JustinTime

Hi,
We are currently living in Spain and are considering a move to Florida. Could anyone tell me which visa is required for our children to be able to attend school? Also, we would love to bring our pets with us (2 dogs and 1 cat). How easy/difficult is this?
Thanks
Justin

mollykins74

I am currently living in Madrid with my husband, 3 children and 2 cats.
With Regards to Visa's... if you are on H1B then your wife and children will be on H4. The children can attend school on this visa but your wife cannot work. If you are transferring within your current job then you are probably on L1a or L1B and your dependents will be on L2 visas. The children can attend school on a L2 and your Wife can apply for a work permit after 90 days in the US. There is lots of information on this site on different types of visa.

If you live and work in Spain you can be seen at the US Embassy in Spain. There is one is Madrid and one in Barcelona. We have our visa interviews on 24th March this week. You will need your NIE papers as evidence of residency in Spain, or they will tell you to go to London.

We have been in Spain a year; we came from London with our 2 cats. So we have the EU passport for our cats, they had rabies jabs that last 3 years. 10 days before they flew we had their health checks done and letter from vet saying they were fit to fly. We used a third party to organise it all as BA only let pets go as cargo. It was quite expensive.

This time going from Madrid to SFO via Zurich we are organizing the transport of cats ourselves. Much Cheaper. They are going as excess baggage with SWISS. We already have the approved air crate. To get into the US your pets need their valid rabies cert, 10 days before you fly they need the health check done by a certified vet and the health certificate completed. You dont need the EU pet passport to go to the US, only the rabies and health cert. You do need to get the EU passport kept up to date and the worming/ticking done if you ever want to take your pets back to the UK.
Im keeping mine up to date anyway as it is a good record. Our vet also recommend some extra jabs for our cats against some diseases felines are prone to in the US.

I know a good American Vet in Madrid if you are near here.

AmerLisa

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

lisa67

What visa will you and your spouse be coming over on?

Jerseygirl

You can get your pet's rabies shots in the US when they arrive. If you get them before they arrive check with the state you'll be moving what type of vaccine is required. Some require a live vaccine...others do not. If they've been given the wrong type they will need the correct rabies shots.

meauxna

Seriously, your children and animals are nothing to do with it until you know which visa you and your spouse will have.. everything/one will depend on that.

The way you've posed your question leads me to believe you don't have a way to move to the US.

JustinTime

Thank you so much for all of your helpful replies.
Over the years we have lived in Germany, France, Spain and Australia as well as the UK and we have had various options for visas. It doesn't matter which visa we would end up going on if we had issues putting the children in school or taking the pets we would obviously have second thoughts... Thanks again!

christmasoompa

The difference is that Germany, France, Spain & Australia are all a hell of a lot easier to get in to than the US! The US is notorious as the toughest country to immigrate to, so that really does need to be your first consideration.

Plus the children bit of your question will depend on what visa you are eligible for, and their ages. Have you read the link given to you earlier in the thread, and if so, which visa will you be going for? If you can tell people, then they can give you more specific advice.

JustinTime

Hi,
Yes, I understand that it can be a difficult process. We are only looking at being in the US for a year or so for an extended holiday, we just need to know that the children can attend school (either private or state) and continue their education whilst we are there.
I guess I need to do a little Googling this evening!
Thanks
Justin

avanutria

Hi Justin,

There is not really an extended holiday visa for the US - you are allowed a maximum of 90 days. This is why people are asking you what visa you plan to use to come here. It can be frustrating to spend a lot of time giving great levels of detail about schools, neighborhoods, pet vaccinations etc only to discover that the person has no visa available for what they want to do.

Remember, in America it's practically unheard of to be able to take a year off for a holiday. Heck, I get looked at funny if I ask for three weeks off at my job.

When you do your googling please also read the link that was supplied to you in post number 3 on this thread. It has a lot of information.

christmasoompa

That's why you need to research visas first - you won't find one that lets you do that! There is the Visa Waiver Program, which will give you up to 90 days.

Or the B-2, which would be for up to six months, but which you're unlikely to get unless you are of retirement age or from a country that can't use the VWP (see the immigration forum for numerous threads on B2's). So the most you're likely to be able to spend in the US is 90 days.

HTH, good luck.

JustinTime

We will look into the visa process further, I'm sure we will find a solution.
Thanks again for all your help.
Justin

sir_eccles

With all due respect, unless you have a job offer in the US, there isn't a solution to find.

JustinTime

We don't need a job offer for a long holiday!

avanutria

But you need one for a visa lasting longer than 90 days.