My Life So Far

[brinapost]

Well, everything has been good since I landed.  The flight over was long, but I was able to get about 3 hours of sleep on the plane.  I had a connection in Dublin. 

I finally got everything unpacked and now trying to sort everything out for the wedding in July.  There are a lot of things that in done differently in England than in the US.  For one, the bride is supposed to show up late to her wedding.  In America, it is normal for the bride and groom to be at the venue ahead of time, getting ready, with the bride being hidden away.  Another is that the ladies in waiting follow the bride.  We are going with the American tradition and having them walk down before me.  Another American tradition we are going with is having Chris and I show up last at the reception and having us announced.  I believer here, it is typical that the bride and groom great their guests. 

I love everyone here, but as normal, lol, things keep getting added.  We are now having a formal dinner before the reception, and our list of people have ballooned from 25 to 52.  lol.. oh well... 

I am now dealing with an awful cold, I guess from the stress of moving.  I have an interview today for an Assistant Manager position. 

I do have a question if anyone can help me.  Once I am married and change my status, I have to apply for a National Insurance Number.  Does anyone know how long that takes to get?  I get married on the 12 July and am giving myself about a week to get my status change and my number.  Is that enouh time?

Anyway.  That is all that has been going on with me.    I am happy.

[cheryls]

Glad things are going well for you. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. It's YOUR wedding after all.

As for the NI#.....Things have changed in the last 4.5 yrs that I have been here but what I had to do was call the local job centre who booked an appt for me with NI. That took about 2 wks but it depends on your area and how backed up they are at the time. Once there I had to show all my paperwork. Passport, copy of marriage certificate, proof of address etc. They had to photocopy everything and give it all back to me. Then I left and my card came in the post about 4 wks later.  When I say things have changed I mean at that time one could work on a temp NI number and then be taxed at the highest rate but now I don't think you can do that. I am sure someone else will chime in on the subject.

Best wishes and good luck.

[Lotus Freak]

I'm old school as well when it comes to getting and NI number. I worked whilst being on a temporary one then got it amended when I received my official card. You do get taxed more but you will get it back once you have your tax number in place.

there's a wedding tradition thread floating around here, you could get some ideas for your wedding if you need it. Feel free to start a new one if you wish or ask any other questions.

[Jewel]

Your life so far sounds very exciting, and I have a question for you before trying to add more to your NI number answers.

You said you entered through Dublin.  I take it you changed planes there and then landed somewhere in the UK?  Did your passport get stamped when you entered the UK from Dublin?  If you were stamped, no problem.  If you weren't, let me know, because you'll have to do something about that...

You won't be able to get an NI number until you are searching for work or have been hired for a job.  I believe when you call your local JobCentre to make an appointment, they'll ask you about that.  If you're searching for work, you'll need to prove that by showing letters of application or copies of job applications.  If you've already found a job, HR at your new employer SHOULD be somewhat helpful in pointing you in the right direction, but even if they aren't, that is definitely the time to apply for a number.  As has been mentioned, they used to do temporary numbers, but they don't anymore, but you can still work and get paid without it. 

For me personally, I worked (and got paid weekly) for at least a month before the number was issued and I could pass it on to my employer.  However it was that they were taxing me (emergency rate as has been mentioned) was fixed by Inland Revenue sending me a refund (and they let me know, I didn't have to chase them), but most usually I believe the employer will give you back whatever has been overtaxed in your next paycheck.  Don't quote me on that, I'm not an expert, but that's my understanding.

The important thing is, you can look for employment without an NI number, although some employers may give you a difficult time when they realise you don't have one.  In your job applications, you will need to make your status clear anyway and that you will shortly be getting a number.  If it were me doing it all over again, I guess I'd apply for at least one job and then make an appointment at the JobCentre to get things going...it does take about a month to get your number in the post...but at least if you get called for an interview you can let them know that your number is in process.

A week will be enough time to get your spouse visa IF you plan to go in person - you'd have it the same day, but you'd pay an extra £200 to get that done.  If you do it by post, it may take a month - about the same time it takes to get that NI number!

Hope none of that was confusing!

[Molly Mockford]

For one, the bride is supposed to show up late to her wedding.

Well, not late in that everybody is left wondering where she is!  She enters last, once everybody else (including the groom) is in place.

