ossie747

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and was wondering if anyone could give some advice as to my options for working in the US and if I would actually be eligible given my current employment status.
I am interested in moving to Alabama, particularly the Mobile area as I have friend from school who has lived there for about 20 years who is married to an American citizen.
I have worked as a police officer with the Met for 16 years and previous to that worked in retail management which I have a few qualifications in. My wife is a teaching assistant in a special needs school. Having read other posts in the police section it appears the police experience counts for for very little and most states require that you are a US citizen to be an officer. I have researched a little and found that Walmart employee international applicants but I was hoping someone my be able to offer some sound advice as to any options I may have or if it's a realistic option.

lansbury

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

The Colorado State Troopers do take non US citizens. However you do have to be able to legally live and work in the US before you can apply.

ossie747

Hi Iansbury, many thanks for info I'll have a good look.

Noorah101

Based on the information given, I don't see a clear path to a work visa.

Perhaps if you were to work at Walmart in a high- level position in the UK first, for more than a year, maybe you could transfer to a US branch? That seems the only possibility, considering you said Walmart employs foreign workers...but honestly it doesn't really sound plausible to me.

Rene

Twinkle0927

Pretty much any company in the USA employs "foreign workers". I'm foreign in that I'm not a US citizen and I work for a company here so I am a "foreign worker". The key point is that the "foreign workers" are almost always here already as permanent residents and then take up employment when they are already here, and not the other way round. Some larger companies (Walmart probably included) will sponsor people for employment visas but these will be for specialist and management positions. They won't do it for greeters, security staff or cashiers. They also probably transfer staff to the USA from offices and locations in other countries but again this will be management positions. It wouldn't be possible for Tim the trolley boy at your local Asda to transfer to a Walmart in the USA under that arrangement.

Your best bet is to make this a 10-year plan and work your way up the ladder of a big multi-national company that is known to transfer employees around the globe.

civilservant

I agree that it seems unlikely based on what you've written. Perhaps work your way up in a security firm that has a US presence based on your experience as a Police Officer? The alternative is visiting your friend in Alabama and Match.com® | The Leading Online Dating Site for Singles & Personals : Match.com

And no, I'm not joking. Many of us became LPRs (Green Card Holders) through marriage, myself included.

chawkins99

He's already married.

MidAtlantic

But not through bigamy

scrubbedexpat099

Currently married, a status that can change.

jkeller

Las Vegas casino's have numerous Europeans employed in positions like restaurant workers, concierges, bartenders, check in agents, etc. Jobs that a company typically would not sponsor a foreigner for. I don't know if that would extend to their police/security positions or not.

http://http://caesars.hodesiq.com/Li...ob-careers.asp

http://https://careers.sands.com/con...etian-palazzo/

Las Vegas Jobs - MGM Resorts International Employment - Las Vegas

Wynn Careers - Home

The Wynn Las Vegas has a lot of folks with European accents working there. Hope this helps.

Pulaski

Surely they're just on H-2 seasonal/ temporary visas, which even if the OP could get (which seems unlikely), wouldn't help him with any sort of long-term residence in the US.

jkeller

I honestly don't know. There is one UK guy who has been a bartender at Bellagio's Petrossian bar for more than a decade. It's the bar by the check in with the piano player playing. If you've been to the Bellagio, you've seen it. He could be married to an American of course. But there are quite a few Euros working at the nicer casinos in Vegas.

jkeller

And now that I think about it, all of those Vegas Cirque de Soleil shows have a lot of European performers in them. How are your tightrope skills ossie?

ossie747

I would pretty much do anything to get out there ;-)

ossie747

Many thanks for everyone's advice, it is much appreciated