Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
#1
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Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 5
Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Hello all,
I'm totally new to this website, so I hope I'm posting in the correct section .
I'm looking for advice on how I can move to California and continue working remotely for a UK company.
I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK, and I want to move in with my girlfriend who is a US citizen, living in California.
I have an O2 visa which I was given as part of my second job as a musician. This visa is described as the following:
"The O2 visa is designed for the essential support personnel of O1 visa holders who are temporarily entering the United States for work-related purposes. The O2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and is only granted for those who are accompanying O1 (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability) visa holders who work in the field of athletics, entertainment, motion picture, or television production. O1 visa holders who work in education, business, or science are not eligible to bring essential support personnel with them to the United States under an O2 visa."
This visa however, is totally irrelevant to the remote job that I will be working whilst in the states, but it allows me to go to and from the US to see my girlfriend without having to get an esta etc.
The company I'm working for are asking me if my visa would allow me to work in the US, but the O2 visa clearly states that I'm there to support the holder of an O1 visa, the O1 holder has nothing to do with the work I'll be doing.
I understand there's no "digital nomad" type of visa for the US (which would be the type that I need), but if I go to the US on my O2 visa and just continue working for the UK company, is there any way that this would get the company in any kind of legal trouble?
I don't know what the implications would be for the company if I'm discovered to be living in the US with a visa that's totally irrelevant to the job I'm doing.
Also if anyone can help, what would I need to tell the UK company in order to put their mind at rest about any legal implications?
Many thanks,
zack
I'm totally new to this website, so I hope I'm posting in the correct section .
I'm looking for advice on how I can move to California and continue working remotely for a UK company.
I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK, and I want to move in with my girlfriend who is a US citizen, living in California.
I have an O2 visa which I was given as part of my second job as a musician. This visa is described as the following:
"The O2 visa is designed for the essential support personnel of O1 visa holders who are temporarily entering the United States for work-related purposes. The O2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and is only granted for those who are accompanying O1 (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability) visa holders who work in the field of athletics, entertainment, motion picture, or television production. O1 visa holders who work in education, business, or science are not eligible to bring essential support personnel with them to the United States under an O2 visa."
This visa however, is totally irrelevant to the remote job that I will be working whilst in the states, but it allows me to go to and from the US to see my girlfriend without having to get an esta etc.
The company I'm working for are asking me if my visa would allow me to work in the US, but the O2 visa clearly states that I'm there to support the holder of an O1 visa, the O1 holder has nothing to do with the work I'll be doing.
I understand there's no "digital nomad" type of visa for the US (which would be the type that I need), but if I go to the US on my O2 visa and just continue working for the UK company, is there any way that this would get the company in any kind of legal trouble?
I don't know what the implications would be for the company if I'm discovered to be living in the US with a visa that's totally irrelevant to the job I'm doing.
Also if anyone can help, what would I need to tell the UK company in order to put their mind at rest about any legal implications?
Many thanks,
zack
#2
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,855
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Hello all,
I'm totally new to this website, so I hope I'm posting in the correct section .
I'm looking for advice on how I can move to California and continue working remotely for a UK company.
I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK, and I want to move in with my girlfriend who is a US citizen, living in California.
I have an O2 visa which I was given as part of my second job as a musician. This visa is described as the following:
"The O2 visa is designed for the essential support personnel of O1 visa holders who are temporarily entering the United States for work-related purposes. The O2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and is only granted for those who are accompanying O1 (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability) visa holders who work in the field of athletics, entertainment, motion picture, or television production. O1 visa holders who work in education, business, or science are not eligible to bring essential support personnel with them to the United States under an O2 visa."
This visa however, is totally irrelevant to the remote job that I will be working whilst in the states, but it allows me to go to and from the US to see my girlfriend without having to get an esta etc.
The company I'm working for are asking me if my visa would allow me to work in the US, but the O2 visa clearly states that I'm there to support the holder of an O1 visa, the O1 holder has nothing to do with the work I'll be doing.
I understand there's no "digital nomad" type of visa for the US (which would be the type that I need), but if I go to the US on my O2 visa and just continue working for the UK company, is there any way that this would get the company in any kind of legal trouble?
I don't know what the implications would be for the company if I'm discovered to be living in the US with a visa that's totally irrelevant to the job I'm doing.
Also if anyone can help, what would I need to tell the UK company in order to put their mind at rest about any legal implications?
Many thanks,
zack
I'm totally new to this website, so I hope I'm posting in the correct section .
I'm looking for advice on how I can move to California and continue working remotely for a UK company.
I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK, and I want to move in with my girlfriend who is a US citizen, living in California.
I have an O2 visa which I was given as part of my second job as a musician. This visa is described as the following:
"The O2 visa is designed for the essential support personnel of O1 visa holders who are temporarily entering the United States for work-related purposes. The O2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and is only granted for those who are accompanying O1 (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability) visa holders who work in the field of athletics, entertainment, motion picture, or television production. O1 visa holders who work in education, business, or science are not eligible to bring essential support personnel with them to the United States under an O2 visa."
This visa however, is totally irrelevant to the remote job that I will be working whilst in the states, but it allows me to go to and from the US to see my girlfriend without having to get an esta etc.
The company I'm working for are asking me if my visa would allow me to work in the US, but the O2 visa clearly states that I'm there to support the holder of an O1 visa, the O1 holder has nothing to do with the work I'll be doing.
