ddunn1873

Hello All,

I am planning on moving to the USA this year with my current employer.

They have offered me a job over there (I have been with the company over a year) but they cannot pay for my moving costs (HR say i am too junior in the company to set a prescedent even though the rest of the company fully support my move)

I think i can apply for a L-1 Visa, as its a very big company who should have a blanket scheme, but if not i think i can fulfil the needs of a L-1B (specialised knowledge) and have a masters degree and over 5 years experience and will be working in a field where my degree is mandatory.

The company wish me to organise my visa reimburse my costs (as a way of getting round HR), i have been told not to use a visa agency by friends as they are crooks (quoted approx 5k GBP) so wish to know.

-Can anyone recommend an attorney to use for my visa application
- How much will this cost
- How long will this take

My other question is my Girlfriend who is coming with me. We have been together for 8 years and plan to get married one day, just not in the next 6 months to be honest, we plan for her to go on a 6 month tourist visa and apply for a visa when over there (she is a nurse, with over 5 years experience).

How much better would it be for us to shotgun a wedding and her to go on an L2 with me? Is this even legal? I have heard Nurses at the moment are scarce over there and a visa would be easy (it even says fast track green cards for registered nurses in the US on a website i have seen), we know she has 2 exams to do but that is no issue.

If we dont do this, and she is unsuccesful with her visa application over there (would this be an H1B she applies for) then can we decide to get married and L2 her immediately?

Final question... How much should a 20ft shipping crate cost from London to Boston

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated!

NatashaB

You cannot file for an L1 visa yourself, it needs to be company sponsored. They will need to complete a large amount of paperwork on company structure and justify what skills you have that cannot be found within the US.

Bob

The company needs to do the paper work.

Only fee's you can be asked to pay are the lawyer fee's and premium processing. The company should have a lawyer do this. There are plenty of threads on the subject and a couple of recent ones. Cost of the lawyer all depend on how complex it is to make your case.

The girlfriend, get married and she can come over on L2. Forget her coming over on her own as a nurse, it won't happen, that nurse boat sailed years ago. She'll also need to get certified in the state she wants to work in, so depending on when she qualified she may have a easy time of it or she might essentially have to start over. There are plenty of threads on this, there's also a nurses section on BE and there's a very good nurse forum, all-nurses.com or something similar that will have info to help her.

As for cost of a crate, plenty of threads on this again, anything from 3-10K but it all depends on service, do you want stuff dismantled, packed, transported and loaded and then stored and the reverse done at the other end or not? etc, etc.

sir_eccles

Read these two sentences that you wrote carefully and then start thinking about marriage.

SanDiegogirl

Just as an aside, while you have been quoted around $5k for costs for getting the visa via an agency, this around the amount your company will need to pay as well.

I have heard of costs as low as $3K but also as high as $7-10K depending on the paperwork and type of visa.

However, as other responders have said its your company who must make the application for the visa, not you.

paulpur

SanDiegogirl , he actually put 5k GBP is what he was quoted, well different from $5k hehe

SanDiegogirl

Whoops sorry, must put my glasses on. Its expensive anyway

Ray

That all stopped in 2006 ..no more nurse visas now

check the dates on what you read

Bluegrass Lass

As an FYI, the normal VWP will only give your g/f a 90 stay in the US. If she wants more than that, she will have to apply for a B2 visa. This is rarely given to visitors, especially if they are eligible to use the VWP. There is a B2 co-habitating visa, but I don't know the details of it, and how difficult it is to get. By far, it would be easier for you to get married so can qualify right away on the L2 visa. I know it takes the romance out of a proposal, engagement and wedding, but such is the way it is when it comes to immigration.

To be a Registered Nurse, she will need a degree of some type. It may vary by state. I know here in KY, an Associates Degree is the bare minimum required. So she needs to look into the regulations in the state to understand what she needs. Its entirely possible that her 5yrs of experience might mean nothing, and require her to re-certify. I know its quite difficult for foreign doctors to even practice here, as they have to re-do their residency.

ian-mstm

Don't do it. Why? Because it sounds as though your company is setting you up to totally screw you over. You probably don't see it like that, though.

Why, for example, would the company even want to get around HR? Think about it for a while!

If you do decide to go through with this, make sure you get your own attorney. Never forget that the company attorney works for the company... not for you. If you get screwed over, it's because that's what he's been told to do. Also, be absolutely certain to get a written contract before you do anything... a contract that clearly spells out what will and will not be reimbursed. Don't take someone's word that it'll be okay!

On the issue of shipping costs - what difference how much... the company is footing the bill... right?


Do you live together? If you do and you've done so for a while, she should consider a B-2 cohabiting visa. It'll allow her to remain in the US for the duration of your visa.

Ian

Scott33

I am afraid this is simply not true.

The NCLEX isn't exactly a hard exam, but is geared entirely towards the US model of generalized nursing. That is to say adult, paeds, obstetrics, and psychiatric nursing in equal measure.

caleyjag

Do the OP and his gf need to get married before the L-1 process begins, so that the two visas are filed together, or can she do the the L-2 at a later date that suits them?

Basically, my question is, if a shotgun wedding is required, and the wheels are moving with the corporate transfer, when exactly should a couple jump on the train to Gretna Green to get things sorted out?

Noorah101

She can get an L-2 at a later date.

Rene