Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Hi all

I currently live in Yorkshire, England and I am thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio, USA. I have visited a couple of times and I have a girlfriend who lives in Columbus. Things are going very well between us and I have been thinking about moving to Columbus to live and find a job.

I am a reasonably highly skilled IT worker (Cisco CCIE)and I wondered what my chances are for obtaining a US Green Card? Granted, I still have a lot to read up on but any help would be appreciated.

I guess the most important question for me is has anyone on this forum moved to Columbus from the UK? I would be very interested in hearing your comments about UK living vs living in Columbus.

Any useful comments or suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Thank you!

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Is she American? If so marry her. Otherwise basically nil, based on what you've told us above.

No, the most important question is how you will be eligible to move over here in the first place. Read the following for confirmation of your options:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Columbus Ohio is the HQ of Pastor Rod and his New Harvest Church. I hope you have a sense of humour -- coz you'll need one!

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Elfman, OK thanks for that. Just to complicate things further, my girlfriend is actually a Russian citizen living and working in the US with a US Green Card. Hit me with the bad news :)

Fatbrit, well I am an atheist and yes I like to think I have a sense of humor ;)

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

No go on Russian. How far off citizenship is she?

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

the wiki, look it over, or get another girlfriend? :D

welcome to BE though.

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Unfortunately it's a bit of a longshot you ever being granted a visa unless she becomes a USC and you marry her.

Getting a green card is easy. It's being allowed in the country in the first place that's the tricky part.

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

She hasn't actually applied for citizenship yet but she is just over four years into her US Green Card.

Thank you all for your helpful replies - I appreciate it. My original plan was for her to come to the UK and to get married however I wanted a backup plan for me to move to Columbus. I do actually like the US a lot.

I am hoping I won't have to get a new girlfriend just yet ;) :rofl:

Thank you!

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Assuming she's going for US citizenship, she can apply 90 days before her fifth anniversary as a permanent resident. It's currently taking a year or more due to a USCIS mess up, but could be back down to 6 months or so by the time she applies. After citizenship, budget another 9 months to get you over. So, two or three years is your current time frame on this, I'm afraid.

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

:lol: thats true, :eek:

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

I used to work in Columbus and whilst I cannot answer your questions, there is plenty or work there.
As far as I saw most of it was nice and liveable, although had it's rough areas too.

Good luck!

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Puke bags ready please. Warning: not family or work safe!

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Mad f**ker :eek:

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Thanks FatBrit - appreciated!

Cheers...

Re: Thinking of moving to Columbus, Ohio from UK
 

Plenty of work :lol: tell that to my OH who was born here and just came out of the US Navy, the rest of his family will tell you that there wages have stayed the same for year's or even gone down and yes your right there are plenty of rough areas.