scrubbedexpat132

Hello, I'd like some advice from those with experience in moving to the USA that caters to my individual circumstances.

I'm currently due to be married in a few months to my American fiancé, who is currently here on a marriage visa, then move with him permanently back to his home in the USA. From my understanding, it's only once I'm married that I can apply for a Green Card, yes? Does anyone know how long that will take? We're hoping to move quite soon after our wedding, as neither of us want to stay in the UK any longer than necessary. On the back of that, I'm currently off work and have been for a few months following a relapse. I'm currently on the long waiting list of seeing medical professionals and it's unlikely that I will return to work - I may possibly have to resign. Will this affect my application into the States? My career is... well, limited. I'm of a younger generation where job quality and the chance of actually having an established career here is next to none. (Quite envious of other users I've seen through my Forum browsing.) Obviously this is causing a lot of financial anxiety, so sooner I can cross the ocean the better.

I'm hoping once in the US to establish my own business, go back into education to work towards better job opportunities afforded in the US, or just find something that isn't a soul destroying contact centre or retail job that's rife in my ignored part of the UK. I'm concerned falling back into being unemployed will hinder me in some way in moving across the Atlantic. To clarify, my fiancé has a job through his family and a permanent address for us to move to once in the US. Hoping that makes things a lot easier.

I've been looking into shipping quotes from North East England to Chicago, for a small flat with no furniture, and the cheapest quote I've got so far is from Pickfords for under £3000. I saw an article linked here from another user suggesting using other air carriers for smaller, personal effects. Has anyone else done this, or is it best going for a shared shipping container for ease?

Apologies for the third degree, but I'd love some guidance from those more experienced. (Last question, should I bother taking US adapters for my electrical equipment like PS4 Pro console, desktop PC etc. or just buy new leads while over there?)

Thank you for reading all this.

Noorah101

After you are legally married, your USC husband files an I-130 to get the ball rolling on your immigrant visa. There are other steps after that gets approved, and finally you'll go for an in person interview in London. From filing the I-130 to getting visa in hand, you can expect that process to take around 1 year. You can visit the USA while waiting, but can't move permanently nor work in the USA until you enter the USA using your immigrant visa (at that moment you become an LPR, i.e. you'll have your green card).

For shipping and electronics information please visit the General USA forum.

Rene

Noorah101

Make sure your USC husband has been filing US tax returns. He will need at least the most recent 3 years by the time of the interview.

Also look at form I-864 to get a head start on figuring out the financial sponsorship. Your income or lack of employment does not matter. It's all up to the USC to prove finances.

Rene

porkedpie

Congratulations on your impending nuptials.

There are many resources out there documenting the process, not least this forum. The first Google result seems a useful summary.
Timelines are notoriously uncertain, but it is likely to be 12-18 months.
Your own employment status will not be a blocker, however your fiancé will need to show they can support you in the affidavit of support which requires a minimum income of around $23k.

I would caution against moving to the US purely for nebulous career opportunities or education. It obviously depends on a huge amount of factors not least what kind of job you want, where in the country you will live, but it is not a no-brainer that you will find things easier in the US. You also mention education which may well be cheaper in the UK. Without details it's hard to comment, but I would suggest you think carefully if your chances of a career in the UK are "next to none" then what is different in the US?

It also sounds like you are receiving medical treatment. Again I would suggest very careful consideration of that situation. In the US you will need insurance - will your husband have it via his job? Would it cover you? Would it cover the types of treatment you need? Even so, you may still pay a few thousand before you hit your deductible. At the very least it would cause a disruption in treatment and going back over things with new doctors.

scrubbedexpat132

Thank you for the help Noorah101 , I didn't realise the process would take so long. It's certainly thrown a spanner into the works of our plans.

porkedpie Thank you. I've always loved the US since I was very young and have wanted to move there from a cultural standpoint. Funny how life threw me together with an American, but I can assure you the opportunities of the country aren't the only reason. I'm not 'no-braining' my move. In a nutshell, I have art degrees that have all but stagnated because there are no jobs in that field in my area of the UK. My area is pretty destitute as far as finances go. It's depressing. I want out of here as soon as possible, because I've been 'pigeon-holed' into certain jobs from lack of selection and a need to put bread on the table. I've suffered from it.

The medical treatment is of a more mental nature, coming off the back of above details. I'm aware things are cheaper here. But they're certainly not of any quality.

Pulaski

When shipping a small amount of stuff, if you can pack it yourself, you will likely do a lot better with a freight forwarder. I have used one a couple of times to ship things from my parents' home.

To find one just Google <freight forwarder "your city" > (without the < > ), and look for ones that offer residential services. The forwarder will give you a recommendation on whether surface shipping in a shared container or airfreight is the best value for you, and then arrange for collection, shipment, and take care of the paperwork.

civilservant

Depending on the nature of the condition this could 'throw a spanner in the works' too. You will need to attend and pass a medical examination in London as part of the visa process, and they will ask about your mental health history. You will need to establish that you are not a danger to yourself or others.

Honestly, with the COVID backlog, you should probably estimate a minimum of 2 years. You may find some people elsewhere on the internet advocating entering the US as a visitor and then adjusting status. Do not do this. It is illegal, and it your application is rejected, can result in a permanent bar from the US. The right way is long, but allows you to work from Day 1.

scrubbedexpat132

Thank you Pulaski, that's very helpful. I'll be sure to look into that.

civilservant Thank you for advising, it was good of you to mention that. I've been trying to leave out details but essentially I have C-PTSD among other things such as being a suicide survivor. I've never been taken into authorities or institutes regarding my own safety or that of others. Sadly any mention of poor Mental Health still has that person regarded as a 'loony' and I assure you I'm quite lucid and sane. I'm simply battling the mental result of nasty life events I had no control over growing up.

I'm holding onto hope I'll still be able to make it into the U.S. sooner rather than later. I did read that you can enter the U.S. on a separate visa while waiting for a marriage visa to clear, then adjusting status, contrary to what you've written (https://www.uscis.gov/family/bring-spouse-to-live-in-US) but perhaps I'm misreading things. Please see 'Can My Spouse Come to United States to Live While the Visa Petition Is Pending?'.

Noorah101

If you qualify for another visa (such as student or work visa), then yes... you can enter on those visas and then adjust status. But entering as a tourist is different. It's illegal to enter as a tourist with the intent to adjust status.
Also, if you hear about a K-3 visa allowing a spouse to enter while waiting for the immigrant visa, that information is outdated. It takes just as long to get the K-3 (if that's even available anymore).
​​​​​​​Rene

civilservant

As Rene stated above, this would be accurate if you were able to enter on another visa such as a work visa, however based on your previous statements this seems very unlikely to apply in your situation.

My statement was specifically related to entering on the Visa Waiver Program ('ESTA') and then adjusting status. This is commonly suggested on other visa related websites, with no statement of the potential adverse consequences, which can run up to a lifetime ban from the US. Not worth it.

You're almost certainly going to need a letter from your GP stating that you are not a danger to yourself or others. If you think the UK is backwards when it comes to mental health, you ain't seen nothing yet depending on the state you will move to.