Girlfriend in the USA wants to emigrate to the UK?

Question

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could provide a little guidance on the best way for my girlfriend of two years to move here to the UK from the USA. We met for the first time last August and she spent five months living here with me from Jan-July on a six month visitor visa and now we're looking at her moving back for several years or so early next year. Unfortunately, our options seem to be getting smaller, we haven't spent enough time physically together for an unmarried partners VISA and our main hope, a Working Holidaymakers VISA seems to be for commonwealth citizens only. Could anyone who has been through anything similar suggest a path for us to go that doesn't involve specific work permits or waiting until we can get married?

Answer 1

just get her to go to the closest british embassy and ask there , they will be happy to help

Answer 2

Just say she's from Poland and they will roll out the red carpet.

Answer 3

Can't help, but, having just returned from glorious Oregon, I'm gobsmacked that she'd want to live in this dirty grey little country!!  

Answer 4

Marry her mate.

Answer 5

I have done tons of research on this since I am in the same situation as your girlfriend. You're right about the Working Holidaymakers visa - she doenst qualify for that as a US citizen, and the unmarried partners visa has a ton of stipulations including having lived together, as you said.  

There is something called a fiance visa, but it requires you to get married within a certain amount of time and wouldnt allow her to stay there any longer than a regular visitors visa.

If she is a student, or wants to become a student, that could be a possibility, but they are tightening the regulations on this as well because its been abused by so many.  I've included a link below for information about student visas.

So bottom line is her options are very limited and the reasonable options are the things you said you didnt want to do: work permits (which are very hard to get unless she has very esoteric work skills) or marriage.

Good luck to you both!