Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
#16
Banned
Joined: Aug 2016
Location: Cascade Mountains, WA
Posts: 1,089
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
In short, to be able to live and work in the USA you must either:
- be married to or about to be married to a USC
- be married to a green card holder
- be an immediate relative (parent, child, sibling) of a USC - aunts, uncles, cousins, best friends don't count
- be an unmarried child of a green card holder
- have a healthy 6-figure sum to invest and more to fall back on
- work for a company that has offices in the USA that is prepared to transfer you
- work in a job that requires a degree and be fortunate enough to find a company prepared to sponsor you and be in the 25% of hopefuls that are selected for visa approval (the other 75% are rejected purely based on not enough visas being available). Your spouse would not be able to work.
- you may be eligible for the diversity visa (aka green card lottery). Those born in England, Scotland and Wales are not eligible but Northern Ireland is. If either you or your spouse was not born in England. Scotland or Wales then you may be eligible.
- there are a few very specialist categories - religious workers, extraordinary ability, refugees, that likely don't apply to you.
It looks like marriage, family and investment are out. So either you win the euro millions or you need to get a degree (if you don't have one) and work in that field or work for a company in the U.K. that will transfer you.
Think of it as a 10-year or 15-year plan.
#17
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
If you can give people some more info about your situation (i.e. what you both do as jobs, what your highest education level is, whether you work for multinational companies, any US citizen relatives, etc) then they can help you figure out a possible visa route if there is one.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#18
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 9
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
Thank you I just didn’t want to overwhelm or annoy anyone
I’m a civil servant working for the department for working pensions , I’m a case manager who handles pulblic benefit cases and decisions , I have a degree in CIPD which covers both HR and Training
My wife is an office and facilities manager for a large global solicitors She is currently updating and adding to her facilities education levels by working on a higher level degree
We have no children and don’t currentky have a mortgage , I have spent a some time living in San Diego many years ago and have friends there 1 whom emigrated himself from the UK 16 years ago
Both me and my wife have always loved the American way of life and I personally have always felt more comfortable there as a person if that makes sense
We have talked about making the move many times but now feel it’s time to really start looking into it
I’m 41 and my wife is 39 if that makes any difference
Again thank you all for the advice
I’m a civil servant working for the department for working pensions , I’m a case manager who handles pulblic benefit cases and decisions , I have a degree in CIPD which covers both HR and Training
My wife is an office and facilities manager for a large global solicitors She is currently updating and adding to her facilities education levels by working on a higher level degree
We have no children and don’t currentky have a mortgage , I have spent a some time living in San Diego many years ago and have friends there 1 whom emigrated himself from the UK 16 years ago
Both me and my wife have always loved the American way of life and I personally have always felt more comfortable there as a person if that makes sense
We have talked about making the move many times but now feel it’s time to really start looking into it
I’m 41 and my wife is 39 if that makes any difference
Again thank you all for the advice
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 4,891
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
Thank you I just didn’t want to overwhelm or annoy anyone
I’m a civil servant working for the department for working pensions , I’m a case manager who handles pulblic benefit cases and decisions , I have a degree in CIPD which covers both HR and Training
My wife is an office and facilities manager for a large global solicitors She is currently updating and adding to her facilities education levels by working on a higher level degree
We have no children and don’t currentky have a mortgage , I have spent a some time living in San Diego many years ago and have friends there 1 whom emigrated himself from the UK 16 years ago
Both me and my wife have always loved the American way of life and I personally have always felt more comfortable there as a person if that makes sense
We have talked about making the move many times but now feel it’s time to really start looking into it
I’m 41 and my wife is 39 if that makes any difference
Again thank you all for the advice
I’m a civil servant working for the department for working pensions , I’m a case manager who handles pulblic benefit cases and decisions , I have a degree in CIPD which covers both HR and Training
My wife is an office and facilities manager for a large global solicitors She is currently updating and adding to her facilities education levels by working on a higher level degree
We have no children and don’t currentky have a mortgage , I have spent a some time living in San Diego many years ago and have friends there 1 whom emigrated himself from the UK 16 years ago
Both me and my wife have always loved the American way of life and I personally have always felt more comfortable there as a person if that makes sense
We have talked about making the move many times but now feel it’s time to really start looking into it
I’m 41 and my wife is 39 if that makes any difference
Again thank you all for the advice
#22
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 4,891
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
#23
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
So that leaves self employment/ "investment", such as an E-2, and it has to be an active business, it can't just be a load of rental homes. Some people have managed to wing-it with a landscaping or pool maintenance business, but the economics are dubious in most cases, or you could buy a hotel or petrol station, but you would need a seven figure loan from a bank to add to your investment, for anything more than a small guest house or an off-the-beaten-track petrol station.
