My situation is as follows. I'm here on an L1 Visa. I'm about 2 years through the first 3 years. The Company I work for are having problems and there is serious talk of closing the US Office.
I don't want to go back yet and was thinking of extending for an extra 2 years anyway. I was advised to change to a H visa to give me more flexibility or apply for my Green Card.
This is a whole new ball game to me and was wondering what people opinions on here might be. It seems that there are a lot of UK/USA couples but I thought I'd throw it out there as a question.
Cheers
Richie
What type of L visa do you have Richie? a L1 A is extendable up to seven years, and exempts you from the labor certification process.
This will speed up any application that you make for a green card, L1 B is only extendable to five years and you would have to go through labor certification ( I believe that this is a lengthy process)
The biggest problem is that L visa's are not transferrable from company to company, so you may have to change your visa type depending on any change in the status of your employment
If your company is willing to sponsor you for a green card, this will give you maximum flexibility. You'd be able to change jobs and stay in the US permanently.
I think it's an L1B but my passport is in my briefcase at work. I'm sure it's a B though.
I thought I could extend for 2 then another 2, i.e. 7 in total.
There is a clause in my contract that says they'll sponsor my Green Card if that's the option we both want to pursue.
Is there not a limit on how long you've been here first?
If I didn't want a Green Card though, what would be involved in swapping to an H? Is it the same process I went through for the L, which was a breeze?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Richie cool
Richie, if I was you I would get your greencard process going NOW!
On an L visa you can start the process after being here one year.
If you know that the company will sponsor you, talk to a lawyer, you may be able to get one quickly. There are certain times when this can be done but it costs money.
We are on an L1A so don't have the labour stuff to go through. We have been told the time frame is approx. 18 months altogether.
H visas are limited in the number that are given out each year. The year starts beginning of November and runs until there are no more. They normally run out of these visas around April/May. The amount of H visas that are given now I don't know but it does depend on what field you work in. When the millennium was approaching the US government increased the number of visas issued to the IT industry. I don't know if they pulled the numbers back.
The process for the two visas is different. The H generally takes a lot longer, but you may be in a job that is crying out for people.
I swapped my J1 for a H1-B and it took about a month, but we paid the premium processing fee. We had to do all the paperwork to prove that I had skills that could not be found in American candidates. Lots of tedious paperwork.
Even had to change my job title as the one I had in this area was supposed to be paid $25,000.00 a year more than I get - boss decided to downgrade me instead of upgrading my salary!!
Am clueless about what you should do. Surely a green card is better than a H1 as you can get any job, rather than being stuck with the same employer?
Stel.
go for the Green Card asap.
I'm on a H1 but hope to get the Green Card by Nov. after approx. 3 years processing.
H1 only lasts 6 years (that includes 1 renewal which your present company must do) then you have to leave the US for 1 year before you/your company can re-apply.
Plus you are tied to the company and you have less chance on the job front as employers don't expect you to be around for that long. You're really seen as more of a contractor.
Huh, I checked my Visa and it just says Type/Class = R & L1. No mention of A or B.
Where would I find that out?
I see the green card as unnecessary expense for my company if I don't want to stay long term. I envisage a 2005 return to Gods Country smile
Cheers
Richie cool
Pete's L1 visa also just says "L1" on it too (it was issued at the US Embassy in Singapore). Mine just says L2.
Still in a quandary about what to do about applying for Green Cards. If our daughter goes to a UK university after her Gap Year, we have to prove that Pete is only on a temporary overseas assignment...or she will have to pay the International Student fees, which are much more than the fees for students living in the EEC countries.... roll sad
Dawn, I just had a thought - isn't she classed as an adult in her own right, if she doesn't live with you? You would probably have to stop giving her any type of allowance.
As long as she can prove she has no income, she would qualify for grants wouldn't she?
Pardon Ben?
What do you mean? For example when she returns to England to go and sign on for Social Security? She would have to prove that she is actively seeking employment...although her plan is to return to Oxford and get a (temporary) job to save up for travelling to Asia & beyond.
I'd never even thought about that...but she would probably have to do a govt. training course instead and get a 'jobseekers' or training allowance...however she hasn't paid any NI contributions as she's straight out of school.
We haven't let on to Jenny that we do have plenty of airmiles to cover her airtravel! lol
I do know that when a prospective student is 21 years old or married that they're classed as 'mature' students and parental income isn't taken into account. I'm not letting her bum around and supporting her until then though! lol
Dawn, even if she married, you'd still have to pay for her to go to college I think! Mel and I married at 22, but my poor old Dad had to pay for my PGCE as I was still under 25. It still ****es him off!!
Jan
Dawn, things may have changed now. I know they are always changing the rules etc.
If your daughter left home at 16 (which she is quite entitled to in the UK) and went to work, had her own flat etc. she would be independent and supporting herself.
If then at 18 she was made redundant from her job and decided to go to college for further education, she would be entitled to attend classes free, wouldn't she ???
Well, why not, at 18 she decided to live off her own back for a year. Have a job and then decide in a year or two go to do her degree. Wouldn't she be classed as an independent adult.
You may have already have thought of this and it may not be possible. But it was just a thought.
There must be kids in the UK who haven't lived at home (kicked out or whatever) who decide to go onto further education without having to put what their parents income is.
Your daughter has been living in the UK for two years, she hasn't left. She is able to vote, drive and drink. Why can't she live independently from her parents as far as the powers that need to know is concerned ???
Am I being too simple?
I think it is more complicated than that, Ben. There is provision for young students who are supporting themselves, but I think for the majority who do have contact with their parents they are subject to fees and financial support.
I was looking into this recently and came to the realisation that we would need lots of $$$$ to put our 5 kids through college whether in the US or the UK. Overseas student fees in the UK are about £11000 a year for science courses, not including subsistence. Decent US establishments won't be much different from this.
OK, I've been giving this topic a lot of thought. In fact I've draughted a formal letter to my Boss, His Boss and The HR department. Nothing controversial, just want to be ready when the time comes.
What's involved in the Green Card Application? I've done a little bit of digging and it would appear to be pretty straight forward.
Any comments, thoughts, etc. would be well received.
Cheers
Richie ~80)