Noorah101

They will promptly ask if you have work authorization in the USA. What will you say to that?

Hint: You don't have it.

Then they will say sorry, we are unable to employ you until you have work authorization in the USA. At that point, you can ask them if they are able to apply for an H1B work visa for you. If they are, then you will go back to the UK before your 90 days are up on the VWP, and you will await their petition for your H1B work visa to be completed.

If they don't want to do that, take the advice of others, and talk to an immigration attorney immediately about your options for staying in the USA legally.

Don't go to Canada.

You say you are here on a tourist visa, but is that true? The fact that you mentioned they told you to go to Canada and come back for another 90 days leads me to believe you are here on the VWP (visa waiver program), which means you do NOT have a tourist visa.

No, there is no way you can just simply stay here and live with your girlfriend...well, not legally anyway.

Let us know how it goes tomorrow,
Rene

irishmikester

Thanks again for all of your replies!
So what happens if I marry my girlfriend? What would we need to do next?
Haven't heard back from the 'man' yet.

Tracym

The "man" doesn't really matter much in your situation - as you cannot legally work anyway.

If you get married, you apply for Adjustment of Status to a permanent resident (AOS), Advance Parole (AP) - permission to travel, and EAD - permission to work.

You should expect the EAD in about 90 days - then you can take a job.

btw... as far as legality: If you came here on the visa waiver program (VWP) which it sounds like you have, and suddenly decided to get married, that's ok. If you came here with the INTENT to marry and stay here - that is illegal.

Be careful - if I were you, I would get a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney. If you make big mistakes, you could end up being banned from the US - for years, or forever.

www.ailalawyer.com

Bill_S

That would be a very good question for the immigration lawyer you should be contacting ASAP.

Tracym

Shorter and more succinctly than I put it

irishmikester

So, basically we didn't come here to get married (we looked at the fiance visa but decided that we would rather get married at another time in another place) .... a job offer has come up for my girlfriend and we are now interested in staying. I haven't got my passport with me so I'm not sure which visa I am under but I didn't apply for one before I left so I guess it is the visa waiver.

Tracym

Okaaaay.

Well, if you didn't apply for a visa, you don't have one.

But as far as I know you cannot get into the US without a passport. They check the passport to see (among other things) to see if you are from a country that is allowed to use the VWP (visa waiver program).

How did you enter the US? Where is your passport?

irishmikester

I'm an Irish and British citizen. I came in under my irish passport.

Must go, I have immigration people to call!

Tracym

Good idea

Noorah101

If it's the 800 USCIS number, don't rely on what they tell you....

Rene

Tracym

Good point.

ian-mstm

Both of these can't possibly be true at the same time!

Ian

hobbes79

I think he's just saying he didn't have it on him while he was typing. Like I don't have my passport with me so I can't tell you much about it, though I know it's at home in my filing cabinet.

megasue

Hi,

If you want to teach you must first have all your credentials evaluated by one of the copanies there.
I used Joseph Silny but there are others look at www.naces.org
You then have to send off your evaluated credentials to the state where you wish to teach to get a statement of eligibility.
This takes a couple of months. Only then will people look at you as a serious option.
There are places that will sponsor but not many. I only know of Florida.

You need to get back to UK and do this properly if you intend to go this route.
Sue

irishmikester

Thanks for the last reply. I've already started that process and I'm just waiting on my stuff from Josef Silny.