ChrisJG

I am in a long distance relationship and we have been together for the past year. My girlfriend is studying in university and I work full time as a sound engineer in the UK. I have traveled to the States a couple of times on an ESTA to visit her. I would like to permanently move to the US although we do want to marry and move in together I feel it's far too early to jump into something like that and at this current point in time we would not meet the minimal finacial requirments on the K1 as she is a student. I dont mind visiting but it kills me that I can only go for short periods at a time. Is there a temporary soloution, a visa that allows me to enter and stay for 6 months or a year preferably which lets me work. Or am I asking for too much and just keep the small visits until we are ready for the K1?

tom169

Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA : British Expat Wiki

You may find that after reviewing the above list marriage is the only way this is possible. It's common for this to be the case.

You mention financials. Any US citizen or legal permanent resident can be your financial sponsor for the K-1 visa (form I-134). It doesn't need to be your fiance(e) or even related to that person.

civilservant

There is no 'shack up with the girlfriend to see if it works longer term' visa. From what you've said, it's marriage and immigration or continuing to use the VWP for you.

ian-mstm

This being the case, your options are severely limited. Read through the link that tom169 provided... and keep in mind that most people in the world, including most from the UK, will never come to the US as anything other than a visitor.


Sadly, there is much about life that disappoints us... this is one of those! US immigration doesn't care about your emotional turmoil.


There is not, no.


This seems to be the only viable way forward just now.

Ian

Pulaski

It was for me, and more than a few other of us here.

The reality that many of us here, including me, have faced and dealt with - that if you want to make your life together with someone who may be your life partner, you need to make the leap and get married. There is rarely any other way.

My wife is from the US, and I was living in London when we first "met" on line. We married 20 months later having spent a grand total six weeks together face-to-face, of which one was the week before we got married, and another two were at Christmas two months before we got married. We have now been married for 17 years.

SanDiegogirl

Just in case in your research you come across the B1/B2 visa and say "Voila" a visa which allows me to stay for 6 months, do not apply for this visa.

As someone who has the privilege of using the VWP program you will undoubtedly be refused the B1/B2 visa for a)being able to use the VWP program, b) young so a risk of working illegally, and b) having a "romantic" interest in the US.

Having been refused this visa you will then find you cannot use the VWP program - so completely stimied.

Stick to the VWP program.

Pulaski

FIFY. .... Otherwise, that's all good advice.

Twinkle0927

The majority of USCs can visit the U.K. for up to 6 months a time. Why doesn't she use that option to visit you for a longer period? She must have a few months off in the summer? Make it a two-way street.

Bear in mind that if you go down the K-1 route you won't be able to work for several months. If she doesn't meet the requirements for the I-134 (and they are levels that many people would struggle to exist on) then she's going to really struggle supporting you also before you can work. Not to mention the costs of the process.