UK > USA - Looking to Move

[Adam_1988 0]

Hello

This is my first time posting here so I apologize if it is in the wrong Forum section.

I'll tell you what happened and what me and my partner want to happen next, hopefully you will be able to give me some advice, the immigration sites I have checked can be confusing and hard to navigate!

I met a woman over the Internet a while ago and met her a few times since then, I came back from my most recent on the 15th June because I had to come back to England for my job and a family wedding.

I have never had any trouble getting into the USA.

Me and her have recently discussed the possibility of me moving over there so we can live together at her home in Denver, then after a few months I could probably start looking for work. One day we hope to marry.

I know I can travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program, but the maximum amount of time you can get that for is 90 days.

So my questions are:

1) What sort of Visa would I need, or what sort of form would I need to fill out?

2) How long would it take for these forms to process / how long for the Visa to be granted?

3) Regarding Marriage, do you get a Green Card AFTER Marriage and would it guarantee me being able to stay in the USA? (I would never marry her just for the Green Card, but I wanted to ask the question)

4) I have never been denied entry to any Country and spent 6 months in New Zealand in 2008/2009, I never got into any trouble and my Criminal Record is clean, would this help me get a Visa?

Obviously I want to apply for complete residency one day but my first and main concern is finding out what I need to do / what forms I need to fill in to start off living there.

And my final question:

Would I need to live in the USA for a certain amount of time before being able to apply for any sort of permanent Visa / residency status? If so, what forms would I need to primarily fill in for the first few months I would be there?

Thanks in advance for any help! If you need any more information, say so, and I'll provide it here.

[Adam_1988 0]

I meant to post this is the Immigration General Discussion area, not the Philippines area, sorry!

[Pinay Wife 47]

Moved to General Immigration Related Discussion

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I am to assume your girlfriend is the US citizen? Let's go with that.

It sounds like you are not looking to marry any time soon, correct? There is no girlfriend visa which allows you to live and work in the US while you get to know your girlfriend better and maybe marry one day. You're best bet is to attempt a work visa, which is a long, arduous, expensive process which is contingent upon a US company showing that there is absolutly NO citizen that can fill that job. This is difficult to do in this economy

Have you considered a fiance visa?

Marrying a US citizen does not get you anything immediatly. If you do marry a US citizen, they can petition for you to become a permenant resident. And is that a guarentee? Nothing in this process is 100%

No, your previous travel history doesn't affect this process - whether hinder or help.

Could you explain what specifically you are looking for?

Good luck

[Adam_1988 0]

I am looking for something that will allow me to move over to the USA and live with her (that's the bottom line anyway).

Whatever comes after that, marriage, me working over there can be discussed after the first problem is sorted.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Ok, then you're looking at either a fiance visa or a work visa. A fiance visa requires you to marry within 90 days of arriving in the US. Is this something that appeals to you?

Otherwise, you can go the work visa route - finding a US company to sponsor you. Are you in an 'in demand' profession or have extraordinary abilities or skills?

You could apply for a tourist visa, this will allow you to stay in the US for longer (up to the CBP of course). However, it is a tourist visa and it won't allow you to live or work.

Good luck

Edited June 19, 2010 by canadian_wife

[Adam_1988 0]

Ok, then you're looking at either a fiance visa or a work visa. A fiance visa requires you to marry within 90 days of arriving in the US. Is this something that appeals to you?

Otherwise, you can go the work visa route - finding a US company to sponsor you. Are you in an 'in demand' profession or have extraordinary abilities or skills?

Good luck

I don't think it would be something that would appeal to either of us. The only way around this would be to meet up a few more times and talk it over (I assume I can still go there on the Visa Waiver Program), but I doubt marriage is something serious in the pipeline yet.

The work visa route is a pain due to the amount of time it takes to acquire, plus I have no outstanding skills that set me apart from your every-day person.

I can't believe there is no single simple Visa that would allow a person to visit or live in the USA for a certain amount of time.

When I went to New Zealand I was able to get a 1 year Visa without any problems, I was going there for work and pleasure (I eventually ended up working in a Pub as a Manager), that was no way an outstanding skill and there was no guarantee of me even getting a job over there before I went.

Is there nothing like this available for the USA?

EDIT: You mentioned a tourist visa? How long are they available for? I need more than a visa that lasts just a few weeks, especially when the Visa Waiver Program can last for up to 90 days.

Edited June 19, 2010 by Adam_1988

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I wish there was a blanket visa that allowed one to visit/live and work in the US.

Student visa? Extended tourist visa?

Begin reading up on the alphabet soup of visas available and see if one you can qualify for

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html

Good luck

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

They are good for 6 months.

[Adam_1988 0]

They are good for 6 months.

So if I had a tourist Visa I could enter the USA and stay there for up to 6 months?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So if I had a tourist Visa I could enter the USA and stay there for up to 6 months?

Yeah, the visa is simple to apply for, but you have to prove ties to the UK. One thing you'd have to show is how your able to support yourself for the 6 months.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Your admittance of up to 6 months is up to the Customs and Border Patorl at the time of entrance. You could be granted 6 months, but you may not. It is up to them.

Good luck.

[Adam_1988 0]

Yeah, the visa is simple to apply for, but you have to prove ties to the UK. One thing you'd have to show is how your able to support yourself for the 6 months.

Well my family live in the UK so that would be easy enough to prove.

How I'd be able to support myself is a different matter though, all I would have is a bank statement to show, I don't think I could turn round and say 'I plan to work here' when my Visa wouldn't cover me for that.

I would be hoping the funds (shown on a bank statement) are enough proof that I could support myself. Plus my Girlfriend works in the US so if I ever got into any financial struggle I could probably call upon her temporarily to support me, or even get some money into my account from back home by asking my parents.

So say if I got the 6 month Visa and we decided we wanted to get married after 5 months, would I then be able to get a Fiance Visa and after we got married I should then be able to get a full-time Visa?

Edited June 19, 2010 by Adam_1988

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well my family live in the UK so that would be easy enough to prove.

How I'd be able to support myself is a different matter though, all I would have is a bank statement to show, I don't think I could turn round and say 'I plan to work here' when my Visa wouldn't cover me for that.

I would be hoping the funds (shown on a bank statement) are enough proof that I could support myself. Plus my Girlfriend works in the US so if I ever got into any financial struggle I could probably call upon her temporarily to support me, or even get some money into my account from back home by asking my parents.

So say if I got the 6 month Visa and we decided we wanted to get married after 5 months, would I then be able to get a Fiance Visa and after we got married I should then be able to get a full-time Visa?

Technically you could just adjust your status while in the US. The problem is that if CBP knows your visiting your gf there is a strong possibility that they may deny your entry.

How old are you btw? That can have effect too.

[Adam_1988 0]

Technically you could just adjust your status while in the US. The problem is that if CBP knows your visiting your gf there is a strong possibility that they may deny your entry.

How old are you btw? That can have effect too.

I'm 21 and she is 33. Lets assume I would be 22/23 by the time we decided to get married (I'm not saying marriage is certain AT ALL, it is a big step after all).

Would I be able to keep entering the USA on the Visa Waiver Program? Lets say I went for 90 days on the program, came back home for say 2/3 months, would I then be able to re-enter for another 90 days on the program?

"Those applicants who do not have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the U.S. must present convincing evidence that an interested person will provide support."

This is also good news, I would be able to provide a bank statement from my bank account and my parents would be able to support me money-wise from back here in the UK if I needed them.

Edited June 19, 2010 by Adam_1988