Rizzle Move Stage 2: Get Refused
Okay so that was very unexpected, not part of the planned stages. Rachel was refused a UK Visa because I have too many expenses, and I'm "constantly overdrawn".
Naturally we are appealing the decision since I have very few expenses, and though I was overdrawn (natural part of being a student) I am no longer overdrawn. So we're sending them a picture (a graph!) of my bank balance which is a steep upwards line to make it easier reading for them.
Though if the appeal is unsuccessful we can just make a new application, but unfortunately the Home Office has just made some changes which will mean we'd have to wait another six months before we could make a new application.
If the appeal is unsuccessful (and I don't know what the probability of this is, or indeed what the timescales are) then next time I'd fly to New York and visit them along with Rachel to get a Visa. At least then it wouldn't involve too much waiting around for the postal system. And a flight to New York seems quite reasonable in terms of price.
It's put all of our plans on hold really, until Rachel has the Visa we can't really do any more planning for the wedding. Or buy Rachel an air-ticket.
Kindly people are happy to make suggestions, here are two:
1. Why doesn't Rachel just come here and marry you and sort out the paperwork afterward?
2. Why don't you just marry Rachel in the USA and stay there for two years?
Well for number one, it just doesn't work that way. They don't want people to do that. You can't give notice to marry unless we can show Rachel has the correct Visa. They don't want to let people in that might get refused a Visa at a later stage because then you might not be able to get rid of them! As for number two, USA don't just let people in either. I'd have to apply for the correct Visas to stay in the United States of America for two years.
I guess the message is "watch this space" the appeal is likely to take 1-2 months before we really have a result we can use.
Naturally we are appealing the decision since I have very few expenses, and though I was overdrawn (natural part of being a student) I am no longer overdrawn. So we're sending them a picture (a graph!) of my bank balance which is a steep upwards line to make it easier reading for them.
Though if the appeal is unsuccessful we can just make a new application, but unfortunately the Home Office has just made some changes which will mean we'd have to wait another six months before we could make a new application.
If the appeal is unsuccessful (and I don't know what the probability of this is, or indeed what the timescales are) then next time I'd fly to New York and visit them along with Rachel to get a Visa. At least then it wouldn't involve too much waiting around for the postal system. And a flight to New York seems quite reasonable in terms of price.
It's put all of our plans on hold really, until Rachel has the Visa we can't really do any more planning for the wedding. Or buy Rachel an air-ticket.
Kindly people are happy to make suggestions, here are two:
1. Why doesn't Rachel just come here and marry you and sort out the paperwork afterward?
2. Why don't you just marry Rachel in the USA and stay there for two years?
Well for number one, it just doesn't work that way. They don't want people to do that. You can't give notice to marry unless we can show Rachel has the correct Visa. They don't want to let people in that might get refused a Visa at a later stage because then you might not be able to get rid of them! As for number two, USA don't just let people in either. I'd have to apply for the correct Visas to stay in the United States of America for two years.
I guess the message is "watch this space" the appeal is likely to take 1-2 months before we really have a result we can use.