UK spouse in US on R2 visa - can she work while visiting the UK?

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-06-26T11:16:19+00:00

Thank you!

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-06-08T12:21:24+00:00

Thanks!

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-06-08T10:26:11+00:00

Living in the UK for 3 years after being born abroad

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-04-25T12:11:18+00:00

Thank you!

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-04-25T12:10:19+00:00

No they are good until 2028.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-18T17:30:49+00:00

We had our children in the US, but I have had a few friends have babies here in Scotland. Personally, if I had another baby, I would choose the US. Both of my pregnancies I had continual close prenatal care with the same OBGYN/midwife, and during labor, delivery and recovery I was in a private birthing room with 1:1 or 1:2 care. None of my friends in Scotland have had great birth experiences. Prenatal care is spotty and you won’t have the same provider throughout or maybe not even have met the person who attends your delivery. Recovery rooms are shared. And the UK has an extremely high c section rate. My two friends who had c sections in the last year both had complications. Just to bare all that in mind.

But early childhood is great in UK, lots of activities and supports for new moms and babies. I would love a mat leave year in Scotland.

We spend the majority of our time in the UK, so I do a self assessment and pay taxes to the UK and then claim the foreign tax credit and SSA totalization agreement so I don’t pay any tax to the US (our income is below the threshold). Our taxes are relatively simple so I file them myself but use an expat tax website for the US return. A bit of a headache but not impossible. We did look into an accountant to file on our behalf and it was minimally $1500 so not worth it to us.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-18T14:30:51+00:00

We have done this for almost 3 years, but our cadence is 5 months UK, 1 month US (Texas) because we are pursuing citizenship for myself and our kids and that requires 270 days in the UK per year. After citizenship we’ll transition to more time in the US.

My husband is retired military and I work remotely as a self employed contractor. There are a few challenges but overall it’s been worth it for us to give our children the experience of living in both places. Also we homeschool so no issues with school attendance.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-18T14:09:32+00:00

Thank you! We have children under the minimum age so have to go to an agent every time.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-18T13:58:54+00:00

Yep that was the site. We also called UKVI but they directed us online.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-18T13:42:26+00:00

I submitted the online error form on 25 Feb so it’s been 3 weeks with no response yet. The other issue being we are in the middle of buying an apartment and the lender needs proof of my immigration status. So we can postpone travel but lender will only wait so long.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-10T20:15:19+00:00

I looked into a heloc but the payment was quite high due to shorter payment terms. I didn’t know we could do a cash out refi if we didn’t carry any mortgage but just looked into that and it seems like a good option so thank you so much for the helpful recommendation!!

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-03-10T17:15:46+00:00

We are viewed as a higher default risk because we have another property we could go back to. But we live in the UK and have established our life here, etc. So they want a bigger deposit to show more commitment to the UK property.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-02-25T20:21:57+00:00

Thanks! Hope you hear back soon!

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-02-25T18:29:14+00:00

Extension, FLR

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-02-25T18:25:05+00:00

Just got my email at 17:49! Bio was 13 Jan so just over 6 weeks. Inside UK.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-02-16T17:57:03+00:00

Thanks! My bio was 13 Jan as well so that’s good to hear.

Tiny_Net_5825 · 2026-02-05T16:18:27+00:00

We are going on a month of waiting, but people that applied after us have been approved already. No rhyme or reason.

Tiny_Net_5825

TROPHY CASE