A desperate plea for help

Ben Mothafuckin' Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:There are people from outside the UK who marry Brits just so they can get citizenship though, so you can blame them for the tough laws.

You know Raggs, I don't mind a very thorough background check. I don't even mind footing the bill for the UK to do it. I would let them see messages Edds and I sent to each other, photos taken of us. I would be fine with them interviewing people she and I know.

I would give them the names of places we went to and dates we were there, so they could call up employees and ask if they remembered us (women with British accents and bright red hair tend to stand out in Texas; Texans with huge beards tend to stick out in England). I want this to happen to the point that I would let perfect strangers rifle through our life if it meant we could be together.

I would claim no benefits (nor have any right to them until I attained full naturalization, which I might not even do -- my first goal would be to establish permanent legal residence so that I could work); I'd get a job or start a small business. I'd be contributing to the UK economy. My presence in the country would prompt friends and family to come and visit; they'd be contributing to the UK economy while they were here.

This rule makes absolutely no sense. Even if I couldn't get a job right away, Edds brings in enough money that I would be absolutely no drain on the British taxpayers -- I wouldn't need, or accept, one single 10p coin in assistance.

The only reason this law is in place is to keep people from coming to the UK, and since you can't keep EU people from coming, you punish people like me and the people they love.

Original Quill wrote:That's what every country wants from immigrants: money and/or capacity (to earn).

Syl wrote:Hiya, just managed to log in to answer thisl 

I cant add anything practical to whatever else has been said, but I do know that when you want something badly enough, and when you both have the same desire to make your lives together, love will conquer all, and they do say, 'the course of true love never runs smooth'.
There will be a way ....and you will find it. xxx

Syl wrote:Hiya, just managed to log in to answer thisl 

I cant add anything practical to whatever else has been said, but I do know that when you want something badly enough, and when you both have the same desire to make your lives together, love will conquer all, and they do say, 'the course of true love never runs smooth'.
There will be a way ....and you will find it. xxx

eddie wrote:Well I’ve just spoken to a visa/immigration expert.

I have to earn 18k a year, which I don’t, or we have to show that we have savings of 44k between us, which we don’t.

So, in a nutshell, we are screwed.

He can “visit” for six months but he cannot look for work whilst he’s here.

So that’s that.

HoratioTarr wrote:

eddie wrote:Well I’ve just spoken to a visa/immigration expert.

I have to earn 18k a year, which I don’t, or we have to show that we have savings of 44k between us, which we don’t.

So, in a nutshell, we are screwed.

He can “visit” for six months but he cannot look for work whilst he’s here.

So that’s that.

Six months is better than nothing.    Shame you can't go over there for the remaining six months of the year.  That way at least you can prove you've been living together!

eddie wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

Six months is better than nothing.    Shame you can't go over there for the remaining six months of the year.  That way at least you can prove you've been living together!

He has a job? People can’t just leave their jobs for six months.
We don’t have to prove we’ve been living together. The UK government is only interested in seeing money in our bank accounts.  

It’s all about the money.  

eddie wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

Six months is better than nothing.    Shame you can't go over there for the remaining six months of the year.  That way at least you can prove you've been living together!

He has a job? People can’t just leave their jobs for six months.
We don’t have to prove we’ve been living together. The UK government is only interested in seeing money in our bank accounts.  

It’s all about the money.  

eddie wrote:

Original Quill wrote:That's what every country wants from immigrants: money and/or capacity (to earn).

I don’t mind that but the price is high.
The average single parent earns nowhere near 18k a year as they work school hours around their children, as I do.
It’s not as though I’m sitting here claiming bloody benefits!

eddie wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

Six months is better than nothing.    Shame you can't go over there for the remaining six months of the year.  That way at least you can prove you've been living together!

He has a job? People can’t just leave their jobs for six months.
We don’t have to prove we’ve been living together. The UK government is only interested in seeing money in our bank accounts.  

It’s all about the money.  

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Get married, anyways...

Then get spousal visas for each others countries;  and keep renewing them for the next five years or so..

Ben should try and get a "foreign correspondent" job with the same organisation he currently works for --  that should give him good reason to be moving around while still working.