Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Hi all,
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Miami
Posts: 458
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Hi all,
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
I’ve done a bit of reading about the different visas, but hadn’t realised some may not allow me to work if it’s through his employer.
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Others will help you with the specifics of your questions, however just wanted to say I moved to Miami in June with my family and LOVE it here. Very few English but I like that. I do know that unless you are eligible for a visa in your own right then you need to be married for a derivative of your partner's visa. I say do it!
#6
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Hi all,
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
i have a few questions with regards to the visa process with moving to the US.
I am not married or engaged to my partner, he has just been offered a job in Miami in Florida. It is an internal move within the same company and is a great opportunity for him. He is expecting to have moved there by the new year. I am a teacher in England, I have just completed my NQT year July 2018. I have a history degree, 3 a levels and 10 GCSEs. However, I am aware that not being married may cause a few difficulties so my questions are:
1) Any tips on searching for a job around the Miami area in teaching?
2) do I need any additional qualifications to teach in the US?
3) Does it seem at all possible that I could obtain a visa in order to join him? If so, what kind?
4) any other tips on how to apply for a visa or a job over there?
As you can imagine this is quite a big deal, we are long term but are very reluctant to marry only in order to move countries!
Thank you in advance
Rachel
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Miami
Posts: 458
#8
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Hi Rachel,
if he's transferring with his existing company, its probably an L visa. You would need to be married in order to get an L2 visa, but that visa allows you to apply for work authorization in the USA, which is a good thing.
It would be quite difficult, I'd say, to get a work visa of your own, for teaching, and especially being so specific as to the city.
Even with permission to work, you may need to get qualified to teach in the USA...others can help you with that.
Rene
if he's transferring with his existing company, its probably an L visa. You would need to be married in order to get an L2 visa, but that visa allows you to apply for work authorization in the USA, which is a good thing.
It would be quite difficult, I'd say, to get a work visa of your own, for teaching, and especially being so specific as to the city.
Even with permission to work, you may need to get qualified to teach in the USA...others can help you with that.
Rene
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 379
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
It is likely to be a L visa.
As others have said if you want to work, you have to marry and apply for EAD once you arrive in USA ( and that wilt take 60-100 days )
So if you are married and spouse visa is L, it will be about 100 days before you can work having landed in US
If you think this might be a permanent move, then you should discuss Green Card
Now is the time to review your passport expiry dates.
You do not want to have to go through renewal / extensions / drives license issues soon after you arrive
Anything below 2021 and I recommend you get new ones now.
As others have said if you want to work, you have to marry and apply for EAD once you arrive in USA ( and that wilt take 60-100 days )
So if you are married and spouse visa is L, it will be about 100 days before you can work having landed in US
If you think this might be a permanent move, then you should discuss Green Card
Now is the time to review your passport expiry dates.
You do not want to have to go through renewal / extensions / drives license issues soon after you arrive
Anything below 2021 and I recommend you get new ones now.
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
Not sure what passport renewal has to do with anything: I recently renewed mine from CA and it took 5 days from sending it over to it being returned to me, probably much quicker than it would have been if I'd have done it from the UK.
In response to the OP: if he's being transferred, it will likely be on an L1 visa and, if married, you'll be able to get an L2 visa through him. You'll need to wait a couple of months after arrival for your EAD (employment authorisation document) before you can actually start work. I'd look at private or international schools though, as I'm not sure public schools (state schools). Bear in mind that in Miami, a large proportion of the population speaks Spanish as a first language.
It will be pretty much impossible for you to accompany him without being married so you will need to seriously consider this.
In response to the OP: if he's being transferred, it will likely be on an L1 visa and, if married, you'll be able to get an L2 visa through him. You'll need to wait a couple of months after arrival for your EAD (employment authorisation document) before you can actually start work. I'd look at private or international schools though, as I'm not sure public schools (state schools). Bear in mind that in Miami, a large proportion of the population speaks Spanish as a first language.
It will be pretty much impossible for you to accompany him without being married so you will need to seriously consider this.
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2015
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 564
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
If you're here on a non-immigrant visa then your I-94 expiration date is tied to your passport expiration so if your passport expires before your petition expiration date you'll be admitted for a shorter duration.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 379
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
I lived in Miami for many, many years.
You will need to be licensed to teach by the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Education should have information about how overseas qualified teachers can get their registrations. It will likely involve an exam, and perhaps some top-up courses. You have not mentioned if you are primary or secondary - those are different certifications in Florida.
You apply directly to school principals. The Miami-Dade Public Schools web site has information about this.
Don't bother applying until you have Florida teaching certification.
This isn't a particularly good time to look for a position because the school year has just started. Around February, March etc staffing for next year will begin and people will start moving around and applying, and that will create vacancies.
The job market for teachers isn't great, but not impossible, though with no local experience or local qualifications (and presumably no Spanish skills) you may find it very difficult.
Miami schools vary wildly in quality. Some public high schools there routinely send batches of kids to Ivy League universities, and some public schools are barely functional.
You could also do relief teaching to get your name in circulation, but the pay is terrible (something like $80 per day). A long time ago you didn't need to be a certified teacher to do that, but that information could be out-of-date.
Keep in mind Miami is a huge, sprawling city and a car is essential. You could easily end up in a school an hour or more from where you live.
You will need to be licensed to teach by the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Education should have information about how overseas qualified teachers can get their registrations. It will likely involve an exam, and perhaps some top-up courses. You have not mentioned if you are primary or secondary - those are different certifications in Florida.
You apply directly to school principals. The Miami-Dade Public Schools web site has information about this.
Don't bother applying until you have Florida teaching certification.
This isn't a particularly good time to look for a position because the school year has just started. Around February, March etc staffing for next year will begin and people will start moving around and applying, and that will create vacancies.
The job market for teachers isn't great, but not impossible, though with no local experience or local qualifications (and presumably no Spanish skills) you may find it very difficult.
Miami schools vary wildly in quality. Some public high schools there routinely send batches of kids to Ivy League universities, and some public schools are barely functional.
You could also do relief teaching to get your name in circulation, but the pay is terrible (something like $80 per day). A long time ago you didn't need to be a certified teacher to do that, but that information could be out-of-date.
Keep in mind Miami is a huge, sprawling city and a car is essential. You could easily end up in a school an hour or more from where you live.
Last edited by carcajou; Sep 5th 2018 at 11:20 am.
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 118
Re: Moving to Miami, Florida with partner
I am also a teacher from the U.K. and just moved to Florida (I am married to a US citizen so I have permanent residency). I used a company called World Education Services (WES) to match my qualifications up with US ones. If you look on their website, you can find out how to do it. I now need to apply for a Florida teaching license and I have my WES documents to send to them. The Florida Education Department accept WES documents as proof.