Re: moving to orlando
 

From what you have written you do not qualify for an H-1B visa.

Unless you have money for an investment visa - 100K and above - you won't be able to obtain a visa to live in the US.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Well decide which route may have possibilities, from what you have said probably investment, and decide if you want to put the energy into what will be a long term and expensive route.

i have some knowledge of the Electrical Business in the US and it is very different to the UK, never mind the technical issues.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Jon,

Don't mistake people's responses here as being "dickish" or rude or discouraging. People are just trying to be pragmatic. Over the years,
forum contributors have seen many posts like these. And it's more often than not Orlando... hence the vacation bubble.

Also, people aren't dismissing your qualifications - they just don't have any
standing in the US. I personally know a Russian doctor who decided to retrain
as a dentist over here because it was easier than re-qualifying as a US accredited physician.

If this is really something you want to do, treat it as a long term goal.
Retrain in a field that might be in demand. Get hired with a company that
has offices over here and get a transfer. Those are your realistic options.

And be detailed oriented. Know exactly what you want - don't have some vague, wishy-washy, nebulous idea that being here is a better way of life.
You said it "seems" to be better work-wise. Schools "seem" to better... I about spat out my cornflakes.
Public schools here are often inferior to those in the UK.
Three year UK degrees are often better than 4 year US ones.

I would echo what Rete said. Go to Europe. Go to Asia. Go to Australia or New Zealand. Maybe Canada?

Good luck.

PS. Look at places like Cambodia or Myanmar. Well, Myanmar is still in flux. We're looking at buying some property in or around Siem Reap. Spend a couple of months there, and then Air BnB it to the Banana Pancake crowd.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Re: moving to orlando
 

I would too. In fact, my goal is to spend part of my retirement time living there. Yes, it rains a lot, but at least its not extremely hot and humid for a good chunk of the year. Of course, some are fine with that kind of weather, but otoh some discover after a while that it's an ordeal.

Re: moving to orlando
 

My company has sponsored maybe a thousand people in the last few years. Pretty much all were in IT with a few in other specialist areas. Relo's from the UK have been pretty easy. I think we brought some in without degrees too but would have to research under what program. Many companies IMHO will sponsor people buts it essential to have the right connections within the company so they will work with you.

Worth adding a few have left and returned to UK as they didn't end up liking the US.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Most likely an L and that does not have the degree issue but they no doubt had specific expertise.

OP is self employed.

Re: moving to orlando
 

The OP is a self employed electrician ..........

Re: moving to orlando
 

I would think an electrician could do a lot better as an independent/own business. insurance would probably be 1k a month but I am guessing a good electrician can bill out at $120 an hour or so. Also tons of tax benefits.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Yeah know was of topic but someone else asked a general question.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Just chiming in since I moved to Orlando a little over a week ago. Not enough time to get a fair assessment of a place, of course, but I've already noticed some negatives that you might not be aware of:

-Groceries are expensive (sometimes 3x as expensive as in the UK), and there is less selection than at British supermarkets.
-Despite the idyllic feel that realtors and property managers try to create, even the nicest communities seem to have high crime rates. The people in the apartment below us were broken into the day before yesterday.
-Broadband costs 3x as much as in the UK and has slower speeds.
-No matter your method of transportation, you will lose 20 minutes of your life sitting/standing at intersections every day (longer if you have a long commute). They have not discovered roundabouts or efficient traffic lights here.
-The "nice weather" can get oppressive if you're in an unexpected situation. I've been biking to work, and this afternoon I got a puncture when I was just a third of the way home. 95 F heat with high humidity really takes it out of you, even if you're just pushing a bike along a road with a moderately heavy backpack on. By the time I got home I had a river of sweat drenching my hair, face, and chest, and had to sit down and drink several glasses of ice-cold water until I felt human again.
-There is a thunderstorm almost every afternoon at some point between 2pm and 8pm.
-Most of the buildings are soulless plasticky cookie-cutter strip malls. Everything, even downtown, has a giant parking lot next to it. All the shops are chains here - none of the independent stores you might find in some other more characterful American cities. Orlando is basically one giant nondescript suburb sprawled across 900 square miles.

There are pluses too, of course. Having coffee on my balcony at 7am in a T-shirt and shorts is not an experience one can easily have in England. The fauna and flora is beautiful, when the weather is cool enough to stop and enjoy it (I love the gecko lizards you see every 3 feet here!) My colleagues are nice and I have an interesting job - but that is not location-specific, of course! But know what you are letting yourself in for. It's been a big change moving here, not always for the better, and I feel like I'm only at the beginning of a long transition period.

Re: moving to orlando
 

My experience:

Arrived in the Atlanta in April '96.
First three months, honeymoon period.
Honeymoon period over, the usual home-sickness was delayed by the excitement of the Olympics for another three months.
A little homesickness in October time (hockey season back home).
Fitted in.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Speaking as an American, I don't feel that many occupations that we are short on but rather companies prefer to offer employment to those that they can hire at a lower rate of pay than they could Americans. Is this true? I can't say for sure but it is my thought. Most people here from the UK are transferred by their companies on L visas which are intercompany transfers and very few are here on H visas. Take nursing, for example, there were at one time no shortage of nurses until the industry decided they no longer wanted to pay for the benefit packages to employees and cut back the number of hours a nurse can work from a 35-40 hour week which is considered full time with benefits to 24 to 30 per week without benefits.

Re: moving to orlando
 

Not heard of that around here.

My wife's hospital is forever begging for overtime out of there 36hr nurses who have very good benefits.

Re: moving to orlando
 

If he joined the union, he would have to work under a journeyman for 4 years to become qualified.