Of course Hathers could just buy a green card for $560,000 (including fees), but that would mean either investing in an under-developed part of the US, or trusting his money to a shark to invest it for him. But barring a fraud, of which there have been several, or a poorly performing investment, he would get his money back, .... eventually.
Beyond that, you're looking at niche visas, like "religious worker", or "sports professional".
Last edited by Pulaski; Oct 5th 2017 at 1:03 pm.
#24
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
Hathers,
How did you manage to live in San Diego many years ago? What visa did you have back then?
Rene
How did you manage to live in San Diego many years ago? What visa did you have back then?
Rene
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 315
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
If your wife works in FM l would seriously suggest seeking a job with either another law firm that does have US offices (and lots do) or an alternative firm that does (try insurance). Personally l would stick with a mid sized firm where there is greater chance of influencing CEO level and therefore getting the chance of the move but still large enough that the cost of the move wouldn't be an issue.
Obviously this isn't an instant solution however it is realistic and could be achieved relatively quickly (3 yrs ish)
In the meantime I would suggest trying to get some pieces published in FM World (it is the BIFM's publication) and perhaps researching on areas that maybe of use in the US where Europe is leading, sustainability and Environmental impact springs to mind. Additionally she could look into fm project management, this might expose her to different employees and offices and increase the chances of influencing a move.
The US is the home of FM so what she does is well respected here and l hope that somehow helps.
Good luck with your plans.
Obviously this isn't an instant solution however it is realistic and could be achieved relatively quickly (3 yrs ish)
In the meantime I would suggest trying to get some pieces published in FM World (it is the BIFM's publication) and perhaps researching on areas that maybe of use in the US where Europe is leading, sustainability and Environmental impact springs to mind. Additionally she could look into fm project management, this might expose her to different employees and offices and increase the chances of influencing a move.
The US is the home of FM so what she does is well respected here and l hope that somehow helps.
Good luck with your plans.
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
I worked in Insurance and in the area that dealt internationally and it is extreme rare for anyone to be transferred to the US for very good reasons that I do not need to go into.
A friend's wife is a HR Director and was asked to move to the US, they did not actually go.
They have a condo in Florida and visit.
A friend's wife is a HR Director and was asked to move to the US, they did not actually go.
They have a condo in Florida and visit.
#27
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 315
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
I worked in Insurance and in the area that dealt internationally and it is extreme rare for anyone to be transferred to the US for very good reasons that I do not need to go into.
A friend's wife is a HR Director and was asked to move to the US, they did not actually go.
They have a condo in Florida and visit.
A friend's wife is a HR Director and was asked to move to the US, they did not actually go.
They have a condo in Florida and visit.
#28
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 9
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
Thank you all
You’ve reslly given us some ideas of what to do next
You’ve reslly given us some ideas of what to do next
#29
Re: Moving from the UK to America , how can it be done ???
So while we frequently glibly say "get your employer to transfer you", the reality is that for most people in most occupations, getting a visa would be the easy part, the problem is that your employer has no intention of relocating you!
FWIW I negotiated my own transfer once upon a time from London to my employer's affiliate in Chicago. My department head in London was supportive. The senior manager I would be reporting to in Chicago was supportive. My "toe in the water" visit went well. .... Then HR put the kibosh on it. The deal crashed to a halt. ..... And I didn't even NEED a visa! I believe that HR didn't know that I didn't need a visa, but by the time I found out, the deal had already crashed and burned.