I've avoiding blogging about the process of acquiring our dependent visas for the UK because I imagine it would be as stressful and tedious to read as it is to endure...
First and foremost, I was super annoyed that Hubby spent all of his time designating “foster homes” for his Star Wars toys and thirty-year-old Legos instead of submitting the paperwork for our dependent visas. Which, by the way, was something we were supposed to have done before we booked our flights to London… Oops!
I mean, really… wasn’t it enough for me to get us packed, get the house on the market, and get our affairs in order? Dealing with the paperwork to get us over there was basically his ONLY task!
But, as I am constantly reminded, "There's nothing you can do about that now. You just need to deal with it..." (Umm, still mad. grrr...)
With Hubby's work visa having been secured by his office, I figured, my son and I could simply go over (undetected) as tourist and apply for our dependent visas once we go there... WRONG!
Earlier this week, I received a personal call from the BRITISH EMBASSY…
…and no, it was NOT as high-profile and important as it sounds.
Hubby had contacted the embassy on our behalf and a representative was merely calling to follow up. She was very polite, and more importantly… helpful.
She also assured me that my "little plan" was (insert prim British accent here) “absolutely not allowed. No, no, no. That is… FORBIDDEN”.
Apparently, a few months ago there was a policy change in which foreigners are not allowed to enter into the UK unless they have a guaranteed return ticket OUT of the UK. I imagine holding cells and all the glamour of being DEPORTED....
Well then. I suppose I’ll just go ahead and rebook our flights now...
Okay, so the process isn't actually not THAT terrible. There are actually some useful websites which I was already using, so at least I was on the right track...
The hard part is handing over all of our original -- not photocopies and not even certified photocopies, but our ORIGINAL birth certificates, marriage license, and passports to a faceless entity with little to no reassurance of their timely return (if at all...)
I also have to provide three months worth of bank statements, which I assume is meant to prove we're not paupers coming to mooch their national health care or some such.
Once it's all sent, I wait-- wondering if I dotted all of the Is and crossed all of the Ts and hoping that we get approved.
Until that happens, my son and I will continue to live with my parents, to their utter joy and satisfaction...
INDEFINITELY.
Boo.
First and foremost, I was super annoyed that Hubby spent all of his time designating “foster homes” for his Star Wars toys and thirty-year-old Legos instead of submitting the paperwork for our dependent visas. Which, by the way, was something we were supposed to have done before we booked our flights to London… Oops!
I mean, really… wasn’t it enough for me to get us packed, get the house on the market, and get our affairs in order? Dealing with the paperwork to get us over there was basically his ONLY task!
But, as I am constantly reminded, "There's nothing you can do about that now. You just need to deal with it..." (Umm, still mad. grrr...)
With Hubby's work visa having been secured by his office, I figured, my son and I could simply go over (undetected) as tourist and apply for our dependent visas once we go there... WRONG!
Earlier this week, I received a personal call from the BRITISH EMBASSY…
…and no, it was NOT as high-profile and important as it sounds.
Hubby had contacted the embassy on our behalf and a representative was merely calling to follow up. She was very polite, and more importantly… helpful.
She also assured me that my "little plan" was (insert prim British accent here) “absolutely not allowed. No, no, no. That is… FORBIDDEN”.
Apparently, a few months ago there was a policy change in which foreigners are not allowed to enter into the UK unless they have a guaranteed return ticket OUT of the UK. I imagine holding cells and all the glamour of being DEPORTED....
Well then. I suppose I’ll just go ahead and rebook our flights now...
Okay, so the process isn't actually not THAT terrible. There are actually some useful websites which I was already using, so at least I was on the right track...
The hard part is handing over all of our original -- not photocopies and not even certified photocopies, but our ORIGINAL birth certificates, marriage license, and passports to a faceless entity with little to no reassurance of their timely return (if at all...)
I also have to provide three months worth of bank statements, which I assume is meant to prove we're not paupers coming to mooch their national health care or some such.
Once it's all sent, I wait-- wondering if I dotted all of the Is and crossed all of the Ts and hoping that we get approved.
Until that happens, my son and I will continue to live with my parents, to their utter joy and satisfaction...
INDEFINITELY.
Boo.
4 comments:
Oh my that sounds exactly like something my husband would do too. Grrr is right. Sounds like you're getting things taken care of but I think there needs to be some sort of compensation from the hubs to you for the royal screw up. I'm thinking jewelery. Feel free to mention the internet says shiny, sparkly and expensive.
Ruh roh. Oh, sweetie. Now we can go out and have some margaritas. You keep us posted.
Wow. So much to think about. Imagaine how hard it would be without the internet to research. While I am sure you are anxious to get over there, I bet the time will fly by.
Feeling your pain as I did all of this when I moved to the U.S. from Australia. Ugh. They make you jump through hoops.
I always feel very nervous handing over the originals of personal documents. I just recently had to renew my sons Australian passport and they required both of our original documents of EVERYTHING. Thankfully all was returned in one piece.
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