Moving from Scotland to California
 

Hello there, I was wondering if someone could help me. My boyfriend (25) is waiting for his green card to work in California, he has a sponsor as he has a job and skills that are required in California. I would like to join him but not sure where to start. I am 21 and have a full time job working with animals and children, I am going to visit California for 3 weeks in October but need to know what I can do now to help my chances of getting a job there.

Thank you for reading and I hope someone could help me, any advice is much appreciated, Thank you again, Robyn.

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

First you need a visa, one that allows you to work. Based on the little you have said you appear to have no basis for a visa in your own right, so that leaves the possibility of a B2 cohabiting partner visa, if you can prove you have been cohabiting, but that will not allow you to work, OR getting married. Otherwise you can only make periodic visits under the Visa Waiver Program.

If you do get married, and get a visa permitting you to work, getting much of a job without a degree is going to be very tough, if not impossible.

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Welcome to BE Robyn.

I have moved your thread over to the US Immigration forum. Someone should be along shortly to help you.

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Thank you for your reply, I will be going back and forward to visit him and I would like to go back to uni or learn a trade that would get me there on my own merit

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Your boyfriend normally wouldn't be getting a green card to work unless he is classified as EB-1 (highly unlikely at 25 unless he is immigrating). He'll likely be getting a L-1 (company transfer) or H-1B (specialized skills) visa. If he is getting one of those visas, then your best chance of being allowed to live and work in the US is to get married. Eventually on those visas, he can possibly get a green card if the company will sponsor him. However on the H1-B visa, you are not allowed to work and that is likely the visa he is getting.

If he is getting a green card and you get married after he gets the green card, it'll likely be a couple of years before you can join him.

Unless you have some specialty degree and can find an employer that will sponsor you, there is no easy route to the US other than marriage.

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Is he really waiting for his "green card"? Or is he waiting for a work visa? There's a huge difference. (Note that if he really is waiting for his "green card", he's actually waiting for an Immigrant Visa...he will get his green card when he arrives in the USA. This is rare, though, for someone coming over for work. Usually one gets a work visa, not an Immigrant Visa).

If you remain unmarried, you only have a few choices:

1. Get a visa based on your own merits. See this link for more information: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

2. If you and he have been cohabitating, you might be able to get a B-2 visitor's visa, with an annotation stating you're a cohabitating partner. It could allow you to stay 6 - 12 months in the USA, but you cannot work in the USA with this visa.

3. Visit the USA for up to 90 days on the VWP. Do not make back-to-back trips. Spend more time outside the USA than inside. You cannot work in the USA on the VWP.

There's not much you can do right now. If you want to get your own work visa, you'll also need a sponsoring employer in the USA. You don't say exactly what your job is, so I don't know if it's likely to get your a work visa or not.

If you get married, then depending on what visa he's getting, you can get a dependent visa based on that. Some allow you to work, some don't.

I think the first step is for you to post exactly which visa your boyfriend is getting.

Rene

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

If you're using the VWP, don't make back-to-back trips. Spend more time outside the USA than you were just inside, before attempting another VWP visit.

In that case, look into an F-1 visa to study in the USA.

Rene

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Even if you get a university degree in one of the fields that the H-1B visa is valid for, it will be difficult to find an employer to sponsor you since there are probably Americans available immediately and the visa application will likely need to be applied for in April for work starting no earlier than October and also costs the employer a significant amount of money.

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

He has a job and specialist skills that are required in California and he will also be competing in competitions and championships in the states. He was on an exchange programme for three months last year and now has several people wanting to sponsor him and wanting him there, he has his sponsor and a lawyer in the states sorting everything out now.

I dont think my range of work would help me so far, I am an animal rescue officer and an education officer and have also studied vet nursing at uni. I have a full time job, and a mortgage on a three bed house in scotland. We shall hofefully be going through my situation with his lawyer when he gets there but just wanted to know if there is anything I can do in the meantime that would help my case. Thank you again for the replies

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

That's cool. When you know which visa he's getting, please let us know so we can help you further (that is, if you are willing to get married and be a dependent on his visa).

If his lawyer works for the sponsoring employer, there isn't much he can do for you, unless you also hire him independently. Even then, a lawyer can't do anything for you unless YOU have a sponsoring company towards a work visa of your own (or enough money for an investment visa).

Rene

Re: Moving from Scotland to California
 

Thank you, I will find out the exact visa he is getting and then let you know, thank you for your help