First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

It isn't easy to get a job before you move, unless you work for a company that is transferring you to the USA. Which from you what have you posted would be about the only way one of you would get a visa.

In order to travel together you would need to be married, especially as both of you appear to intend to work here. Unless you both get a work visa separately from the other.

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

Unless you've forgotten to mention that one of you is a US citizen, you'll need a job offer and sponsoring employer to get a visa usually. So yes, job must come first. Have a look at the to see all the various visa options available - https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulas...rk_in_the_USA_

HTH, good luck.

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

Getting a job first is necessary as you will need a visa to enter the US to work, and you must be outside the US during the visa application, but getting a job offer from an employer who will sponsor a visa may be extremely difficult, if not close to impossible, depending on he hiring practices in the sector you are seeking to find work.

Then, depending on which visa type the person with a job gets, their spouse will be able to enter the US to live, but may, or may not be able to work ..... unless they independently find work and sponsorship for a visa. Note I said "spouse" - a visa for a non-married domestic partner is (i ) a tricky proposition, and (ii) absolutely certainly does not allow the domestic partner to work while in the US (unless/ until they independently find work and sponsorship for a visa) - this includes remotely for an employer outside the US.

The most likely visa to apply for with a job offer under the circumstances would be an H-1B, which has been massively oversubscribed for a number of years, such as the success rate in getting a visa is around 1 in 3 to 1 in 4. Because the of the over-demand the practice is that applications for H-1B visas are only accepted in the first week of April, and then, after the application has been process, if you are one of the lucky ones to get a visa, you can't start work until 1 October of that year. The spouse of an H-1B visa holder cannot work while in the US - this includes remotely for an employer outside the US.

TL/DNR version: what you are proposing is tricky, time consuming, and on balance is unlikely to happen. The odds are not long, but it is more likely than not that you will not be able to find a route to a visa to work in the US.

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

I'm quite surprised you're both looking to move to the US when your current company hasn't even expanded yet, also you only been working there for less than a year.

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

I’m quite surprised that you join a forum and your first post is criticizing someone else!

Did you have a purpose in joining?

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

Quite right! He should leave criticism to the seasoned members, experienced in making criticisms, whether justified or not! :nod:

Re: First steps of a move from UK to LA
 

Your confusion is probably that you can’t find the answer you want. The US is not like AUS, NZ, Canada etc which have working holiday visas for brits that are easy to get. I had a similar idea to you at 21 and 19 years later I was living in the US and had a green card a year later. Think of it as maybe a 10 year plan, assuming you both have undergraduate degrees and some work experience that will save you a few years. Your best bet is a transfer with an employer after working for them for more than an a year, although your will either need to be a senior employee or have specialized knowledge:

https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoption...porary_workers

If you really want it and your are smart and work hard it is achievable, but unless your very lucky it’s not something that happens in months...