SummerAB

Hi

I'm moving to Chicago with my husband at the beginning of next year. Does anyone have any advice on where to start regarding the education system? My children are 3, 5 and 6yrs all currently in the UK school system. We're looking are locating in the north suburbs. I'm beginning to get quite overwhelmed by it all as I begin to unravel how different the school systems are. Does anyone out there have any experience of moving with young children, what did you do, learn, whish you knew beforehand, what would your advice be?

Thank you!

penguinsix

We have a wiki that serves as a primer to the education system here.

Education: What do I need to enroll the kids in school? : British Expat Wiki
Do you know what city you will be living in?

loubiblu

I'm in the same situation as you are, although my children are very different ages (18,16,12). You need to be specific on where you will be living. I'm heading out to Chicago in a fortnight to look at specific areas for home rental. We're going down the private school route for the older 2 because of exams and I've researched a few Middle Schools for my youngest and will be looking for a house in the school district of these schools. I used GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community and the city data forum to narrow down my choices, plus the schools own websites.

SummerAB

Thanks just read through it. We'll be living in north suburbs of Chicago. Our issue is my husband visa is a B1 in lieu of H1B so we don't have a social security number and Im concerned as to weather our children are eligible to attend a public school in Chicago or if we only have the option of paying for a private school (£££££ !). Trying to get to the bottom of that is what is a little tricky I know the information on the Wiki page says its not a problem I guess I'm just looking for a little more reassurance that that is the case.

SummerAB

Thanks for the info. I'm fairly sure of the potential school districts and towns (Libertyville, Barrington) but It's just the eligibility issue I'm confused about. There's always the option of tutoring or correspondence tutoring / home schooling but not ideal from the perspective of giving our children exposure to another culture and way of life.

BunnyGirl

I'm sorry but that doesn't make much sense, he can't work on a B1, only attend meetings. And on what basis are you and the children moving over?

SummerAB

I'll try an explain for you. Essentially my husband works for a UK company and will continue to work for and be paid by that UK company. He is a consultant in US. As his employment is with a UK company not a US one tax implications that a US employee would pay are very different to my husband's status.

BunnyGirl

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it doesn't matter where he gets paid from, it's what he actually does in the US that matters. What you're describing is actual work, not just meetings that are allowed on a B1, and for that he needs a work visa.

Still not sure how you and the children will be coming over, B2s?

SummerAB

Not sure where you're going with this... but... The word 'meetings' doesn't appear anywhere on any official websites or documents I've read. This is a cut and paste of the typical information I'm aware of;

Engaging in commercial transaction not involving gainful employment: If otherwise eligible, aliens should be classified as B-1 visitors, if they are traveling to the US to engage in activity such as: Merchants taking orders for goods manufactured abroad; Negotiating contracts; Consulting with clients or business associates; Litigating; and/or Undertaking independent research - See more at: Activities Allowed and Prohibited Under B-1 Visas - Zhang & Attorneys, L.P. in Silicon Valley, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Austin, and Seattle

The nature of my husbands business is negotiating and consulting in the sense described above, not any other type of consulting. Hope that helps you. If you have any information on my original question that would be great, thanks.

loubiblu

My husband also works for a UK company and will continue to work for that company when we move over to Chicago (he's establishing a US office). My understanding is that a B Clas visa does not allow you to work in the US, regardless of who you work for - it only allows you to do business (ie, meetings) in the US and not to relocate and live there. Someone with better knowledge than me will clarify this if I'm wrong.

SummerAB

PS: This might also aide you Bunnygirl;

What is a B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Visa?
The B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Visa is a temporary business visa to the US that permits an employer to send an employee in an executive position or a managerial position or an employee that possesses specialised knowledge or skill to the US to work on a specific contract or project that the employer has with a company in the US
Source: A Guide To B-1 In Lieu Of H-1B Visa

Bob

Great for the OH, not so much for you. Kids technically won't be allowed to attend state schools on a B1. Some school districts might allow it however, but they are not obliged to do so.

So it might be best to stay in the UK.

ian-mstm

Thank you for posting this information. Unfortunately for you and the children, the B-1 in lieu of H-1B applies only to the applicant... in this case, your husband. Neither you nor the children will be allowed to live in the US while he is in the US on business - because there is no derivative visa available. In other words, you can't stay long-term in the US, you can't work and, quite simply, the children can't attend school because they do not have an appropriate visa that will allow them to attend school.


No... you're not.

I regret that you have been given incorrect information from either the company or their attorneys... but someone - either deliberately or otherwise - is giving you very bad information.

Ian

Sally Redux

It sounds short-term anyway. 12 months, renewable once. Not worth disrupting the whole family.

retzie

Would B-2 cohabiting visas not be a possibility? I have the impression they are not just for partners, but are a more general workaround for a household where there is no derivative visa option.