therightway

Hi,
I'm new here.
I'm due to be moving to Illinois to be with my American Partner (marriage in the pipeline) next year. My question is around working, as I will end up having a green card (thinking positively!). I'm a qualified counsellor in the UK, but it looks like that won't translate in the State of Illinois. Does anyone know the answers to the following:
Who could I contact to find out some sort of conversion qualification for counselling from UK to USA.
Could I continue to work with UK clients remotely via Skype, if my company is registered in the UK?

I really want to continue working with clients somehow and the information I have sifted through already is very confusing.
Any help or signposting would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks
Leela

Noorah101

What visa will you be entering the USA with?

Rene

Noorah101

You aren't really new here, as you have some past posts from 2010. Based on those, it seems you'll be entering on an Immigrant Visa, which means you'll become a US PR upon entry to the USA. In which case, yes, you can work remotely for your UK employer.

Rene

Rete

In order to practice in most states, you need to pass a bar exam. Contact the Illinois State Bar and ask them for guidance.

Nutmegger

What kind of "counsellor" are you?

Rete

P.S. As an attorney, you should know that google is your friend.

https://legalmattersmag.wordpress.co...ng-in-the-usa/

therightway

Wow, that was some time ago and a past situation. I only remembered I had this account when I tried to sign up and use it.
Anyways, I will be entering on a C1 spousal visa.

therightway

Apologies I should have clarified. I am a counsellor in the psychotherapy sense of the word, not a lawyer.

therightway

Not an attorney, a counsellor as in helping people with their problems. It's more to try and understand the remote working aspect.

Nutmegger

Once you are a legal resident of the US, you can work where you like. If you work with clients in the UK, you bill them, they wire money to your US account (or wherever you want to be paid), and you pay your taxes in the US, as that is where you were located when you performed the service.

therightway

That's great, thank you for your response. Makes sense.

kins

I was in a similar situation but I moved to Maine. I contacted my local university who said that they could review my transcripts from the UK then give me credits towards their masters degree, should I choose to take it.

It was all too complicated and long-winded and expensive for me at the time so I didn't pursue it any further.

Here's some info for Illinois.

https://www.counselor-license.com/st...ings/prefilter

therightway

Thank you, that's really helpful. I just spent 4 years getting my qualification here, so the thought of doing more at this stage doesn't fill me with joy ;-)

md95065

If the OP does go this route and they are "self employed" for US tax purposes they need to be aware of the additional taxes that they will have to pay - employer's share of Social Security tax etc - this is no different than anyone else who is self employed in the US and isn't particularly complicates but is something that they need to be aware of.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small...als-tax-center

Nutmegger

Indeed -- but I have always found it to be "swings and roundabouts," as there is so much one can write off one's taxes as a self-employed person.