Hi, new here
 

Hi,

Read through the forum and havn't really found the info I need hence the questions! My background is..my american wife and I got married in the UK a year and a half ago. We're looking to move to the states probably end of next year.

1) For me to live in the states with my wife, what do I have to do? What are the options? whats all this about a medical etc?

2) We are thinking about living/buying in either NY or CT. In NY Kingston/woodstock and syracuse seem nice, can anyone tell me anything about these towns? and anything about taxes to be paid in those areas??

thanks for any info.
regards
jammie.

Re: Hi, new here
 

Start here ...

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

Re: Hi, new here
 

Sorry I don't think I was clear, I'm actually british. I was wondering how it works with me living in the states with my wife? (who is american)

Re: Hi, new here
 

I suggest you read the link again. :D

Re: Hi, new here
 

JeeZ ..Forget doing it yourself... you won't cut it..
Do you need the name of a lawyer in London...

Re: Hi, new here
 

Ray has posted a link for you with relevant help for your request.

The US immigration web site is another place you can look. www.uscis.gov

There are plenty of threads on this forum that tell you what to do.

Sorry if I appear blunt, but you're asking for REALLY fundamental help, there are plenty of resources available to help you and this forum is one of them, but a basic google search would have pointed you in the right direction.
I'd advise you to look up the link that Ray posted and read and digest. Once you've done that, if you have any questions about how to proceed, I'm sure that the BE forum members will be happy to assist you.

Re: Hi, new here
 

Kingston / Woodstock ..... Nice :):):)
Syracuse ...... ugh :(:(:(

Re: Hi, new here
 

thanks :)

Someone told me that Syracuse has good schools?? Being in a good school district would probably be a good idea as well.

Re: Hi, new here
 

Nothing wrong with being blunt :)

Thanks for the info everyone. I looked at the link, but it just seems to mention US citizens, I didn't see any reference to UK citizens wanting to live in the US, but obviously I missed it so i'll look again.

Re: Hi, new here
 

Hi,

Well, there are a few steps.

First, as the links suggest, you need to sort out your immigration paperwork. You can't just come in on the visa waiver but are going to have to apply for a Green Card it appears so you can come in and stay for awhile.

The second issue is what are you going to do when you work here. If your field is rather specialized, you'll need to find a location where there is an abundance of opportunities, etc.

You'll then be looking at some of the 'local' things like the price of housing (http://www.realtor.com/ or http://www.city-data.com), quality of school (http://www.greatschools.net is a good place to start).

Finally you'll get to some of the cultural issues of living as an expat, and those could literally fill a book (or, ta da, this entire message board).

Might I suggest starting at the top of this page where it says 'WIKI' and read through the section on the USA. You'll find some basic questions and answers there that might be helpful.

Re: Hi, new here
 

Thats reall helpful thanks.

I would want to live there for more then a while :), its where we want our home to be, have kids there etc. Does a green card have a time limit on how long you can stay? If you want to stay in the states for many years do you have to become a citizen? I thought my wife being american would make this somewhat easier! :)

As for jobs, we are both new media designers, and I frequently work from home, so hopefully that side of things will be fairly straightforward.

As for cultural stuff, well I'm told Wallmarts have just about everything you could wish to buy except for Mango Chutney for some odd reason :)

Re: Hi, new here
 

UK citizens can't JUST come and live here, there are circumstances where they can apply for the correct Visa to stay and work, or if they are married to a USC, the USC can petition for their Alien relative to get a green card.

As you are married to a USC, and it's the obvious route for you, Ray posted an appropriate link.

Yes it talks about USC's because that will probably be YOUR way in.

Now, armed with that info, you should be able to work it out.

Next week- Janet and John submit their paperwork to chicago

Re: Hi, new here
 

Thanks for the info, but I never thought that I would be able to "JUST come and live there", I just wanted some general info on where to start. But how long does the green card last? is it indefinate? does it have to be renewed somewhere every few years etc??

Re: Hi, new here
 

2 yrs initially then renewable every 10 yrs.

Re: Hi, new here
 

thanks.