My new wife has been in the UK now for 12 months. I have a house in France and we make frequent visits there. We do so on a 12-month European visa (shen something!). Within 12 months I would like to move to our house in France permanently. But this may compromise her UK settlement visa plans (ie, the 90-day ruling). Is there any chance that her visa status for British citzenship will be OK if we stay in France more? The main idea is to give up our home in the uk (Although I still have a business here) and stay in France because our home in France is so much nicer than the one here and besides, that is where I wish to retire to. What is the French attitude towards Thai wives? Could she apply from Bangkok for a French settlement visa? Or do we have to sit out our 3 years in the UK first?

On the assumption that you are a British citizen, you are free to go and establish yourself in France, and this right is extended to your dependants, in this case your wife. Your wife can, therefore, apply for a free visa from the French embassy in London which should be granted with the minimum of formality once you demonstrate your nationality, that you are married, and that you can maintain yourselves either through work or through independent means.

With regard to your wife's UK status, as the spouse of someone settled in the UK, she will normally obtain her indefinite leave after 2 years and can then seek naturalisation as a British citizen after a further one year. Should, within her initial 2 years, you move to France, she won't necessarily qualify for either indefinite leave in the UK, or, ultimately, her British citizenship, and she would require a visit visa to pop back to the UK. However, if at some point in the future you decided to relocate back to the UK permanently, your wife could apply for free visa for the UK on the grounds that her spouse, although a British citizen, has been exercising his European rights in another EEA country.

Scouse.

On the assumption that you are a British citizen, you are free to go and establish yourself in France, and this right is extended to your dependants, in this case your wife. Your wife can, therefore, apply for a free visa from the French embassy in London which should be granted with the minimum of formality once you demonstrate your nationality, that you are married, and that you can maintain yourselves either through work or through independent means.

With regard to your wife's UK status, as the spouse of someone settled in the UK, she will normally obtain her indefinite leave after 2 years and can then seek naturalisation as a British citizen after a further one year. Should, within her initial 2 years, you move to France, she won't necessarily qualify for either indefinite leave in the UK, or, ultimately, her British citizenship, and she would require a visit visa to pop back to the UK. However, if at some point in the future you decided to relocate back to the UK permanently, your wife could apply for free visa for the UK on the grounds that her spouse, although a British citizen, has been exercising his European rights in another EEA country.

Scouse.

That's very helpful. Many thanks. I am British. Perhaps I should contact you to help with the formalities.

Speech,

If you do want someone to guide you through the process and to ensure that the proper procedure is followed, then by all means send an e-mail to [email protected] .

All the best,

Scouse.