Hi guys I'm new on this forum..
I'm a british soldier with an American girlfriend
She currently lives over here going to uni, and we have lived together for the last 2 years. however her time here is up and she is leaving to go back to the US in 2 weeks. We are looking to see if I can get out there without getting married as we are not quite ready for that yet.


I'm only 22, a mechanic in the army and have been ever since I left school..
I have no degrees or anything so I feel that I may have trouble getting a visa, as I lack the smarts and a destinguished skill, after all being a mechanic is not hard... And Ive read around and even US citizens that are mechanics are struggling to get jobs, me looking for a sponsor has next to no hope...

Is there any other options?

She lives in Arkansas so ideally that's the state i'd like to move to, we will be looking at getting married in the future, but we are not ready yet. However we dont want our relationship to end now..


Thanks in advance for all help and advice anyone can offer me
Luke

No, there is no "try it out" visa.
Correct, your qualifications, skills, and knowledge do not appear sufficient for a visa in your own right.
Go as a student, get yourself a degree. It won't be cheap, easy, or quick, but a degree is a prerequisite for many career paths in the US. A couple of years in a community college, followed by a couple of years at a "four year" college/ university to get a bachelor's degree would be cheapest.
Well you're facing some tough choices for sure. In the short term you're probably looking at a long distance relationship with a lot of Skype time and occasional holidays together.

In the short term advance yourself as far as your can to put yourself in the best possible financial position, and save as much as you can, because whether you end up going to the US, or your girlfriend comes to the UK to live (which BTW is tougher and more expensive than you going to the US), you're going to need every penny you can get, either to pay for visas or travel, or possibly to prove "assets" to support either a US or UK visa application.

Read through this Wiki Guide, and see if any of these visa routes work for you:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

Rene

This.

Whatever route you look at, short or long term, this applies.

Is it also not that quick, nor cheap, but the quickest and easiest is via marriage. Even being here though, life can be tough without a degree, so that advice is also sound.

Good luck!