US catches a cold - we get influenza

2/ If you are in London, you shouldn't worry too much about the cost of petrol ( gas) - I'd never drive in London, and just hire a car if you want to go away for the weekend   :Petrol is about $10 a gallon :-o

3/ The UK are just a s tight as the US re Visas..  if your lady is young, not a property owner, and a "risk" that she might overstay - then it would almost certainly be a NO ...BUT having had one visitor Visa is helps... The UK is REALLY tightening down on Visitor visas and the proposal is that the six months multiple entry Visitor Visa will be reduced to the duration of the holiday ( vacation) and a deposit of £1000 ( $1900) will be required of the guarantor...

As you will be wanting her to STAY you'll need a Fiancee Visa, and for this to be successful you need to demonstrate "good prospects" for a viable relationship - they look at how often you've met, you salary, where you'll live, etc. It all sounds daunting - but if successful, this would really help your US application, too ...

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/chapter13/#point%20two

4/ the TOFL equiv in the UK is ESOL http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/ImprovingYourSkills/DG_10037499

Good luck - whatever you decide - and ASK - if you are in doubt

[kievstar]

Is your company paying double taxation the USA has?  If single, foreign tax credt covers first 80,000.  After that you can get screwed.  If married, goes up to $160,000.  You also pay some other taxes plus what is in UK.

Are you ready for the culture of England.  I work there a lot and it is different than USA.  Your future wife will have to adjust to England than USA???

[Sculler]

Thanks to all for the input, but like I said, money isn't a major factor. In addition to my base salary, I receive tax-free allowances for food, housing and cost of living differences to account for the higher UK prices. Also, I will be out in Cornwall, so hopefully housing will be much less expensive than London. I decided to take job and am now trying to plan a strategy for us to be together while I am there. I have some other questions I'll post in another thread.

1x

[msmoby_ru]

Thanks to all for the input, but like I said, money isn't a major factor. In addition to my base salary, I receive tax-free allowances for food, housing and cost of living differences to account for the higher UK prices. Also, I will be out in Cornwall, so hopefully housing will be much less expensive than London. I decided to take job and am now trying to plan a strategy for us to be together while I am there. I have some other questions I'll post in another thread.

1x

Wow, CORNWALL!! - that's as far from London as you can get  - save for N.Ireland and Scotland... A truly beautiful part of the country - if not a little "damp," often

Good luck over here and if you need help - please ask