motogpking

Hi, ive been looking around on this site and it seems the people here really know what they are talking about so long story short i met my girlfriend 4 years ago whilst i was in miami for a while and we have been going back and forth regulary to see each other since then, but we want to be together properly.
She cant move to the uk as she is doing her nursing degree so its up to me to move there as i have less to leave behind, im not specially qualified i.e. im not a surgeon or any other kind of specialist trade there might be a shortage of over there in the us so i can rule out employment visa, i would be willing to study but dont know how realistic a student visa is, and was wanting to know what the people on this forum think would be the best way for me to get a visa to live over there. Sorry if i havent given enough info and if theres numerous spelling mistakes as its pretty late as of typing this but if theres anything of major importance ive left out let me know so i can fill you in.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice,

cheers.

fatbrit

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski_Simplified

Noorah101

There are very basically 4 ways to immigrate to the USA.

1. Marriage to a USC
2. Work
3. Student
4. Investment

Is your girlfriend a USC? If so, that's your clear path to immigrate.

You say you don't qualify for a work visa, so that's probably out.

Student visa is possible, you need to get accepted at a US institution and get the I-20 in hand, then go for an F1 visa interview. You need to prove that you have the funds to cover your 4-year course plus living expenses up front.

Are you fairly rich; do you have money to invest in a US business?

Rene

motogpking

Hi, thanks for the quick replys, to answer, no im not particularly rich, likely not enough to invest in us business, and yes she is a us citizen, i could look down the student visa but i think it may take a while from start to finish and thats even if i have enough money spare to cover 4 years living and study expense which is unlikely. ill have to do some sums on that one.

Noorah101

I notice you made no comment on the marriage based visa. Is that not an option?

Rene

Noorah101

From start to finish...do you mean how long it takes to get the visa? Or how long it will take you to get the university degree?

Rene

motogpking

Hi, we have talked about marriage and are both sure we do want to get married and actually got engaged 3 months ago, but would like that as a last option as we are both kinda old fasioned and would prefer to make that commitment in our own time and wouldnt want to feel as though are marriage was being dictated by a visa, although if that is the only way we are both willing and wanting to do that. If that makes any sense. Oh and i was meaning how long it would take to get the student visa, again i really appreciate your time and help.

Beaverstate

Part one...good answer. Part 2 answered by part one.

penguinsix

Get married, even if it is a quiet, personal civil ceremony between only you, your wife, a government official and the only folks you tell are the USICS.

Have your Royal Wedding with flowers and cake and dancing the Electric Slide later, but if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone why are you waiting to get started on that? All other options are seven degrees of hell with the immigration folks and will deplete your finances and waste your time.

I know this sounds flippant, but really given the information you've presented us, this is the best / easiest / cheapest way for you to come to the USA.

Other options are studying (which will quickly eat up your money) and possibly coming over under the VWP for 90 days to see if you want to live in the USA long term with this person. Or work for a UK company with offices in the US (but you haven't really mention what your profession is so I'm not sure if that is an option). Have you two spent a significant amount of time together in person?

RICH

Best option from what you say is marriage. You sound young.

I was mid 30s and the only viable way to be with my US love was to get married so i could come over uk to us . It is a hard path, took a couple of years. Noorah101 was at it along with me around 2004. My marriage failed after 4 years, but i m still here.

You really need to think about what you both want long term. This site is invaluable if you want to hear from people who have been there and done that. Rich

ian-mstm

I may just be an old fart, but I don't think "old-fashioned" involves living on two separate continents! Don't confuse that which would be nice, with that which is possible.

Ian

SultanOfSwing

You're already engaged. You have an option for a visa - the K1 (fiancé) visa. One proviso is you do have to get married within 90 days of entry into the US, but you can just do a quiet civil ceremony as suggested, and have a bigger ceremony later on if you so desire.

That's what I did - I met my wife on the internet, we'd only known each other nine months when we finally met in person but we got married about a year after that and seven years on we're still together and I'm a full USC so I never have to deal with USCIS again

motogpking

Hi, thanks for all the advice everyone, just to clarify by "old fasioned" i was meaning that we both would prefer our wedding to be on our terms, but after reading the replys and doing more research it seems as though the quickest and least stressfull way would be marriage, which isnt a bad thing as we are engaged and do plan to get married in the near future anyhow, again thanks to all for the replys and advice.

cheers.

SultanOfSwing

See - it really still is on your terms if you think about it. You've just moved the schedule forward a wee bit.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do

motogpking

Yes we have spent a significant amount of time together in person, i met her whilst in miami for a 4 week vacation about 4 years ago and since have both been taking it in turns to go back and forth every few months for a few weeks at a time, as you can imagine it takes up a fair bit of cash for the numerous plane tickets. We would have started this process earlier but she was tied down with her degree wich she is now close to finishing and work and looking after an ill family member have meant i was unable to leave the uk up until 2 months ago.