Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
Apr 2nd 2007, 8:25 pm
#31
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
Ignore Lycanthrop 
His real name is Matt, and he's a Brit with a Very Sick Sense of HumoUr... 
His real name is Matt, and he's a Brit with a Very Sick Sense of HumoUr...
Apr 2nd 2007, 8:41 pm
#32
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
They have said that if they suspect a partner is working and not telling them then ,yes they will ask for tax returns.
Apr 2nd 2007, 8:45 pm
#33
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 557
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
This is not correct.
My husband has a H1b visa and he is a manager.
He has this visa despite working for the American company for 18 months prior to moving.
Although he worked for them they went under the umbrella of another large company and were not a registered company in the UK.
If they had been a registered company we would of got the L1 visa.
My husband has a H1b visa and he is a manager.
He has this visa despite working for the American company for 18 months prior to moving.
Although he worked for them they went under the umbrella of another large company and were not a registered company in the UK.
If they had been a registered company we would of got the L1 visa.
Apr 2nd 2007, 8:52 pm
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
But this is the first time I have heard it in connection with just working as opposed to working where benefits are also available.
Apr 2nd 2007, 8:52 pm
#35
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
I'll second Elvira's reply.
A transfer from the UK offices of a company to its US offices would most likely fall under the L1 category, and the accompanying spouse (and kids, if you have them) get L2 visas which allow them to work in the US.
If, however, you are sponsored by a US company to come over on an H1 visa, then your family get H4 visas and cannot take any paid employment in the US.
Personally, I think this sucks. The families of senior managers who come over on L1 visas should not get different treatment to the families of skilled workers who come over on H1 visas... but them's the rules, and we sure ain't going to win any arguments with USCIS over them!
A transfer from the UK offices of a company to its US offices would most likely fall under the L1 category, and the accompanying spouse (and kids, if you have them) get L2 visas which allow them to work in the US.
If, however, you are sponsored by a US company to come over on an H1 visa, then your family get H4 visas and cannot take any paid employment in the US.
Personally, I think this sucks. The families of senior managers who come over on L1 visas should not get different treatment to the families of skilled workers who come over on H1 visas... but them's the rules, and we sure ain't going to win any arguments with USCIS over them!
Apr 2nd 2007, 9:14 pm
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
This is not correct.
My husband has a H1b visa and he is a manager.
He has this visa despite working for the American company for 18 months prior to moving.
Although he worked for them they went under the umbrella of another large company and were not a registered company in the UK.
If they had been a registered company we would of got the L1 visa.
My husband has a H1b visa and he is a manager.
He has this visa despite working for the American company for 18 months prior to moving.
Although he worked for them they went under the umbrella of another large company and were not a registered company in the UK.
If they had been a registered company we would of got the L1 visa.
Apr 2nd 2007, 9:18 pm
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 557
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
Apr 2nd 2007, 9:27 pm
#39
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Can my wife work in the USA if I relocate?
I think if you have a job that doesn't offer benefits then you are probably OK. You are on the horns of a dilema if the partners job doesn't offer equal or better benefits. I suppose you either come off the insurance or don't tell them and suffer the consequences if they find out.
The self employed thing seems to be a grey area and I'm not sure how that will pan out. We don't know the couple that well to be able to ask.
