British Expatriate Network

Hi everyone,
I am married to a pretty lady in S.C. and we hope to be together soon. I could give you the full story on how we have been messed around by the I.N.S. but I think it's sufficient to say that our application started way back in March 2001!!. And we have found the I.N.S. less than helpful in explaining the delays.
However, we have finally been told to expect notification of the date for the interview in the next week or two.
Our problem is that since last year my wife's finances have changed in that she only just scrapes in for the minimum income. Now, at the last minute, we discover that $350/month of her income must be discounted. We are obviously upset, but by scavenging everything together we can make the income up with our assets. However, we have been advised that it would be unwise to'mix and match' as the advisor put it. That it should be income OR assets. Is this true?, because if so we are definitely screwed. My wife has also had two good tax years but the last one was a disaster, will previous tax years be taken into account?.
My other query is does anyone know what happens concerning my debts in the U.K.?, we intend to keep up reduced payments until I gain employment but no advisor will tell me what effect (if any) this may have on my immigration.
Finally, before this becomes something of a novel, does anyone know where I can get sweet pickled onions from?!, I have never seen them in the States!.
We will be very grateful for any info/experiences you may have.
Thanks for reading,
Marty and Jucal

I'm sorry I can't help on the financial thing, but welcome to the board and I'd think you would probably be well advised to bring plenty of onions with you. There have been several threads about British groceries on the main Britnet board -you can use the search button to find them- and there may also be something about how to do your own in the recipe forum.

Good luck with the interview.

I don't recall being asked about my UK debts and I certainly did not volunteer any information on them.

i never got asked about my uk debts thank heavens .. Lucky because I had a tax demand shortly before i left the uk with my K1 visa.
Apparently I owed about 8000 pounds.
I hope I don't get arrested next time I enter the Uk .......
By the way can't the affidavit of support be completed by someone else in your other half's familly that is ok on tax returns over the last 3 years and is willing to vouch for you ?

Thanks everyone for the info, I was very pleased to find that they don't ask about your U.K. debts. If they knew the extent I would never get in!!.
Jucal (my wife) does have a large family, 11 brothers and sisters but unfortunately they are all citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands/Bahamas and therefore cannot help. However we have contacted the I.N.S. and they will take into account Jucal's previous good tax returns and with the assets we are able scrape together we may make it anyway. Although they said it was up to the immigrating officer so we won't know until the interview.
It's sad that the more important question of sweet pickled onions remains unanswered, I guess I will have to do without my little luxury!!.
Thanks again,
Marty nad Jucal

ok here it is my friend

sweet pickled onions