cjnsmith

I met my girlfriend when she did a gap semester at my university (University of Manchester), in my first year, she is Canadian but goes to school in Boston. We spent six months together and completely fell in love. We have done the long distance thing since, saving every last bit of spare money to cross the atlantic to see eachother, in the hope that we would soon be able to build a life together.
She just landed a job at TD bank in New York starting next year. I am terrified because I want so much to be with her but I know she will not give up New York for me because it has always been her dream and I can see why, I am in love with New York too.
I don't want this to be the end, after everything, that would be so cruel. How can I get to New York?
Can somebody please offer me some help or advice, anything.
I am now in my final year of university, studying Ancient History & Archaeology but I would do any job to be with her.

Advice please?

Thanks,

Christopher Smith

fatbrit

You can get to the US with money, work or family.

You don't mention if you've got lots of dosh.

Your skills are highly unlikely to provide a path.

If she were to marry you, you may be able to live in the US. Depending on her immigration status, you may or may not be able to work here.

cjnsmith

We are literally talking hundreds of thousands, aren't we?

I have started playing the lottery

We did even explore the marriage route but I wouldn't be able to work

I'm close to trying to find someone on craigslist to marry me

fatbrit

Yes.


The penalties can be quite severe. Don't!

caleyjag

Well firstly since you are about to graduate you can look for a job for 1 year, provided it is relavant to your field of study.

Did you enjoy your studies? Perhaps a PhD might be worth looking into? Unfortunately, arts and humanities PhDs don't pay for themselves as effectively as science ones do, but it's an avenue to explore. Having said all that I've always found the primary reason for doing a PhD should be the love of the subject. It's a long hard slog if the only reason you want to do it is to be with someone/live in a foreign country.

Both of those are short term solutions (the first one especially so).

For the long term, your best bet is to go back to school in the UK and get more specialized, or get a job with a multinational in London or elsewhere that could let you move over there on an L1 after a while (at least 1 year).

ian-mstm

If you're both ready for marriage... just marry her. Regardless of the visa she's on (what visa will she be on?) you'll get a derivative visa and will be allowed to stay with her in the US. You might not be able to work (depending on her visa) but you'll be together.

Ian

Bob

Welcome to BE and good luck!

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA Essentially what you've already been told, the common ways in.

If you're about to finish your degree, perhaps look at doing a masters in NY? Might not be a cheap option, but a realistic one in getting there and opening up the opportunity to network and perhaps help increase your chances of finding a job that might sponsor you....though that would obviously depend on what kind of work you hope to achieve with the studies you have under your belt....with experience and connections, might be able to land something at a museum, but if that would land a H1B, I have no idea.

You don't have to set your sights just on NY either, there are other colleges in other nearby states, Brown in RI that's a short hop on the train and as you've been to Boston, you'll know plenty of colleges there and only a couple hours on the train. CT too, wouldn't be a bad train ride.

penguinbar

I'm close to trying to find someone on craigslist to marry me


Seriously? Have you heard of marriage fraud?

retzie

H4s are allowed to study, right? This wouldn't quite fix the whole "extortionate fees" issue, but it would circumvent the "needing to far exceed the extortionate fees to get an F-1" issue. Providing her salary would be able to support you both, this could keep you together, occupied and on the path to more employable. (If she's going to be on a TN, sorry, but I have no idea of how/whether this would work for its derivative. Can anyone else chime in here?)

Check out the CUNYs - they are not fancy, but they have some good people teaching there. Academics like living in NYC too


It's a long hard slog even if you love the damn thing to death! Marriage for immigration purposes is one thing, but a PhD

Bob

Problem with studying while on H4 over getting F1 student visa, wouldn't even be allowed to do the part time on campus work, if one needed the money.

Xebedee

Go for it!
Chances are, you won't ever get caught anyway.

caleyjag

Irresponsible advice.

Bob

funny though.

Xebedee

But advice, nevertheless.

scrubbedexpat099

Another vote for craigslist

Which category?