becks_9320

Hi all,

I'm not even sure I am posting this in the correct place - I have just signed up and have finally found out how to make a new thread.

Anyway, I'm a UK citizen wanting to move to the USA. I am a final year student and in my fourth year as a trainee teacher. Roughly by next August (after I graduate) I am hoping to be in the USA. The point of this thread is I do not have a clue where to start; I have been researching for months and am struggling to identify which visa I would have to apply for in order to gain permanent residence.

I have been told (by US citizens) that the USA are in a shortage of school teachers; so I am not sure if this is the route I would have to go down? Something to do with employment? However, on that topic I have read that you must be sponsored by an employer - which would be extremely difficult as I would need a teacher license as well as having to pass a couple of exams as far as I am aware (State: California), so it would seem pretty doubtful that I would be employed without having done these things.

My fiance is a US citizen. I have also seen the fiance visa; however, we do not intend to get married within 90 days. Is there another way around this without having to marry in 90 days? Is there a visa in which he could sponsor me enabling me to gain permanent residency?

I have done a lot of research but struggling to understand what application I would submit.

Help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

Rete

Hi and welcome to BE

Please have a read of the BE site rules when you have a moment. Just a bit of housekeeping on our part. http://britishexpats.com/site-rules/

Not sure why someone would tell you there is a shortage of teachers in the US. There are, in fact, too many teachers and not enough jobs. There are teaching jobs open in troubled areas which most teachers won't apply for. Also you need to meet the US requirements to teach in the US and your UK education needs to be supplemented to meet that standard. Also, unless the institute is a private one, you will not find a public school that will pay the thousands of dollars required to get you a work visa. A private institute might do so but certainly not a public institute.

As for your having a USC fiancée, unless you plan on marrying him with in the 90 days after entry on the K-1, then no, he is of no assistance to you. Your only chance of a visa is either the K-1 fiancée visa or get married first, at your own time and leisure, and then have him start the application for your immediate relative visa. Besides you still have a bit of a haul before you earn your degree.

At the present, it appears there is no application that you are eligible to submit since you don't wish to marry at present.

Noorah101

Hi Becks, Welcome to BE.

Take a look in our Wiki Guide for an article called "Pulaski's Ways". It lists the available US visa types.

You probably won't get far with getting a work visa based on teaching. You'd need a US employer to sponsor you, which public schools won't do. You will be a recent graduate with no experience and no US certifications. Just out of curiosity, what subject or grade will you be wanting to teach?

By far your best bet is to continue the relationship with your fiance and do either the K-1 visa or get married first and do the spouse CR-1 immigrant visa. Since you are engaged, I assume you ARE ready for marriage, and are just waiting until you graduate. You can start one of the marriage -based visas about a year ahead of your graduation date, and should have the visa timed just right.

Rene

becks_9320

Hi Rete,

Thank you for getting back to me! The people that have told me about a shortage of teachers, possibly they mean the actual state and surrounding towns they live in rather than the US as a whole.

I definitely have a few months before I complete my degree. I was thinking more of what I could apply for once I actually complete my degree in terms of a working visa? If that would be the best way.

In terms of getting married, we are actually getting married in my home country but it's not for another year and a half/two years.

I'm just looking for some advice, not to necessarily apply now but just to gain some knowledge and understanding for when I have graduated to get the process started - if possible.

Nutmegger

becks_9320

Hi Rene,

I have had a look at that, thank you. I just wanted to write my story down and get clarification if the makes sense.

I would be wanting to teach primary age and my specialism is SEN. Yes, of course I am definitely ready for marriage with my fiance; it is just the wedding is in my home country and not the USA and was wondering about other ways to apply.

Noorah101

There aren't any.

Rene

becks_9320

Nutmegger,

I have done so much research around this and just wanted to directly ask someone to confirm my thoughts and readings. That was actually my next question about somebody hiring me. I saw the different categories and it said about skilled/unskilled workers. Is there a list of companies that sponsor people or anything that I am not aware of?

Octang Frye

Becky,

Just out of interest, when you were doing a lot of research, where were you looking and who were you asking?
At the risk of sounding like a jerk, I'm just going to spell it out; even with your (forthcoming degree), you will not be able to obtain a visa via employment any time soon.
The *only* option open to you currently and in the immediate future is marriage.

becks_9320

Hey,

I have looked at a range of different sources. I have used different websites, different forums, Government official sites UK, USCIS, people I personally know that have green cards etc. By reading the research, I kind of thought the only way was for marriage but I just wanted it to be confirmed.

I do know somebody who is opening up a private nursery. Could this be an option? If they were to sponsor, do you know any of the costs?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions, I just want to make sure I have covered all revenues.

Octang Frye

Here's just an idea of the costs for my particular case. Obviously, my situation will be different from yours, but this is just an idea.
I came out on an H1b visa back in 1996, doing IT stuff. The company had offices in the US and in England. Their business was bringing in IT people from the UK and getting them jobs in the US.
They retained immigration attorneys specialized in this field. I think they paid something like $5,000-6,000. The company also had to "advertise" my job for six months so that I wasn't putting an American out of work - and they had to show they were paying the prevailing wage. Then it was a similar amount for doing the I-485 Adjustment of Status process to get a green card.
So those were 1996 prices. 22 years ago. Lawyers be expensive. Do you think the nursery or private school would be able and willing to stump up that?

And, no, you can't pay the employer to arrange/sponsor a visa for you. Really, your only option right now is marriage.

revenues avenues

becks_9320

A very long process, as I would have expected it to be. Thank you for sharing your experience though. I think all my questions have been answered now.

So annoyed, I tried to edit my comment to fix it to avenues, of course somebody had to pick up on it😂

Thank you every body. I just needed to know 100%

scrubbedexpat099

I would recommend the CR1, allows you to work immediately.

becks_9320

Hi Boiler,

I looked this up. Is this just for when you get married?

scrubbedexpat099

You have to be married first, the option of going as a Fiancee means you marry in the US and then file to adjust and it seems to be taking 4 to 6 months before you can get work authorisation.