NoodleNoo

Just to add that I was looking at the 'multi-national employer who is willing to transfer an employee' and 'you have specialist skills' side of Visa application which I believe comes under L1 and E1 visa requirements?

Nutmegger

What people are trying to explain is that regrettably the grass is not greener, what your husband wants to escape from in the UK is the norm in the US. Weekly work hours will not be shorter -- though vacation time very definitely will be. Also, to be extremely honest, if your husband has worked for the company for thirty years, I presume that he is probably in his fifties. The youth-oriented culture in the US has people of that age being let go for "down-sizing" and "early retirement." That leaves them to obtain their own health insurance, which is the other big deal-breaker in the US for those of us who aren't 21 any longer. If he wants to retain English-style time off, he should look for a company with US connections who would hire him in the UK and then transfer him to the US after a year, with a contract that retains UK benefits/time off. That type of visa would also permit a spouse to work.

N1cky

We do know what the work hours and holiday allowance will be like, SHIT. Unless you are extremely fortunate, and there are very very few people who are, you will start with a maximum of 10 days vacation. The hours advertised will not be the hours you work as American Corporateness demands if you want to get on you have to be 'seen' to be constantly working.

The reason people are mentioning these things is that lots of people (me included) believe before they move, that moving to somewhere sunny will result in a different way of life. Reality is totally different.

What is it that makes you want to move to the US? Why do you want to move to a country where you have no close friends or family, and your husband will be working endless hours?

fatbrit

The issue here is that AmerLisa's husband's move was not linked to his employment -- when he arrived in the US, he already had permission to live and work in the US through means other than his work skills. Your issue is that you need to tie the job with sponsorship for the visa -- a much more difficult endeavour.

Of course, you could always arrive in such a state. One of you opening a business with an E2 would allow the other to freely seek employment, or half a million on the table would allow you both to freely seek employment.

As I said, you can't avoid the visa issue.

N1cky

An L visa is for intercompany transfers, so it would have to be BT for that visa. Cisco have a big presence out here if his skills are transferrable to them, but he would have to get a job with them in the UK and work for them for 1 year before he could apply for an L visa transfer.

christmasoompa

You've already been given lots of helpful responses, including info on the possible visa options so you can see if your plan is remotely feasible.

But you also mentioned how vacation time won't be an issue if it's sunny and warm, and was I was simply responding to that point. As I'm sure you are aware, 10 days is generous in terms of annual leave in the US, which does have a huge impact on a lot of people coming from the UK who are used to between 4-6 weeks (see recent thread further down the page for examples).

As has been said above, your chances are very slim anyway, sounds like you're looking at a work transfer, which could be an option if he's a senior manager or has skills that aren't easily found in the US.

And if the US doesn't happen, then Canada would definitely be a much easier option for you.

Sally Redux

I have noticed that everyone in the UK thinks US workers are on Easy Street.

Weeze

Hello. We moved on an L1. You need to have worked for the company for over a year and the company needs to show why you are so essential that an American can't do the job. It took a lot of paperwork for the company and they do it fairly frequently. Also, it is very costly for them. Has your husbands company moved people on a blanket L1 before or is it more a long term aim to find a company who does them and to work for them for a while?

NoodleNoo

Thanks Nutmegger for your reply and helpful comments .
Hubby is not in his 50's....mid-40's to be honest, as am I.
We're aware of the difference's in vacation time....and I'm afraid I was a bit flippant earlier about that with the other poster...of course he'd want time to do stuff that he'd want to do re time off...we're looking into BT Americas as I said, but also wanting to know other options if there were peeps on here that could offer advice
I do realise that the grass is not that much greener, but for the lifestyle we want it does still appeal....and yes, healthcare is also important.

fatbrit

So you only have one prospective employer BT USA -- or whatever it's called. It's certainly the first path to investigate. It's also a long-term plan if husband wants to either move towards the side of the UK operation connected with the US one, or move to another company within the UK with US operations and a history of transferring employees.

NoodleNoo

Not the case, as I have a friend in North Carolina who has just been made unemployed and now looking for work and has filled me in on how things are, so no I don't think its 'Easy Street' in the USA

Sally Redux

I may have misread your post, I thought the reason for wanting to move was that the British employer wanted too much work out of your husband. Hopefully you won't fall for the idea that it's any easier here.

NoodleNoo

Well, BT Americas is the first port of call, obviously and then AT&T, MCI etc would be looked into, can't put your eggs all in one basket can you?

NoodleNoo

No, that wasn't the reason.

Weeze

For an L1 you are putting your eggs in one basket yes as it'll either need to be his existing company or he'll need to join a new company for at least a year and excel enough for them to transfer him.