Another American tradition we are going with is having Chris and I show up last at the reception and having us announced.  I believer here, it is typical that the bride and groom great their guests.

Whatever you want is what is best for you - but do make sure that your guests understand what you are doing at the reception.  Otherwise they are likely to be bewildered, and possibly even a wee bit hurt, that you are not there to greet them, and thank them for their presents, as they arrive at the reception.  If you can organise a couple of family members to stand by the door and do the formal greetings, and explain to the guests that the format is different to what they may have expected, that would preclude any problems!

The main purpose of this forum is to increase cross-cultural understanding - and the key to that is communication.  So make very sure that you have communicated clearly to your guests anything which would otherwise come as a surprise to them.  After all, you want them to have a good time!

[Pahakissa]

Like Jewel said if you did not get your passport stamped when you entered London you will need to find out a way to get the stamp.  This is how they track you and it could cause problems when it comes to obtaining your FLR(M) as you will not have a stamp showing you entered the country.  Jewel can probably assist you with how to get the stamp. 

Once you start looking for work you can make an appointment for your NIN.  If they say you cannot have one till you have a job do not worry.  Once you have a job you can apply.  It just means you will be taxed at a higher rate till you obtain your NIN and then Inland Revenue will refund the difference. 

All the best with your wedding. 

[Jewel]

Like Jewel said if you did not get your passport stamped when you entered London you will need to find out a way to get the stamp.  This is how they track you and it could cause problems when it comes to obtaining your FLR(M) as you will not have a stamp showing you entered the country.  Jewel can probably assist you with how to get the stamp. 

Not sure how helpful I can be...I have heard of people taking a day trip by ferry from Dover to Calais and then getting stamped in when they come back into the UK...that would activate the visa.

Just make sure you've kept your boarding passes and you may have to contact the airline itself or the airport you flew in to.  I can check on this if you'd like, because I'm not sure, but I do know that with your boarding passes you do have proof of when you entered the UK.  Check into this soon though - do not put it off until after the wedding!  If you go to Calais on a fiance visa AFTER the wedding, you are then coming back into the UK illegally because you're no longer a fiance!!  And of course you can't convert to FLR(M) (a spousal visa) until you've got this sorted.  Just a little more pressure before your big day!!

[brinapost]

Hey Jewel, I hope you can help me.  Here is what happened.  When I came through Dublin, an officer stamped my book and told me to see someone in the Heathrow Airport once I got there.  When I got there, I went to securit about it and they told me that I was fine, since I had my Visa.  They said as long as I had that and it got stamped in Dublin, that I am fine.  So, now I am confused.  I am thinking about contacting the home office to verify this, and see what I need to do.  If you have any advice, that would be great. 

[Jewel]

I will try to find out who you should contact.  The person who stamped you in Dublin is right - someone at Heathrow should've stamped you in.  Yes, you have a valid visa to enter the UK, but so far, officially, you've entered the Republic of Ireland (your stamp in Dublin), which is not a part of the UK!!

My initial instinct is that you should contact immigration at Heathrow - not sure how you do that - do an google search for it would be a good place to start - and I shall see what further I can learn today...

[Jewel]

OK, I got all kinds of information today, and I hope I can express it all here without confusing you and me!

First, there are Common Travel Areas in this part of the world - they include the UK, ROI and a couple of other places that I can never remember.  This means if you enter the UK from one of them - like the ROI - you don't need to show your passport upon entering the UK (or get it stamped).  It causes problems for people entering the UK for the FIRST time on any visa that leads to settlement.  It's my understanding that the CTA is going to be done away with in the next couple of years, partially because, even though it's up to the person entering to know the rules, SO many people get tripped up on this one, and it would be simpler to just stamp them into the UK when they enter!

Brinapost, you have two problems.  The first is to prove to the registrar's office when you give notice of marriage that you have been in the country for whatever the waiting period is that makes you 'resident' here - the number of days may vary from area to area, so you'll want to contact your local registrar's office to find that out.  If you don't have that stamp into the UK in your visa, you'll have a problem proving residency. 

The second may be with applying for your FLR (spouse) visa as well, but the different people I've got advice from were more concerned about your ILR (settlement) visa a couple of years down the line.  That asks you to prove how many days you've been in the UK, and again, without that entry stamp, you've got a problem proving it.

