Brummyboy92

Hi boys & girls, let me start off by saying hi first of all. I'm Jake and just over a year ago I created a UK first by creating the - snip - here in Birmingham. I founded the business myself, built it up, run it, keep track of the books, stock and so on. Now the business has been very successful and I've had numerous offers to buy it from me, which I'm strongly considering. If I do I was considering moving to the US (possibly Chicago). However I've a few issues, first of all can I simply move over to the US with my background? I've not many qualifications however the business has thrived since opening. Also I don't know what I would do work wise afterwards. I like sales/management so a job in these sectors would be great. Cafe/Bar management, estate agent perhaps? But are these decent paying jobs? I want to be able to live in a nice / central neighbourhood with a bit of disposable income on the side. Is this possible in the US or should I just stick to Europe for such a venture?

Cheers all.

christmasoompa

Hi, and welcome to BE.

I've removed the company name from your post, just so it doesn't look like advertising, which is against site rules.

You can't 'simply move over to the US', you'll need a visa to do so and to see if you qualify for one. All of the jobs you've mentioned aren't the kind of thing that would make you eligible for a visa, but you might want to look at using your existing business to see if that opens up a visa route (although you'd need to keep the business and not sell it for that).

Start by reading this Wiki article and looking at the various visa options for the US, then you can figure out if any sound like a likely route - Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA : British Expat Wiki

HTH, best of luck.

mikelincs

welcome to BE

With your story and your qualification details then I'm afraid that the US is likely to remain only a dream. Please carefully read this, and see if there is any way you might qualify to get a visa, which is essential if you wish to move and work in the US.

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

Noorah101

Welcome to BE. The first thing you'll want to do is read our Wiki article called "Pulaski's Ways". It lists all the available ways into the USA. Once you read that, if you see a visa path that you might qualify for, come in back and we can discuss it.

Keep in mind that the USA is very difficult to get into. There may not be an appropriate visa for you to move here. ..only to visit.

Rene

Brummyboy92

Cheers all, will take a look and get back to use.

scrubbedexpat099

Welcome.

ian-mstm

Basically, there are 3 routes to the US: employment, investment, and family. I'm going to guess that family is out, so that leaves the other two. Since you haven't indicated an employment-based skill that might get you a visa, that leaves investment. If you have $500,000 disposable income (say, following the sale of your business), you can pretty much buy yourself a US green card... move to the US and live/work wherever you want.

Ian

fozzyb

Would any of those offers to buy the business be from a US company? Get yourself acquired, but remain in place as the manager of the new UK branch of a US company. Work your way up - and after a few year or so get yourself transferred to head offics as an international manager. Easy as pie...

rpjs

Hmm, if the acquisition is by a US company, then I think there should be routes for the acquirer to bring the principal to the US if that is what they want. The company I work for acquired a small, specialist French company a couple of years back and brought over three senior employees of it to our NYC office.

lansbury

Here's me thinking he had introduced a form of birth control to Birmingham, then I find out a moderator has struck.

tom169

civilservant

I made the same mistake!