Hi,

Im in a serious relationship with a girl in the USA. Im currently looking for work overseas but am finding it quite difficult. Any openings look to be filled asap and obviously companies don't want to wait 3-6 months!

Im taking 3 months off work to go and be with her over the summer and make a decision for the long term. If I find employment/ a sponsor, and apply for an HB1 visa, do I have to remain in the UK until this is complete. Can I still travel to see her using the Visa Waiver?

Really I want to spend as much time as I can out there with her rather than here in the UK. Is there a limit to how many times I can go out on the visa Waiver.

Any help, suggestions, experience or ideas would be great thanks!

This is the huge flaw in your plan. It is unlikely in the extreme that you will find someone to sponsor an H-1B for you, and the earliest you would likely be able to start is going to be October 2011. Getting an H-1B sorted out by April this year is going to be tough.

That depends entirely on how you enter the US. If you use the VWP you have to leave after 90 days even if an H-1B is pending. Most likely yes, though it's not possible to give a 100% certain answer. All cases are different.

This thread has a lot of good info on using the VWP.

Thanks for the help, looking more likely that a K1 is the answer. A proposal is on the cards for summer...

Cool. Lots of people here have done that: you'll be able to get lots of helpful tips and advice.

If you start now, you could have your visa by the end of the summer and actually be living here.

Oh wow ok! Yes Ive seen you get married within 90 days. I just dont want to rush a wedding you know. Its a very special thing for a girl.

Some girls get practical when it means being together vs being apart.

Yep. Mine always votes for 'apart' for some reason...

I could go for a little of that every now n' again myself!
Oh wait, that's not what you meant..

Wanted to 'K' you, you dirty girl, but apparently I need to spread it around first

B.S. October 2010 is perfectly doable for a qualified applicant.

Perfectly doable for someone who doesn't have to go job hunting possibly. It doesn't matter how qualified they are if they don't have a sponsor.

What rush? If she petitioned today, you would likley get a visa in about 6 or so months; then you have 6 months to acatually use the visa; and then you have 90 days to get married after entering the US. If she petitioned today, she'd have about a year to plan a wedding! So... no rush at all.

Ian

When I applied for mine, I didn't start interviewing with my final company until late Feb and I received my H1B in April.

If there is a position and you are patently the best candidate, it can be done within the short time frame left open to him to get his visa this year.

Heard of the company in April, phone interview two days later, they filed I-129 a day after that. I hadn't even graduated from university by that point. I don't consider myself amazingly exceptional or unbelievably lucky. I am just a good fit for the company.