u01lad5

Greetings! I would like to ask the advice of fellow users of British Expats for assistance and advice in starting the process of finding a employer who might sponsor me for a work visa in the USA. It is a daunting process and I am not quite sure where to start; I have seen a lot of dubious websites which has encouraged me to seek advice from others in this field.

My situation is I am college graduate with a Masters in Geography, with a background in public service and environmental management, who has a USA boyfriend. We have known each other for 8 months and dated long distance for 4 months. Sadly, however, my partner is undergoing a tough time in relation to stress from work, his desire to get back to college (he hasn't finished his degree) and his responsibilities as a church leader. The stress of a long-distance relationship is becoming too much, especially for him as he misses me quite a lot. I was recently there for Christmas with his family and we talked a lot about the issues; we aren't willing to rush our relationship and get married so I can obtain a visa, we want time to get to know each other properly and conduct a normal relationship which involves real face to face dating every week rather than every 3-4 months.

I have started the process of looking for a company to sponsor me - but the literature is varied and I am not sure exactly how I go about finding vacancies and applying for them. I am not able to ask for a transfer with my office as I doubt the British government has much need for public servant jobs in the USA. Is it best to just contact the company to ask if they sponsor or is there a official means for this process? If anyone has any advice or hints, I would be very grateful.

scrubbedexpat099

Reconsider getting married.

You are wasting your time otherwise.

emailrob

best advice you'll get ^^^^

discoviking

There is no quick and reliable process for finding a company that will sponsor you for a visa. It's usually the other way around, i.e the company finds you. Don't waste your time or money on any website or 'visa specialist' who promise you a work visa. They are just after your money, and will leave you high and dry - with no visa.

Realistically, the 'M' word is your best option. Wanting to do it on your own merit is noble and all, but it will most likely not get you anywhere.

Look at it as getting married so you can spend the rest of your lives together in the same country. Don't look at it as getting married just for the visa.

If you are not yet ready to marry your boyfriend - then wait until you are, or break it off and move on. That's the reality of a transcontinental relationship. Most of us have been there. And survived to tell about it.

Oh, and do read the pinned thread on top in this forum:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585898

Good luck to you.

penguinsix

You may think the answers are a bit harsh, flippant or brutal but there is a reason--we don't want you to get scammed. Many of these 'visa agencies' are fly-by-night BS merchants who do nothing but submit paper for you knowing full well you haven't a chance in hell in getting a visa (but that they'll get the filing fee of a few hundred pounds).

The flat out easiest nearly guaranteed way to get the paperwork is to get married, end of story. It's what about half of the expats on this board did. The other half came over on work-related assignments, with many of them being reassigned to the US branch of a UK office or by having some advanced skills in a desirable field (think tech, software, medicine, law).

One of the problems with your degree is that many of the people who would be hiring in that field are governmental entities, and there is basically no way in hell that a government agency can justify themselves in saying "yes, we know the US unemployment is 10% but we really need to hire a foreigner to take the job that some unemployed American could do". Imagine the political backlash if the people that hire you in the UK said "there is no UK-citizen who could do this job, so let's bring someone in from India to do it." Absent some really stellar experiences that stand you out amongst the geography, public service and environmental management community WORLDWIDE you're going to basically be banging your head against a wall.

There is, however, one other option. School. Get a second masters degree over here as a student. Spend a year studying something at a college near where your boyfriend lives and get to know him, and the USA a whole lot better. You'll have some ups and downs to say the least, but you'll be coming at things with a much clearer head should the marriage option be something you still consider at the end of all of it.

Sorry we can't tell you what you want to hear.

snowbunny

Agreed, but it's an amazing leap of faith to marry someone just so you can be together to know each other well enough to decide to ... stay married?

MsElui

there is no easy way to find sponsorship - or every tom dick and harry would be doing it. The best thing you can do is network like crazy with people in your field/chosen field and hope that might lead to something but its a very long shot. Company Transfer would be more realistic - but you have to work for the company for 1 year here in the UK to be eligible. if you were to marry - you could be there in 6-8 months.

dunroving

Agree with the comments regarding the visa scam sites and difficulties of getting a "work sponsor" - essentially, this would involve finding a job with an employer that hires internationals. They are few and far between, and unless you are really special, it's simpler for them to hire a US citizen. Also, presumably you'd be looking within a 50-mile radius of wherever your boyfriend lives, so even less likely.

