Kingdom2

So I have posted here before regarding my boyfriend of 6 years who is transferring to the U.S. with his current employer due to an amazing work opportunity.

I have been with my large corporate firm for 2 and a half years and have been in my current (newish) role for 5 months (August 2016). I would like to join my boyfriend in the U.S. (We are considering marriage seriously) but my company also has a branch in the location he is moving.

I have not mentioned it to my work yet due to the fact that I have not been in my current role very long. I am happy to work in this role for a year then move after that but I would like to raise the issue soon or the fact that I'm interested in any opportunities abroad in the U.S. office. Is it too soon to mention? I don't want to look bad and it just feels bad to say "my boyfriend is moving abroad" (it doesn't quite had the same strength as husband!). I would very much like to remain with my current firm as I like it but of course I am also thinking of my relationship too.

Would you have any ideas of what I could mention to my manager say in the next few months? I kind of want to mention it as say I was lucky enough to be transferred, paperwork and visas do take time.

Pulaski

Does your work/role qualify for an L-1 visa - you'd need to be a manager (of people or processes), OR have special skills that are specific to your employer or are hard to find (this is a fairly low threshold)? Unless there is the possibility of a visa to transfer you then there isn't much to talk about.

On the other hand, if you were married then you could ask for an "introduction" to see if you can be hired as "a local" by the US affiliate.

Kingdom2

Hi Pulaski, I know what you mean. My company actively promotes global transfers to our branches all over the world for all levels but I appreciate the specificness of the L-1 visa. I am not a manager so I guess I would have to come under the B option however I wouldn't say my skills are in short supply. However the scheme at my work asks you to apply for roles at two particular levels: one I would say is what I am now- general worker or two, an assistant managerial position

cautiousjon

If you were to both get married, you would qualify for an L2 dependent visa, which would allow you to work in the USA without requiring your own employment visa from your company. It's likely that your company would be (even) more open to you transferring if they don't have to pay for a visa for you.

Pulaski

They would have to wait around three months after she arrived in the US while her EAD was processed and issued though.

If she can swing an L-1 of her own and she has got married, she and her husband would also have an additional safety net - if either of them was displaced/ made redundant, they could adjust status to a dependent L-2 linked to their spouse's L-1, and look for work; (of course it would take time to adjust, plus 90 days to get an EAD). Two L-1's would also increase the chances of one of their employers sponsoring green cards for them.

cautiousjon

That is certainly true. Each of them having their own L1 would be a (much) better situation to be in. Also, if they each got their visa, they'd likely each get their own relocation package, which could include a nice cash payment for miscellaneous expenses. The miscellaneous expense payment that I received was equivalent to one month of my US salary.

Kingdom2

Thank you all for your comments! I would prefer to get my own visa through work definitely but whether that's possible I'm not sure considering I'm not a manager and I haven't got specialised skills e.g I'm not massively qualified or have programming experience say. I just work in Banking but it is something I would at least like to attempt or raise with my manager

dave2702

If you can't get a transfer through work then I'm not sure how you're going to join him, from what I can tell from your OP you don't qualify for a H4

Pulaski

An H-4 (visa for the spouse of an H-1B) can't work anyway, but a "work tranfer" is usually going to be on an L-1, and the spouse of an L-1 gets an L-2, which comes with the right to an EAD (employment authorisation document) upon application.