littlepinkfairy

hello, i am looking for imformation to make the emigrating process seem a little less of a headache, we are planning moving to Florida and my husband already has had a job offer from some one out there, we have our property on the market in the uk and just do not know where to start the ball rolling with regards to moving, do you apply for the work visa first or do you go to Florida to look for work, can you apply for everything from the UK. Also, is it worth paying one of these companies that promise to get you your visas for you? are they any good? Do you get bank accounts out there or apply for them over here and finally......has any one got any useful hints or tips that will really help us out????
thank you ever so much......please help us......we love the USA and cant wait to move!!!!!

NC Penguin

Welcome to British Expats. There are numerous US visa related forums on British Expats.

Are you and your husband both British (i.e. neither of you have American citizenship)?

What kind of job is your husband being offered?

Please read the USCIS website about visas available for employment. The employer will have to sponsor your husband before your husband can begin employment. Also, you will receive a visa too but may not be able to work (depends on the type of visa).

I would suggest you look at the US Visas and/or the US Immigration forums on BE. Probably easier to conduct a search in both forums for answers to your questions.

fatbrit

Cart before the horse or troll? Time will tell!

NC Penguin

This summarizes the legal means to move to the US. Please read and identify the route that applies to you-

There are basically EIGHT 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 those born in 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 $150k (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 $350k would be more realistic.

(6) You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. Should half of that be spread across a few sources and your background will be investigated to 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…

(8) You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum or you get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.

Recruitment agencies/employers will not take you seriously if you are not in the US and have the appropriate status to work. 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...NC Penguin 3/21/05



NC Penguin

emmals

you might be best trying rays site www.xsorbit1.com/users/floridadays/ it has everything you need to know about going to florida.....also if you look in the usa visa forum that might help......good luck

littlepinkfairy

thank you very much for your advice, neither myself or my husband are US citizens, i fear it is not looking very good for us is it???? I thought it would be fairly straight forward and we would be able to apply once out there but i guess not, dunno where to turn first ..........thanks once again for your e mail

emmals

no visa is easy and straight forward i'm afraid

Just Jenney

If your husband already has a job offer from a US employer, surely they are willing to sponsor a work visa for him?? I mean, why else would they offer him a job if they're unwilling to do what needs to be done to get him over here to start working?

~ Jenney

littlepinkfairy

yes this is very true, but i was just reading what some one else wrote about it costing 3 thousand dollars to sponsor someone to work and it is not worth it for some companies..

scrubbedexpat099

What job has he been offered?

$3,000 is usually not that big a deal for a job that you are likely to get a visa for.

littlepinkfairy

he is a window and conservatory, sunroom, pool screen fitter

scrubbedexpat099

Do NOT sell the house.

Chances are as close to nil as you can get.

Best option would be to buy a business in that area, see Ray's site above.

PS He is a very nice guy.

fatbrit

If you have $200k plus spare and you are happy being self-employed, an E-2 might be a possibility. This visa only survives as long as your business survives -- there is no direct path to a green card.

Have you thought about Canada or Oz? These would be much easier!

littlepinkfairy

we did actually consider Canada, thank you for your e mail, we just really really love Florida and the american people they are so friendly and the place is so clean that it was first choice

emmals

then it will have to be the E2 route......they issue an E2 for either 2 or 5 years....generally 2 at the mo......like fatbrit says you will need at least $200k to purchase a qualifying buisness though