Yorkshire and Yonder... So It Begins
I have not written a blog since my MFA days- check out Once Upon a Tyne: An American in Newcastle if you want to go down that rabbit hole.
But I am stressed, and supposedly when you are stressed- writing can help.
I am currently in the process of obtaining my UK Spouse visa.
Aww the fairytale romance!
Yes...
But also the nitty gritty!
James and I have been in a long term long distance relationship for 5 years and just got married last January. It has been a difficult but beautiful journey. I have been in rural Ohio ever since I graduated with my MFA from Newcastle while he has remained in Yorkshire.
It has been a long time coming and very arduous but we have collected all the data, saved up the money, waited all this time!... and we have submitted the visa application.
Tomorrow I have my biometrics appointment. Which means once they get the fingerprints of my stubby little fingers and a photo of my gorgeous and hopefully not too stressed face- It is all out of my hands and onto the waitlist of UKVI.
And unfortunately it will be another wait. Which is irritating but manageable since James and I’s relationship has been built upon the distance and the time apart. You might say once we live together- that might become a much tougher experience! But thankfully we live in an era that has all this technology which can keep us visually close and communicating at lightning speed.
As most people may not realize- getting a visa takes a lot of time. It is not an easy APPLY and CONGRATS enter the country! Start living life! Some people who I have talked to about the process were surprised at the length of time it takes. Its the same for every country to enter and live legally. It is even more strenuous being able to have the means.
I come from a place of privilege.
My husband makes enough money to be a sponsor for me. I am a caucasian American who speaks English from a middle class family, so I don’t have to worry about a language barrier or any documents needing translating. I have just enough money to pay for my immigration health surcharge and the application fee. And hopefully enough to cover my airfare and possibly some shipping of belongings.
I am so thankful that I am able to go through this. But I always keep in mind that there are others who want/need to leave their country and home for a new life and never have the chance to do so.
But I digress- I could go on and on about the woes of immigration in the world. Back to what I do know concretely- my visa situation.
Currently, with the Ukraine/Russia War- the UK government is prioritizing Ukrainian Refugee visas.
So spousal visas have been backlogged. Starting from when my biometric is done tomorrow it becomes Day 1 of the official wait. And according to the Facebook support group I joined- it is looking at average to be 125 working days from Day 1.
I will more than likely be here for 4 months as I await my visa. And hopefully all the documentation I provided shows that James and I’s relationship is “genuine and substantial”
Not exactly what I was hoping, but will have to do!
I still have to get some determination to pack my keepsakes... Can continue earning some money since I won’t be able to get a job over there for the first 6 months. Need to spend time with my friends and loved ones.
In the end I still believe that God and the Universe has me in a place at the right moment even if I don’t understand or like it.
