British Expatriate Network

I'm 23 and a UK citizen. After finishing my university postgrad degree I want to move to America. My US girlfriend is finishing her degree over here and then returning to the states in September and we want to be together without doing the marriage thing.

What are the best options for me getting work out there (Boston) for at least a year to see how things go. I have a BA and MSc in Economics, what are my chances of getting work (anything!) in the Boston area.

Is going over on a Tourist visa and looking for work advisable? Also what if I got a "sponsor"? What does this entail???

Anyone else in a similar situation or is it just me!?!

Hello ols and welcome to Britnet.

There are quite a few people who post on this site who live in the Boston area so someone should be along shortly!

However, unless you have relative in the US who can sponsor you or you do marry your American girlfriend then your options are more limited. You will only be able to reside long-term in the US if you get a work-related visa or open a business if you have lots of $$$$ to invest and employ Americans (not really an option I guess for someone completing uni!).

You can find out about the various immigrant and non-immigrant visas on the US Embassy in London website

http//www.usembassy.org.uk

I wonder if you could get a job as a lecturer at one of the universities or colleges in MA - there are loads of colleges in this State, not just the famous ones but Tufts University and even Community Colleges (similar to the UK Colleges of Further Education). Perhaps you could teach in a High School? Look up the State website for MA and look up the education section; schools often do offer sponsorship if they can't recruit locally.

Another idea is to try and find a job with a bank such as Chase, HSBC. Many visas are the H1 for employment but if you've worked for the same company for at least one year you could be brought over to work in the US on an L1 (intracompany transfer visa, which was set up for MNCs - and the quickest work related visa to get a Green Card. This visa is limited to executives, managers and those with specialised knowledge). However my husband works in IT in the financial sector and recently there has been massive layoffs in the banking/finance industry.

If you come over as a tourist on the visa waiver under no circumstances let an immigration officer know that you're looking for work in the US or you may be deported (I kid you not). Don't even get too lovey-dovey with your girlfriend in the immigration line at the airport or they may get suspicious - my daughter's friend was deported because of this, was taken into a room for questioning whilst her American boyfriend was questioned seperately and she never got to set foot on the mainland! eek

I also recommend a book called "Living and Working In America" by David Hampshire. You should be able to find it in WH Smiths, Waterstone's or on amazon.co.uk

Good Luck! smile

Ols,

I'm in a very similar situation as you. British Citizen, US girlfriend. Both want to move to Boston but not ready to do the marriage thing....

The only difference is that I have been working for a few years & the last year I have set up my own IT recruitment agency, I'm hoping to get an intracompany transfer (L1-Visa) but understand that my chances of Visa could be slim (anyone else know anything on this?).

I'd be interested to see how you get on & I'm happy to let you know what we decide to do & how I eventually obtain my Visa. However, from all the work I've done so far it seems the easiest thing is tieing the knot. But if your girlfriend is anything like mine they are not prepared to do this just for a Visa! (rightly so, too!).

You can always e-mail me at george_hillier@hotmail.com if you want to chat.

George

???

It would actually be easier for the girlfriends to move to the UK than for you to move to the US.....

I went through this myself - I ended up marrying my American husband after only spending a total of six weeks together in person. I would have preferred to have just lived with him for a while but that was just not going to be possible, so I took the plunge. It was either that or forget the whole thing.

Wow KG!! How long have you been married? Did it work out for you?

Sounds like I'd better get the girl over to Paris for the weekend & get down on one knee.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Good morning-) Ols AND GeorgeH .

Welcome to America and Welcome to the forum .

Sounds like there are folks here who can and will be able to help you ,but the least the rest of us can do is welcome you both to our family here on the net ...smile

Welcome ols and George

Dawn has some very sound advice there.

We know a couple who got married (they are in their early 50s) and have come over on an L1. As far as I know the processing of their docs is taking far longer than they were told. He has his social security but was turned down by a few large medical firms for cover. She STILL doesnt have her social security and has had to pay for medical bits and bobs which is very expensive.

We are on an H1 and H4 visa. The company is not now paying for the visa renewals and green card process due to the economy, and they are systematically taking employees off the fast track to get green cards and putting them with the mainstream applications...apparently because there are so many IT staff out there looking for work they cant justify to the Labour Department pushing H1b Visas through quickly.

now i will shut up. We are not bitter about returning to UK.

Good luck to you both, and from someone who will be celebrating 20 years of marriage in July....dont just marry for a Visa...make sure you guys really get on well.

Just out of interest. My husbands cousin met his Boston girlfriend in London while in acting school. They married nearly 20 years ago and live in the UK. wink

Thanks to everyone for their advice, it’s been really helpful. Unfortunately things seem as bleak as I first thought but I’m determined!!

I’m looking at internships as the most viable way to go over there and things are looking promising if not expensive but I’m young, what’s another little debt going to do!

I’m going over in a month to “meet the parents” so to speak (her dad looks a little like Robert de Niro actually) – so anyone got any advice on US Dad’s????? For instance is toilet humour the way to go??

If I “dazzle” them then they might fall over themselves to set me up with contacts! Alternatively they’ll think I’m some sort of crazy brit who’s trying to steal their daughter away and they’ll take steps to deport me!!!

Hmmm….. I can’t wait wink – wish me luck!

NO!!!!! Act very sensibly on the first visit and put on your best british accent possible. Look as though you have had tea with the queen and then you will be fine :wink: There aren't many americans that understand toilet humour.

Have you thought about going for your doctorate? You may get sponsorship for this. My psychology professor at college did this and then got a job because her doctorate was american. :smile:

When i first met my ex-wife's dad, the b@stard wouldn't even speak to me - he was an airline pilot (ex USAF Major & Indy car racer) who expected me to show up in a blazer with a crest on the pocket. instead he got a long-hair in jeans & Clash t-shirt. Good times! So yeah, dress to impress and emphasize the accent grin