Jayme

Hi all,

I've dreamt of moving to America for many years, and even more so recently.

I'm 25 and am finally getting my life together (Got a decent job and started saving) after a few hiccups and have finally started looking into making the move a reality but I was provided some information by a website not long ago, I forget what site now, but it basically said if you don't have at least a PHD or equivalent, to forget any hope of emigrating to the USA.

Is this the reality? I don't have a PHD, not even close, the best qualification I have will soon be an MCSE which is a Microsoft qualification to prove I have specialised knowledge of specific IT systems. I currently work in a private company that is contacted by the NHS to provide IT support to over 500 GP surgeries and a handful of hospitals. The job varies from as much as doing the entire set up and installation of a new surgeries IT system, including the network infrastructure, installing a server, setting backups to run and liaising with with clinical system providers to get them set up and running to small jobs such as resetting a Doctors NHS Mail password.

My plan was to hopefully save up a wad of cash, go to Texas a few times and do a bit of exploring to see if it is really what I wanted, progress my career somewhat and then move to Texas.

As you can imagine hearing the majority of people requesting a permanent work visa are declined based on the fact they don't have a PHD was somewhat disheartening.

BunnyGirl

Start here:

Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA : British Expat Wiki

Jayme

Thanks, so it looks like I need 12 years of experience as well to apply for a job in Texas that no one in America can do? That second part seems kinda crazy.

Pulaski

Utter twaddle! ..... Generally a bachelors degree is required for most work related visas, or 12 years specialist experience, which can be demonstrated to be equivalent, though obviously a degree is easier and more certain.

Are you single and open to online dating? No, I am not joking.

AlphaTangoMike

Not necessarily, as per the Wiki, there are a few other options available.

Marriage to a USC is one option (if you're single), another is via an intracompany transfer visa (L-1A or L-1B). The L-1 visa does not require a degree, nor does it require 12 years of experience in lieu of a degree. You would need to work for the company for 1 year in the UK and obviously meet the requirements of the visa (specialist skills or management experience).

H Bomb

- Marry an American.
- Save $500k to 'invest'.
- Get yourself working for an international company, be great at your job, wait for a chance to move (may take some time - took us 8 years).

Jayme

Haha, I'll admit it crossed my mind but it seems so out there. I'd either be tricking some woman into a loveless marriage, or have to get someone to agree to a sham marriage. And then there's the whole ordeal of having to actually find someone online, from Texas, who would marry me. Just seems unethical, immoral or unrealistic unfortunately.

BunnyGirl

Why limit yourself to Texas? The US is a big country

Duncan Roberts

That plan would be on you, not what was suggested. The real plan would be to find somebody you want to marry and be with for life and have the feelings reciprocated.

H Bomb

Internet dating is the way things are done these days - probably 50% of my friends who get married these days met through online dating.

No difference between the area you enter into the search being where you want to live vs where you actually live now.

Unless of course by your comment you are suggesting you have no interest in meeting someone and marriage!

Pulaski

Agreed x 2.
Only if you go into the relationship with bad intent. Trust me, it is a viable route.

Jayme

Nah, I'm totally open to it. I just find it odd that anyone in Texas would consider internet dating someone in the UK. You'd only be able to see each other once every few months or so until you're married and the visa was sorted. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic. :P

hungryhorace

It's honestly not all that. Having a holiday here is completely different to living in the US. I'm not trying to say don't follow your 'dreams', just be aware that the grass isn't always greener. I didn't think I would miss England, yet I miss my home country a lot despite having been here for a year now.

An MCSE isn't really a highly regard qualification in the way an RHCE/RHCA/CCNP/CCNA et al are. So I wouldn't put too much on that. Plus, for the visa you'd be coming over on (a H-1B I imagine?) you wouldn't need to prove specialist knowledge.

Why Texas?? It's one of the most backward places in the entire United States. Plus, they all love GW Bush. Eurgh.

AlphaTangoMike

You'd be surprised how many Texans there are in the UK (particularly in London). You could try going to some of the US expat meetups in London for starters.

BunnyGirl

Nothing like a nice bit of generalisation...