There is another, possibly easier option. You mentioned your boyfriend wanting to go back to college. You could, if you were interested, apply to do a postgraduate degree at the same university. You'd obviously need to get accepted to the university, and have enough money to fund yourself, but at the postgrad level there are opportunities for teaching assistantships (where you get paid to teach lower-level classes), and if you and your boyfriend live together (is that an option?), it could make things easier financially.

Google F-1 visa for further information.

meauxna

Why not have him go to the UK to study and finish his degree?

It sounds like you have a job in your field and you didn't post any compelling reason you would like to move to the US other than the BF.

augigi

The long distance thing is too hard after only 4 months....? That's not a good sign! I would consider what I wanted to really do - it's a lot to move countries for someone after being together a long time, let alone after such a short relationship - so plan for contingencies.

Ray

Find a new boyfriend ... far easier and cheaper

Sally Redux

Just checking whether you are female?

ian-mstm

Ah... it's probably the easiest way to get to the US.


This would be a great idea... if you didn't live on two separate continents.


With respect, in the current economy you aren't likely to find any US-based company willing to sponsor you. Why should they when there are, literally, thousands of unemployed folks already in the US who don't need sponsoring and can start work tomorrow? Anyway, if you actually find one let us know. Thousands look each year without success... and they ultimately marry their USC partner.

Please understand... I'm not trying to put you off your plans; I'm trying to save you many months of agony and anguish searching for something that you aren't ever likely to find.

Ian

Bob

No one can help you get a job, no one should be asking you for money to look for a job.

Only way is the traditional route, hard graft. Find one like you would ordinarily find one, though expecting a higher rate of refusal or being ignored. Look at larger companies....look at companies in the UK you could work at with a eye for a transfer.

Realise it's slim pickings and unless you're pretty senior or have very niche skills that the chances are not going to be great.

So realistically, either get married, go study over here or have him go to the UK as a visitor, he without a visa could stay for 6 months, couldn't work, but that's a option. Study is also easy, would need to organise a visa before hand now, but they still don't charge for it I don't think?

u01lad5

Yes, I am a female. Thank you for all the advice, it confirms everything I have gauged from reading. I am still going to try looking; maybe I will be lucky and be the exception to the rule (hopeful thinking). If it where down to me, I would be happy to marry him in a second! The reservations come from him and his family. I can see why he wants me to come live and work in the USA before we think about such a large commitment (I feel its kind of a test- I am not just after a visa from him).

We discussed him coming here to finish his studies. I don't have as close family as he does; leaving his family and church community could be on the cards but he really wants to avoid that if possible. In the midwest, I have learnt it is all about family- it is very important to spend time with them and see them regularly. If given the chance myself, I would love to go study in the USA! It would be a dream come true - I wanted to do so as a teenager but the price and lack of funding pulled that dream. I am still looking into this option but there is very little that seems to cover all tuition fees over there in the area I would have to consider. I have lots of friends and an adoptive family of my own out in Missouri, who are more than happy to provide a place for me to live if I could secure the funding for my tuition fees. Personally, I don't have the spare income to self-fund and in this economy I doubt I will get the career loans from the bank to afford the tuition fees.

Find a new boyfriend, probably would be cheaper. Certainly would be nice to have the freedom to plan holidays to other places. I am sure continental would miss my business though and I am so close to gold elite status!

Ian, thank you very much for you concern and honesty. I am already in the months of agony and anguish; I might not be successful in finding something but who knows what might happen. If I can find a college scholarship, I have considered retraining in something desirably specialized in the USA. But again it is a long shot and probably very competitive. I am going to give it all my best shot... if it fails, at least I had a good go. Who knows, he might change his mind once he know how difficult it is to get in the USA for me without marrying him!