I haven't read all the posts (yes, I know I should!) but if you've moved back to the UK, then isn't the GC invalid?

When you do figure out how to get back over here, I will say that my husband had a very hard time finding a job, initially. He put out his cv to seemingly hundreds of positions, without a reply. He did get shortlisted for one job, that kept us waiting for a few good months, only to find out he wasn't hired and we waited all that time. At any rate, we moved to Seattle (well the burbs) and gave it a shot there. While my husband was waiting (and submitting more cv's) he took a very menial job at Fry's. His thought was it looked much better to be employed (while waiting for the right job) then not and of course it was to offset our dwindling nest egg. In the end he only worked for Fry's for 3 months (thankfully!!) and became a contractor for Cingular and now works permanently for them and has been for almost 2 years.

In the end its very very very hard and can be demoralizing waiting for that elusive job, but perhaps trying temp agencies (seemed to work for my husband) might help. Good luck!

It does depend on the field. In mine, <imaginary job hunter> would be out of luck. I won't offer an interview without first calling refs. The interview will cost me or my boss >$2000 in expenses, and several hours of about eight people's salaries that they would still have to charge to their usual work.

Ahh that sort of reference. That's because you are hardly going to give someone's name if they aren't going to give you a glowing reference are you?

Not what I was looking for, but a place with legal advice regarding hiring employees:

"In this increasingly litigious world, previous employers are loathe to discuss their real experiences with a former employee. Many employees have successfully sued previous employers for releasing damaging information. So, how do you walk the line between not doing anything at all, and making a diligent effort to verify employment records?
Your first step is to issue the employment candidate a form that gives you permission to verify employment records, and gives previous employers the right to release that information. Ideally, the employee should be required to sign this form in the presence of a Notary Public"

I think often they will only verify that the person was employed there. So not necessarily worth the effort making the call, you can always fire the person if they don't work out.

Right.

Yup. My husband doesn't give out references. All he does is confirm that they worked there from such and such a time.

I don't know of anyone that gives out references in case they're sued anymore.

In my field, it's all about your portfolio, either physical or on a website, if there interested they'll ask for references to make sure you ain't inched the work off someone else

pre-existing condition though, babys birth wouldn't be covered...

Well she wants to come beack after the birth anyway.

But yes it would be covered on a group policy, if she has maintained creditable insurance for all this time, and the NHS does count.

company names are pretty bland though, they could be in any country if the company is large enough.

...he did all that...Absolutely everything!
My husband even payed $4000 to an Employment Advisor to help him with the interview hints and techniques and his resume , how to search for jobs etc.etc..Nothing , nothing worked!
That is why we are so demoralized...

That could be, I presume it would depend.

He should be careful to use American spelling, lol we don't realise there is anything else and they'd presume he didn't know how to spell otherwise.

Has he asked anyone what the problem was? I am surprised it was that hard. If there's something about him they are having a problem with.... I really can't imagine.

Guys, guys..!
I'll have the baby here, that's for sure, by hook or by crook as obviously here NHS is free (and sucks!) and I am not employed currently in the States, nor I plan to be for at least first three months after the baby is born...
And yes, I had a great insurance in States....Oh those were the days...

true...but then your out massive costs, wasted time paying for a melon, wasted productivity not having someone good, cost of relocation/sign up, cost of advertising a position (gamasutra starts at $500 for a simple text advert), etc, etc...