Weddingbee Blog

Mr. D and I have been enjoying our temporary break from USCIS paperwork over the past 12 months (with the exception of filling out a painless change of address form). However, since I am an obsessive planner type, I sometimes like to check in and see how everything fits together. So to date, we’ve already spent about $2,000 on immigration (USCIS fees, plus all the traveling to London and extra costs for the fiancé visa medical, etc.) and we’ll have to set aside another $1270 for the next 2 years.

We spent $590 in October for the restrictions on Mr. D’s conditional permanent resident card to be lifted (after you marry you are granted a two-year card, but you have to apply 90 days prior to its expiration). Then we will spend $680 for Mr. D to apply to be a citizen in January 2013.

Then for the UK, we’ll need to set aside £750 (about $1,181 at this moment in time). The process is easier, and less expensive, if we’ve been married for four years prior to moving to England, so August 2013 will mark four years for Mr. D and me. Otherwise we move there and receive a two year provisional stay, and pay again in two years.

I don’t even know how much it will cost me to apply for citizenship there…because at the moment, my brain is fried from immigration/ £/$/citizenship research. We will pay it though, because once we’re citizens of both countries we’ll be able to move back and forth more easily, and I’ll also receive all the EU benefits (let’s move somewhere warm!).

The most bonkers part of this (to me at least) is that in 2013 I’ll be 29, and celebrating my 30th birthday in England. WHERE WILL WE HAVE BABIES?!!?!? {Cue irrational freak out…}

Are you dealing with immigration issues surrounding marriage? How much do you think you’ll have spent when all is said and done?