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It is now later and this topic will be ongoing.

We have decided to relocate to the UK due to the following:

Hardly anyone our age here understands English so we cannot make friends and learn Portuguese. The elders here had French as a second language in their school days. Now it is English.
You might say "use Babble" to learn. I did but it is not European Portuguese. Yesterday I went to buy sugar and came home with a bag of flour.

I have had a battle with the IRS about the exit tax paid to SARS since 2016 as the Lisbon HQ will not recognise the tax. My accountant was fighting with Lisbon but they insisted that I had to do so locally.

Not one tax official could understand a word of English here but I got the gist that I must find a local accountant to accompany me to their office. I found plenty here but not one could understand English. This leaves me with only one option and that is to flee the country. R220k tax burden that should be a tax loss is not good in my books.

Next episode later.

 

I am now so frustrated with the new UK rules that prevents us from joining our kids there. The UK has become the most difficult country in the world to migrate to by far.

This is even true for mainland European people. The rules have been changing on a daily basis as Theresa May struggles with no direction against Angela Merkel who by far outclasses her.

Boris Johnson noticed this and even though he resigned from government he now bobs his head in gov circles and the word is out that this Brexiteer is about to oust her.

This further frustrates my efforts to join my kids.

We now have to have Comprehensive Medical Insurance from day one to the end of the 5 year period when we can get permanent residency. Only then can we get NHS for free.

Now the bombshell. I had been paying R 1300.00 pm for medical insurance in Portugal for the 2 of us.

In the UK we would have to cough up R 8 000.00 pm and this is the cheapest I could find.

 

I think I have sorted myself out and I have a 50% chance of succeeding.

There are 2 rules in the EU for immigration.

1. If you or your spouse are not members of an EU country but have succeeded in getting employment in an EU country then EU regulations will not apply to you.
You will enter under the domestic immigration laws.

In the UK this will be applying for Temporary Residence on arrival. After 5 years you can request your Indefinite Leave to Remain certificate. It is your right and not a privilege. 

2. If you or your spouse is a member of any EU state then you may enter the UK and apply for a Residency Card like you would in any other EU country.
After 5 years you can request a Permanent Residency Card.

This is how it works in mainland Europe but not in the UK.

You can enter the UK using EU law and register for Temp Residence but before the 5 year term is up, the UK will no longer be a member of the EU and your application for residency will no longer apply as per the EU regulations. It will now be domestic law only.

If you have not had Comprehensive Medical Insurance then you are good as it is not required under domestic immigration laws.
 

arguably the best type of marriage 

Orca
Why will  your Portugal residency expire next year?

In most EU countries you will get temporary residence for 5 years and if you renew it you will get permanent residency.
We have been here just over 4 years and if we relocate to the UK then we would not be able to renew our Portugal residency.
Also, residency expires after 2 years of absence if you have not become a citizen.

Hi Orca - surely the move to the UK is going to be a problem for your family from a medical point of view i.e. moving countries would preclude you from availing yourselves of any free medical assistance and you would undoubtedly have to sit out a waiting period before getting benefits from the UK national health.
I imaging if this is the case you have trying times ahead of your family
Hoping that the move is fairly painless

The latest news on Brexit is the following:

EU nationals and their non EU spouses can enter and live in the UK but can only register on the new online system from 29 March. They have until 30 June 2021 to enter and apply. Cost is €65 per applicant. No financial details will be asked and private medical insurance will apply. Once you have received pre settled status you will have access to state healthcare and social benefits.

Should the Brexit deal fail then you would have to enter before 29 March to get the above and the cutoff date will be 30 December 2020 to register.

Now that is only for EU citizens as the UK must still apply EU immigration regulations until the Brexit Transition Period ends on 30 June 2021 or 30 December 2020.

If you are a British national then it is a different kettle of fish. The UK government seems to dislike their citizens to import foreign spouses. Rightfully so as most are imported by settled Asians and north Africans that import all their relatives as dependants.

This applies to natural UK citizens too. No discrimination. UK citizens cannot apply the more lenient EU immigration regulations when resident in the UK or returning. The draconian domestic immigration laws will apply.

A UK citizen wishing to import a foreign spouse will have to earn at least £18 600.00 pa and if the application is from outside of the UK then the finances of the spouse will not be considered.

However, the spouse can enter the UK with a cheaper visit visa and apply from within the UK. Then both incomes and savings/investments will be considered.

The visa will cost about £1 400.00 (citation needed) and the surcharge on healthcare will be £400.00 per year for 5 years.

Sucks for British citizens.