Help Please! Where do I start??

[yoursnugglybear 0]

Hello All,

I will start by introducing myself and my situation. My name is ryan and I am 26. I have been working at a summer camp on J1 visa's in 2005, 2006 and just about to leave for 2007! Whilst at camp in 2006 I fell in love with a girl (USC age 22) and we have been dating ever since. In the past winter I have made 3 trips to visit her (a total of 6 weeks) and she has made 2 trips back here to the UK (total of 6 weeks also).

After camp in September this year we would like to try to get an apartment in Philly and I would like to get a job and was wondering if there was any way I could simply extend the J1 visa I have for the summer or any advice anyone has at all?? We just want to be together and try to have a 'normal' relationship with each other to see how things work out. We have no plans for marriage as we just want to see how things go.

Would I have to find work before I apply to extend my j1 visa?

All advice appreciated. email radharvey@hotmail.com if you can help!

Many thanks

Ryan

[fozzie 41]

I,m not sure if you can extend your J1 visa. Not 100% but i thought they were all just valid for 3 months of work and 1 month grace period. Althopugh it has been almost 8 years since i did the camp america thing.

Another visa you might try is a H1B visa. This is the visa that allows you to work in the USA for a couple of years. You will need to find an employer who will be williing to sponsor you - not an easy thing.

Another alternative is to go to college here in the US and get a student visa - i have never really looked into this so i can't really give any advice on wether this is possible for you.

Try this website. http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/index.html

Good luck. I hope you get the chance to be with her soon. (maybe She could try to move to the UK - probably easier)

[homesick_american 1]

I think they've handed out all the H1-Bs for this year; I read an article about it last week where tech companies were complaining about the cap on them because all the visas were issued in a matter of hours.

[TimsDaisy 0]

H1Bs are tech worker visas, they have a cap, and they tend to be all gone by about halfway through the (fiscal) year. Probably not the best route for you.

There are likely good options out there for you, however, so long as you learn all you can in advance and know what pitfalls to watch for.

[fozzie 41]

H1Bs are tech worker visas, they have a cap, and they tend to be all gone by about halfway through the (fiscal) year. Probably not the best route for you.

There are likely good options out there for you, however, so long as you learn all you can in advance and know what pitfalls to watch for.

they are for 'highly skilled workers' not necessarily just tech workers.

* To Qualify for the H1B Visa Program, you must work in a 'specialty occupation':

The core Specialty Occupations include: IT, Computing, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Marketing, Advertising, PR, Sales, Recruiting, Engineering (all types), Teaching, HealthCare/Medical, Legal, Lawyers, Networking, Telecoms, Business, Management.

Edited April 10, 2007 by Lauren and Dave

[rebeccajo 14]

You might want to check your J1 for any home residency requirements (as far as any future permanent plans go). Some have a restriction that you must return to your home country for two years before you can move back here for good.