Basically, you've got 3 options, with hopefully one of them being convenient for you!

1.  If you live anywhere near a port on the eastern side of the country, take a quick ferry ride to France. (I've heard of people going on foot from Dover to Calais for £24 return.)  Some people even get cheap flights to Amsterdam or Spain and go there and come right back!!  lol.   Anything to get that stamp!

2.  This option may work well if you've got some time before you need to give notice of your wedding.  Write a letter to your regional BIA office (I can give you an idea of where if I know whereabouts you live) addressed to the Group Leader of Borders.  Send by Recorded Mail or Special Delivery your passport and boarding passes explaining the situation.  They SHOULD stamp it and get it back to you, and then you're covered.

3.  Write a 'To Whom it May Concern' letter explaining the situation and take that with you, along with your boarding passes and passport when you go to give notice of marriage.  Apparently, a number of registrars have been known to accept that as proof of when you entered the country.  If they don't, you can ask them to call the Home Office at xxxx xxx xxxx (number available on request)  to explain the situation and the person at this number SHOULD be able to validate it for the registrar.  Even though I'm posting this number on a public forum and got it from an advisor on another public forum, this number is NOT for general, public use!  Now, once you're married and ready to apply for your spouse visa, you'll want to provide the above mentioned letter, your passport and your boarding passes when you go to apply for FLR(M).  When they process the visa, they SHOULD 'backstamp' your passport to the date you entered the country.

Well, all of that sounds complicated, and there are quite a few 'SHOULDS' in this post - that's because no one ever seems to be able to say for sure just what the Home Office will do in any given situation!  But any or all of the options SHOULD work!!!  The reason I say this is because it seems that it happens quite often, people entering from Dublin because there are cheap flights (from the US especially) and good connections to the UK.  And the fact taht you have your boarding passes and the stamp from Dublin makes it obvious that you DID enter the country even if you don't have the stamp...It's just that you really want to and need to cross the t's and dot the i's... 

I hope this hasn't been too long or confusing.  Do let us know if you have other questions, what you decide to do and how it all works out!

[Molly Mockford]

Jewel, remember that most of the forum can be read by anyone at all, not just those who register - so if you don't want that phone number to be public knowledge, it might be best to edit it out of your post, and offer to PM it to anybody who needs it.  Just in case!

[Jewel]

Jewel, remember that most of the forum can be read by anyone at all, not just those who register - so if you don't want that phone number to be public knowledge, it might be best to edit it out of your post, and offer to PM it to anybody who needs it.  Just in case!

Good idea!  Done.

[steveg]

Ummmmmm  Don't mind me, maybe I'm being thick or something  (not an unusual event I can assure you) but I fail to see what the problem was/is with posting the number for the Home Office??  Now if Julie had posted her home number or any other private number then I agree wholeheartedly - but a public number for a government enquiry line?

I only ask because i don't understand and would be grateful for some insight

Cheers

Steve

[Jewel]

I'm not sure what a member of the public would get if they called the number.

The person who gave it to me was someone who was in the same situation as brinapost.  She called the HO (on what number I don't know) and was told that if the registrar had a problem with the evidence presented, the registrar should call that number...that it wasn't for the use of the general public...  Yet the person at the HO was actually giving the number to a member of the public!   

Really, none of the information I've given to brinapost is OFFICIAL information...there just doesn't seem to be anything set in stone for what to do in this situation, except that famous one of what you shoulda done before you ever set foot out the door to move to a new country!  I didn't add a disclaimer to that post, and I maybe should have by saying this:

None of the information I gave in my previous post is OFFICIAL information...it is what has worked for others, including someone who is an actual advisor to people in these types of situations...and these are the things that have worked.  Probably any or all of them have worked because the person is legally in the country and the HO recognizes that - but that's just a guess on my part!

[brinapost]

Thank you all for all the info.  Heres the update:

We called Home Office and Customs.  Home Office said that as long as I still had my boarding pass, it proves how long I have been in the country.  Because I had it stamped in Dublin, I didn't need it stamped here.  So, I guess I am ok, since that is coming stright from the Home Office.  So I am all good to go. 

Thanks for all the info and numbers that have been given.  They came in handy.  You guy rock!!