homer J

Hi all this is my first posting on the site. I hope someone can help.
My family and I have decided that we would like to move from Scotland to Florida. what we are looking for is the name of a company or Lawer in Florida that will aid and guide us through the process of reaching our dream.

Hopefully there is someone who has used a company that they could recomend.

hope you can help, Thanks for your time homer J...

doctor scrumpy

What reason could you offer the US to let you move here ? Are you seeking to move because it looks nice from a holiday visit ?

homer J

Reasons, for wanting to move to Florida, Originaly yes from a Holiday. We were blown away with the completly diffrent life style. we made friends their 3 years ago who we are very close to now. we have been back to visit again and loved it even more. Our friends over there want us to come over and stay. we have no reason to stay in Scotland. We want a new life a fresh start if u like. and why not somewhere we really love.

dbark

Firstly let me say that a holiday is completely different to living and working somewhere. Then let me re-post a list of ways that you could legally come here to live.

There are basically SEVEN ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:
(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.

(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience.

(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.

(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)
The business must have a minimum value of around $100k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $250k would be a nearer minimum

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. And your background will be investigatedto the hilt.

(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years…

Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $3k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent
© Pulaski..Ray

homer J

Thanks for the info , What I am looking for is the name of a good attorney In Florida that deals with relocation. That could evaluate our situation and circumstances, and help us reach our goal. My wife has 15 years exp in debt colection for banks child supprt etc etc. I have been offered a position in security when I arrive.

sibsie

You can go to www.aila.org and ask for a referral. But... and there's always a but, unless you meet the criteria listed in the seven commandments you're not going to get in.

While you're here why not have a look at the threads that talk about life in America and how it's oh so different living here to holidaying here.

Manc

and? so what?
So?

when you arrive?
you'll need a H1B visa mate. The company you'll be working for will need to sponsor you.

expensive and time consuming.
I doubt they'll bother once they realise the hassles/cost involved when they can hire a ordinary schmuck off the streets without any hassles.

homer J

Thankyou for your help. Why is it that everyone I talk to is trying to stop us reaching our goal our dream. I understand that this is not a holiday i am going on. we understand that there will be obstacles and walls put in front of us to stop us reaching our goal That is life.This is a new start at life for me and my family, walls and obstacles will be dealt with when the time comes. There must be someone out there that loves living in Florida and has good positive attitude to getting in to the coutry and living out there dream.

Jan Alaska

We're not trying to stop you ... were giving you a realistic outlook on your chances of coming to the US and working, which unfortunately arent good, America has no shortage of debt collection persons nor security persons, maybe think about upgrading your qualifications and make it a long term goal ? Right now i would settle for enjoying your vacations in Florida .... sorry but its the hard truth ... USA is the hardest country to emmigrate to.

Manc

You're an optimist. I'd say the chances are slim to none.

sibsie

What Jan said!

You're nothing in the US without a good degree. If you haven't already got one, start studying and start looking at a career in England in one of the occupations for which workers here are in short supply.

BritGuyTN

and incidentally - a h1b visa has a bachelors degree as a pre-requisite

if the job you wabnt doesn't require one - which it doesn't seem it does then you are SOL (shit out of luck)

I transferred on an L1b intracompany transfer - cost $7,000

forget fluffy dreams - there is the harsh reality

Initiay people were very gentle, but as you got indignant it became evident you need to wake up an smell the coffee

check out australia instead

not being rude, but we get a lot of people who went to florida on holiday and want to move there without any idea of the practicalities....

Muswell Hill

Hi there,
I don't think anyone is being nasty here, just offering a dose of reality. There is absolutely no way at all you can move here without a degree. If you are dead serious about this my recommendation would be to go to university and study nursing. Last year 4000 British nurses moved here, and from i have read the amount of time to procerss nurses paperwork is short as it is expedited. Seriously, if you want to move to another country then waiting a few more years won't hurt.
As was said before, working in security will NOT under any circumstances qualify you or your family for any of the visa categories.

Education is your key to success. Contact your local nursing school now, and i refer to RN's not care assistants or anything else.

Best of luck to you. I hope you achieve your goal!

BritGuyTN

Actually technically you can - on both counts

I work for an (IT) Security company and don't have a degree and getting an L1 was not an issue

The key thing is working for the foreign office of a company doing business for at least one year and then them being prepared to transfer you over

My visa got approved in three weeks without premium processing

So - for the long term if you can get a job in the UK office of an ameican firm (who have offices in forida) who will employ you for a year and then let you transfer (and pay the thousands in legal costs) then you will be golden

you need to be senior management (L1A) or have specialist know of the company products or procedures (L1B)

Roightmush

Don't mean to split hairs but not true.
I chose to serve an apprenticeship at HM dockyard after completeing my A levels. Finished the apprenticeship with an HND.

When filing my H1-B visa I had to show enough work experience with a gradual progression in work status that would be considered equivalent to a bachelors degree.
I think it was 4 years work for every I year of degree.