Thread: How easy is it to move to america?

Me and my boyfriend have been thinking about moving to florida. We have been together 2 years now not married and no kids. We both have qualifications but nothing to great really. I was just after some advice really on how easy is it to move to america? Also if there are any young couples ou there who have already moved then i would love to hear about your experiences?

Basically it's not too easy at all unless you have either half a million dollars to invest in a business, a mother or father that's a US Citizen and living here that can petition for you, or you are a US Citizen yourself.
If you were management with a company that had an operation over here then you might be able to apply for a transfer to the US, and if you have special skills then you could apply for a job with an employment based visa.
Other than that, your options are limited, to be honest.

purple

It is tough but it can be done. My husband and I moved over to Florida just over a year ago on an E2 visa, we bought a small business that employs Americans, you need to check www.immigration.com I think is the web site. We are both in our 40's and our children have grown up so it was just the two of us, I applied for a work permit and I now have a job also. There are lots of different visas it depends what you want, I know if you are in a medical profession you will have no trouble getting work, I have a good visa specialist if you are interested, be careful though as with anything there are people out there who would rip you off. It is a huge decision to move to another country and is very stressful but if you stick at it you will get there!

Agreed there are plenty of vacancies in the medical profession, but realistically that won't guarantee a way in to the US.
You need to have the visa to work before you can work, or you need to have a specialized skill to allow you to come in. Just being a nurse isn't going to cut it.
Honestly I dont imagine there are many hospitals that want english nurses to sponsor for a visa to work, when they can have American nurses with much less hassle. In fact the job situation being what it is, there's not that many US companies looking for workers as a whole, let alone foreign workers.

Thanks for all the advice it really helps. Any other advice would be great also. I am really unsure on going anyway so need to be really certain on my chances first. Is it better to go over when you are older? as we are only in are early 20s?

Realistically it's not really about whether you want to emigrate to the US or not, but rather whether US immigration will actually issue a visa to you in the first place to even allow you to live here.
As you probably know, you can't just get on a plane and turn up at a US airport and ask for a visa application to allow you to stay in the US. (ok, so there's political asylum, but we won't count that in this case) Everything has to be arranged through the US consulate in the UK first and it takes months, so you really need to do your research and see what you may be elegible for in the way of visa's to be able to live and work here based on your own personal circumstances. You'd have plenty of paperwork to go through, and basically, if you aren't eligible, they won't issue you a visa, and that's it.
IMHO if you really want to try for it, then fine and good, try, and good luck.
If on the otherhand you're unsure, then maybe it's not really what you want to do in the first place?
Just moving house generally is a hassle, moving house and countries is a hassle AND big change in your life, but if it's what you really want to do you'll endure it.
Check out www.uscis.gov

I am also interested in the process of relocating to the States via an E2. I have previously worked in the US with a H1B visa so have a bit of experience with the options available. I would interested to know how you attacked the process and what steps you initially took. I would also appreciate the details of your visa specialist and how much the E2 visa cost. Thanks in advance.

Hi Cranesone, my wife and I relocated from the UK to the USA in 2013 on a 5 year E-2 visa: I have to say the process was quite easy (took us about 3 months, from starting to look at businesses to arriving here).
The steps we took can be summarised as follows:
1. Google search for business brokers/businesses for sale in the area we were looking at (Florida)
2. Email brokers to establish contact (some don't even reply but you will establish a relationship with at least one - I can give you our brokers details if you need)
3. Compile a list of businesses to look at
4. Fly over and meet with business owners
5. Have an offer accepted
6. Fly home excited
7. Use the broker's contacts to help with all areas needed ie someone to help with your business plan for your application; an attorney for the legal stuff
8. Fly back over with your suitcases to sign and complete the deal
9. Enjoy your new business and new life in the sunshine!
I'm sure other people will have different opinions/experiences but that's how it worked for us. We bought a property management company in Florida. I think costs vary but for us it was around $4500.00 - we did pay someone the majority of that to compile our business plan, so that's a cost that may vary (or you could do it yourself if you have experience of this).
If you need any more info just ask me : )

Hi YorkshireGuy, My wife & I are looking to move to USA asap, as neither of us are eligible to move over under the family visa scheme, we were looking at opening a business too.
Did it only take you 3 months, we wish we could be there within 3 months :).
Can you advise me on the steps we need to take please or any contact details you have that we may use.
We would both appreciate that very much. Thanks

Hi SunnyP,
Sorry to hear of your bad experience. It us took a while to research businesses, we then flew over and bought one, and then came back to go through the visa application process (which took us 3 months) then we came over here and started our new life in the sun!! I have sent you a personal message with a bit more detail : )