CFoster26

Oh, no I don’t think the US people would come to UK people for funerals!

christmasoompa

I've no idea tbh, it's a shame as that would have been a much more likely way to get a visa. You'd both be able to work, plus be able to set up where you choose (unlike with a work visa, as said above you may not get any choice in where you go and will just have to go wherever you are lucky enough to find a sponsoring employer - which may well not be NC). Maybe the British accent would work in your favour and make your business hugely successful out there?!

But if your own business expanding in to the US isn't an option, then you'll just have to see if you can get lucky and find an employer prepared to sponsor a work visa. Just bear in mind the potential limitations above if you go down the H1B route i.e. the dependent spouse not being able to work, not being able to start until October 2023, and it being a lottery system with only a 1 in 4 chance (approx) of getting a visa next year. Plus as advised, I'd widen your search and not limit yourselves to NC as that may really restrict your chances.

Best of luck.

CFoster26

Thank you for all your help.

Pulaski

Well there is a very real possibility for you, albeit one that you probably hadn't considered, which would be to sponsor yourself for an L-1 visa by opening a branch of your UK business in the US, You would need to appoint managers in the UK, as it is imperative that the UK business remains active and self-sustaining during your visa and green card process.

But getting an L-1 visa to start (or buy) a branch in the US would be quite easy and straight forward. An E-2 may be another possibility. After you have gone through the visa process and then the green card process, with green cards in hand, you would be able to sell the UK business. I would guess that it would take about three years from start to finish (meaning you have your green cards).

CFoster26

That sounds like very hard work, the laws are different in the US so not sure if we would be able to open a branch! Also cost a lot of money to do! I’m trying to find another funeral director in the US from UK but so far no luck!

Pulaski

Nobody said it would be easy, in fact quite the opposite, and honestly when most people never manage to make the move to the US at all, you need to play the hand you have, and yours, as the esteemed Mr Folinsky, who posted above, likes to say, "has some possibilities".

CFoster26

One funeral director replied to me and said we would need to obtain the NC license first before they would consider employing us. How do you obtain a license if you can’t stay in the country? Or do you think that we might get a student visa through that? And would that visa be for me alone or would that allow family too?

christmasoompa

What does getting licensed involved? For some occupations it's just a case of flying in and taking exams, you can do that without an issue, but if it's more involved or requires any work then that's another stumbling block.

Do you think the company that replied to you are aware they'd have to sponsor your visa? Most US companies have no clue about the process involved in hiring somebody from outside the country, so it's good that they're interested, but worth checking that with them too.

CFoster26

That what I need to find out next. Whether it would be a case of just sitting and exam as I have a qualification or whether it is retraining completely. He said if you could legally work here we would consider employing you, but how can we legally work without a visa 🤷🏻‍♀️

christmasoompa

See post no. 14 above, that was mentioned, so he's not prepared to sponsor your visa which means that's a non starter. He would only consider employing you if you have already obtained a visa, but you can't do that without a job offer (unless you happen to have a close US citizen relative or another half a million quid or so that you've not mentioned). It might be worth going back to him and explaining that you can't get a visa without employer sponsorship, just in case, but I'd expect the conversation to end there tbh.

Does it have to be NC, is there a family connection there or similar? Looking at the link given to you in post no. 8 it seems other states might be more likely, such as Colorado where licensing isn't compulsory.

And does it have to be the US, other countries might be more feasible maybe?

christmasoompa

A quick Google brings this up - https://www.ncfda.org/licensing-requirements

It's the '12 months of supervised apprenticeship' that may mean you need to look at other states unfortunately, but again a quick email to the NCFDA may give you clarity, ask them how international applicants can do so and on what visa.

CFoster26

Thank you, I have emailed them and asked the question! It’s so hard! How has anyone ever moved without a family link or a job that has been transferred from UK! I seemed impossible and is very disheartening!

christmasoompa

The US is notorious as one of the hardest countries for most to move to, which is why I asked if it had to be there in my post above. It's not impossible if you have specialist skills i.e. doctors, engineers, etc, or are an executive in an international company that can transfer, but it can be tricky for most.

The one thing you do have is the business option, but you seem to be discounting that - if you're determined to move to the US I would research that further as it may be your only option.

CFoster26

It doesn’t have to be there no, just liked the state. Would it not piss people off though if you went to someone and got the visa / green card and then once you had it left to go somewhere else after they paid that money! How long would you need to stay before it deemed acceptable to move on?

CFoster26

With the business option, how would that work, I wouldn’t be able to open a funeral directors in the US as many of them include crematoriums and we don’t have the money for that? Could it be any business? Or does it have to be linked to the existing one in the UK?