I understand there's no "digital nomad" type of visa for the US (which would be the type that I need), but if I go to the US on my O2 visa and just continue working for the UK company, is there any way that this would get the company in any kind of legal trouble?
I don't know what the implications would be for the company if I'm discovered to be living in the US with a visa that's totally irrelevant to the job I'm doing.
Also if anyone can help, what would I need to tell the UK company in order to put their mind at rest about any legal implications?
Many thanks,
zack
#3
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Yup, you need a new visa that allows you to do what you're proposing, you can't do it on either the O2 or as a visitor either.
The obvious visa route that springs to mind is via your USC gf, if marriage is an option?
The obvious visa route that springs to mind is via your USC gf, if marriage is an option?
#4
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Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 5
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Yup, you need a new visa that allows you to do what you're proposing, you can't do it on either the O2 or as a visitor either.
The obvious visa route that springs to mind is via your USC gf, if marriage is an option?
The obvious visa route that springs to mind is via your USC gf, if marriage is an option?
#5
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Failing that, your only option is to keep visiting until you are ready for marriage - just don't work remotely when you're visiting!
Good luck.
#7
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
You cannot work remotely for the UK company while you are in the USA on your O-1 nor as a visitor.
Therefore, your 2 choices are: 1) Ask the UK company to transfer you (either to an existing US office or to open a new US office) or 2) Marry your USC girlfriend.
Otherwise, just visit as usual, without working during your visits.
Rene
Therefore, your 2 choices are: 1) Ask the UK company to transfer you (either to an existing US office or to open a new US office) or 2) Marry your USC girlfriend.
Otherwise, just visit as usual, without working during your visits.
Rene
#8
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
I hear wedding bells...
Or the crushing realization of disappointment...
Just depends on how your GF reacts to your inevitable proposal. There is no 'shack up with the Mrs. and see if it works out' visa.
Or the crushing realization of disappointment...
Just depends on how your GF reacts to your inevitable proposal. There is no 'shack up with the Mrs. and see if it works out' visa.
#9
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,855
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
at 21 I had a USC GF but was not ready to get married… I researched ALL the options like the OP has started doing a then worked the TYP… (Ten Year Plan)… combination of work experience and education, networking and the.n finally a job that led to an L1a an GC….
#10
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Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 5
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Hey all,
Thanks for all the responses. After doing a bunch of research, we're going down the marriage route
It looks like there's 2 ways to go, either K-1 or K-3... Can anyone help with advising on the QUICKEST way of being able to stay there with her whilst working for my UK company?
At this point we're open to eloping on my next visit to speed things up. Is it quicker to do that or to do the K-1? I'm seeing mixed messages online about this!
Also, does anyone recommend a company that might be able to ensure that the process is successful? I'm worried we could make a mistake with the documentation and delay things.
Thanks a lot!
Thanks for all the responses. After doing a bunch of research, we're going down the marriage route
It looks like there's 2 ways to go, either K-1 or K-3... Can anyone help with advising on the QUICKEST way of being able to stay there with her whilst working for my UK company?
At this point we're open to eloping on my next visit to speed things up. Is it quicker to do that or to do the K-1? I'm seeing mixed messages online about this!
Also, does anyone recommend a company that might be able to ensure that the process is successful? I'm worried we could make a mistake with the documentation and delay things.
Thanks a lot!
#11
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Quickest route to you being about to work? Ignore the Ks. Fly over, get a quicky marriage, fly back to the UK and file for CR1. It will mean some time apart married, but it will also mean you being able to work the day you immigrate to the US, even for your UK employer.
Unless your adverse to completing forms, or have a criminal record, you do not need a lawyer or anyone to help you, just do your research. I did not use anyone to get my CR1 other than this website.
Unless your adverse to completing forms, or have a criminal record, you do not need a lawyer or anyone to help you, just do your research. I did not use anyone to get my CR1 other than this website.
#12
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Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 5
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the advice!
From what I have seen online the K1 has less of a lead time than the CR1? Again, I have no idea if the info is reliable.
Can I ask how long it took you to get the CR1?
The objective really is to get me there and working as quickly as possible. What I'm trying to do is essentially spend some time with her over there until she's free to eventually come back to the UK.
From what I have seen online the K1 has less of a lead time than the CR1? Again, I have no idea if the info is reliable.
Can I ask how long it took you to get the CR1?
The objective really is to get me there and working as quickly as possible. What I'm trying to do is essentially spend some time with her over there until she's free to eventually come back to the UK.
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,662
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
K1 and K3 pretty much redundant.
CR1 will take about 12 months to process.
You can visit while visa is being processed.
Presume she is able to sponsor you.
CR1 will take about 12 months to process.
You can visit while visa is being processed.
Presume she is able to sponsor you.
#14
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!
The problem is the 'working' part. It will take a good while after you arrive in the US to apply for and receive employment authorization - only then will you be allowed to work on the K1.
So yes, it might get you to the US quicker, but it won't get you to where you want to be quicker.
Indeed, I didn't think to ask that.
So yes, it might get you to the US quicker, but it won't get you to where you want to be quicker.
Presume she is able to sponsor you.
#15
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 348
Re: Moving from UK to California to work remotely for a UK company. Please Help!