Moving from uk to florida
 

Please could somebody give me some advice on the following situation....

I am 28 with a 9 year old child. I work as a kitchen charge hand full time and I am starting a part time degree in september(4-6 years).
I have been wanting to move to america for some time now and have done lots of research regarding the subject. I realise it is very time consuming and not at all easy.
However, i am wondering what the best way to go about it is, given my situation?
I think the only possible way is through work, but since i don't yet have a degree, how could I ask any employer to sponsor me for the move?
I am also thinking about schooling for my son and childcare etc since i figure most jobs in america are 50hrs+.
I am not work shy by any means, but realistically will I struggle when it comes to care for my child?
I know its alot of advice i am asking for, any help is much appreciated.

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Hi, and welcome to BE.

Unfortunately, there's no immediate route available to you from what you've said. Even once you've got your degree, you'd need a multinational employer and some pretty specialist skills for them to want to spend thousands of dollars on transferring you, so you'll need to look at it as a long term plan.

Congrats on starting your degree, that's a great first step. Have a read of this Wiki page to see the visa options, and see if you think any would work for you now. http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski's_Ways%3A_How_to_Live_and_Work_in_the_USA Then feel free to ask questions about the visa you have in mind, and somebody will always try and help.

As an aside, you'll need to get written permission from your son's father to remove him from UK jurisdiction, or a court order to that effect, so that's something to bear in mind for the future.

Best of luck.

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

What visa eligibility do you have? Unless you're a US citizen, based on what you describe there is no visa that matches your situation. Please check the Pulaski wikis in the US section of the Wikis tab above.

That said, hypothetically, if you did get a visa, you'd have to be certifiably insane to want to immigrate to the US as a single parent. There is no job security, no social safety net, and you'd have to be frequently taking time off, unpaid, to attend meetings at your child's school or take them to the doctor or dentist. Take too much time off and you'll soon be learning about how little job security you have! :unsure:

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

:welcome:
Firstly you are going to find it extremely difficult to get any sort of job, even after you have completed your degree, before then.. well the only chance is for you to marry a US citizen.



as to whether you will be able to get a visa after your degree, well it will really depend what the degree is in. You will have to bring to the table niche skills that no US citizen can offer.

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Hi, thankyou for all of your replies. I will be studying nursing.
Another question I wanted to add is about my son- his father contributes financially but hasnt seen him in 4 years. Basically he just hasnt bothered, no birthday card, christmas card, has even ignored my son in the street. Do I still need permission to take my son to america?

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Unfortunately, nursing isn't a career that will lead to a visa for the US (just search the forum for 'retrogression' to see why). Oz or Canada maybe?

And yes, you'd still need his permission, or alternatively a court order. That's the case for moving anywhere abroad AFAIK.

HTH, good luck.

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Unfortunately, from what you've written, there is no visa that is appropriate for your situation. It's hard to hear, but the reality is that most people from the UK will never get to the US as anything other than a visitor.


Generally speaking, there are 3 visa types: family-based; employment-based; and investment-based. If you don't have a huge wad of money, then an investment-based visa is out. That leaves the other two.

Without a degree, the only likely avenue forward with an employment-based visa, is to get hired in the UK by a multinational company... preferably one that is US-based but that has offices in the UK. Then, after a year or so, you might be able to get a company transfer to the US.

Finally, that leaves a family-based visa. For this to be viable, you'd need to have a US citizen fiancé(e), spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Since you don't mention a spouse, I'm guessing you're a single parent... so the only way forward with this visa type is to get yourself a USC fiancé(e) or spouse!


Schooling won't be an issue, as both primary and secondary education in the US is free for the child... paid for through taxes. Childcare while you work, however, is likely to be expensive.

Good luck to you! You have a dream that's for sure... but realizing that dream is going to have to be a long-term goal - and it'll be an uphill climb.


Yes - and keep in mind that he can assert his parental rights at any time... so you must get written permission (or a court order). You might want to trade the father's financial contributions for his written permission! Seems like a win-win all around.

Ian

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

"Huge wad" = mimimum realistically about $200k. $300k or more would be better to give you an emergency reserve. Not entirely. Parents of children of all ages are expected to chip in with classroom supplies, including but not confined to: paper, pens, pencils, glue, and text books. :nod:Child care includes before or after school care, which can be pricey, and also care during school holidays, .... think $2,000 minimum for "summer camp" during the long summer holiday. :eek:

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

From what you indicate the quality of your life, especially any security, would be at great risk of falling drastically, if you moved to Florida.

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Why?

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Just a heads up that if you do your training in the UK you will not meet state board of nursing requirements due to how UK nurse training is more specialised and the US requires generalist. Suggest looking/searching for threads on nursing

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Canada getting strict with nurses and they too like the US require general training. Plus many provinces requiring IEN to take some form of assessment which generally results in further study costing $$$

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

In your situation if you want to live in the States, the best way forward is to get in by going to school. International students are quite common. Find a state that you want to live in (make sure they have a nursing shortage) and contact the State University(s). Tell them who you are and what you want to do. Here's an example:

http://bismarck.sanfordhealth.org/collegeofnursing/

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

Bollocks. Where can I find a list of States with a nursing shortage, in my chosen State of Florida?

Re: Moving from uk to florida
 

:D