flashdancer

Hi all,

Need some help for my brother. He wants to move to Florida at the beginning of 2013 to be with his girlfriend. There is one obvious way of doing so but he wants to be able to offer her a life with him rather than the other way round so he'd like to set himself up before popping the question a couple of years down the line.

He's 22, and his gf is studying at college so cannot move over here. He was going to apply to college himself but the money involved is not immediately doable. Also, he had lined up some work at Disney but that's fallen through. He's got GCSE's and is currently doing an Apprenticeship at a concert arena to be a Rigger but he's afraid his dream is not going to happen due to lack of qualifications etc. He just wants to work and be with his gf. Bless. I'm not chuffed about his choices but I want him to be happy so thats why I'm trying to help but having lived in england all my life, I'm not a well of information lol

So I'm just wondering if anyone has ANY information whatsoever that can help him. He's a hard worker and he will be an asset to any company he works for, he just needs nod in the right direction to help him along this path.

Thanks for any replies, really appreciated.

christmasoompa

Really sorry to say this, but from what you've said he's got no chance at the moment unless he marries his gf (assuming she's a USC of course).

Have a read of this to understand the various visa routes, if you do think he'd qualify for any of them then you can ask questions about it, but most visas will require a degree as a minimum (plus of course an employer prepared to spend thousands on getting him over there, which isn't likely unless he has specialist skills). http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski's_Ways%3A_How_to_Live_and_Work_in_the_USA

Another option if he doesn't want to get married is to think of it as a longer term plan and to get himself in a position where he stands a shot at a visa i.e. get a degree, work his way up in an international company and then ask for a transfer when senior enough etc.

Or they could spend time together in a third country i.e. Canada?

Good luck to him.

flashdancer

Urgh, that sucks. I think I'll try and sell the Uni idea to him, doesn't really look like there's another way except marriage. They've been together for 2 years though and they're young so at least they've got a sensible attitude to not rushing into things too soon. Thank God for Skype haha

Thank you

christmasoompa

Unless a third country is an option as I mentioned? For example, his gf could get a study permit for Canada to finish her studies, and he could get a Working Holiday Visa which is an open work permit for a year (and he coudl then get a 2nd year if he wanted). At least that way they could live together for a year or two to see if marriage is the way forward?

flashdancer

That sounds like a really good idea to pitch to him, where can I get more information about that please?

It's nice to know there is at least some other way, as much as I like his gf, I won't be impressed if marriage is their only option lol

christmasoompa

The CIC website has all the info about visas for Canada (I'm sure there are lots of other countries they could spend time in too, but I don't know about visas for them, hence my suggestion of Canada!).

I've no idea if she could continue her studies in the UK, but is that an option maybe? That way only one of them has to move and they could spend time together in his country before moving to hers once married.

CitySimon

I married my US Citizen wife back when I was 21, with only six weeks engagement, so that she could get her visa sorted out to live in the UK. We'd been together for 18 months at that time.

If he wants to be with her, they should just get married, simple enough. Just my opinion though.

caleyjag

Honestly, it is their only practical option.

fatbrit

Marriage is the only option. I can assure the American people and their government can live quite happily without you being impressed.

oxonlad

Moving to a different country, without a commitment on paper - is stupid. Get married - it's a legal contract :-)

BritishGuy36

He can't just come to the US and start work .... he would have to have work authorization else he will end up being banned from the country when they find out.

And he won't get work authorization without a visa.

And he won't [realistically] get a visa without marrying her or being engaged to be married with the intent of marrying her within 90 days of entry to the US.

As has been said, the US government cares not about anyone's feelings or their ideas of what they imagine is 'fair'. The immigration authorities are there to stop exactly what he is trying to achieve - living and working in the US without toeing the line.

Sorry to sound harsh but the US is the hardest country in the world to enter legally, it's best to not sugar coat it so you have realistic expectations of the chance of getting in (which is approaching zero).