Thread: Moving from UK to USA

Hi, me and my partner are thinking of moving to USA but dont know where to start! We have been searching on the net for some guidelines as to the process but keep going round in circles.

Can anyone tell us in plain english what we need to do and how to go about it? Would appreciate any advice that anyone can give us.

Many thanks
Vicki & Paul

Hi vix-en-paul!
We moved to California last October. We came over with my husband on a H1B visa and me on an H4 - he can work, I can't. Basically he had a contact that introduced him to an American employer and they sponsored his visa and I was able to come over as his spouse. The employer had an attorney but they still underestimated the complex process and it took us two years to get our visas!
One useful site is the official US Citizenship and Immigration Services http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
and the US Gov website
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visapolicy/faq.html

Hope these two sites answer some of your questions. If you think your situation is similar to ours I'll give you a detailed account of what we went through!

Originally Posted by traveller

Hi vix-en-paul!
We moved to California last October. We came over with my husband on a H1B visa and me on an H4 - he can work, I can't. Basically he had a contact that introduced him to an American employer and they sponsored his visa and I was able to come over as his spouse. The employer had an attorney but they still underestimated the complex process and it took us two years to get our visas!
One useful site is the official US Citizenship and Immigration Services http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
and the US Gov website
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visapolicy/faq.html

Hope these two sites answer some of your questions. If you think your situation is similar to ours I'll give you a detailed account of what we went through!

Hi Traveller
Im new to the forum, so hi to you and all. My husband has been offered an opportunity of working in the usa. He's been told he can be based anywhere, great you may say, but what a task when youve never been to the country and havent got much of an idea as to where to go. Although saying that 'califiona' san diego, did spring to mind. we have friends that have visited many a time, they got married in san fran. They love califiona, but apparently pricey! Can you give any advise as to whether this is the case and basically your experience in generally would be great to hear. We have two children age 9yrs and 20 months, so being by the coast may be nice. We did originally want to go to australia, for the weather and laid back life style that it has to offer. Is san diego abit like that? Its all very daunting but ever so exciting as well.
Hope you can help lol j x

Hi julie and welcome to Britsabroad,

We live the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco in Marin County so we're in one of the most expensive areas and we still don't think it's pricey. In fact we love this place - the weathers fantastic, the landscape is breath-taking, the people are very friendly, and the friends we've made here are genuine.

Obvioulsy you pay for medical care over here but you should get a good deal through your husband's employer - you'll choose between PPO or HMO and I'd be happy to discuss that further with you when you want.

Things like car insurance are more expensive to start with til you get your California licenses and taxes are higher here than in other states, and some groceries can be pricey, but gas is still cheaper than in the UK and eating out is cheap, clothes are cheap etc. Oh and did I mention the fantastic weather - we seem to be the only part of the USA not under snow at the moment - we're bathed in warm sunshine!!

We stayed at San Diego a few years ago when we over here on holiday before moving here. We both loved the place. Obviously it's sunny but it does get very hot and dry. It has more of a Spanish and Mexican influence than further up the coast. The crime rate is pretty low but I don't know anything about the schools. We went out at night mainly into the old town area which is lovely so we didn't explore other areas and it does have an active gay community like San Francisco which is always funny for watching your husband getting checked out!!:twitcy:

Would I live there - probably not now purely because I've experienced the height of summer here and it is HOT so if we were in San Diego we would be spending longer indoors as it is VERY HOT there. Also we ride motorbikes and wear full leathers so it would just be too hot for too much of the year for us! But if the heat's not a problem for you then I'm sure you'll love it.

Hope that helps. If you have any other questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Hi Traveller

Thanku for the info. I think we need to come over and check it out. Go to a few different places and get a feel for things. We love nice weather but if its to hot then thats no fun and we certainly dont want to be indoors alot of the time, we do that here because of the weather and thats not due to the sun shinning!!

It was nice to hear the people are friendly ive read so many articles-forums etc where other have said the opposite. How they do not socialise how we might and that they only think of themselfs. Have you found this?

Ill keep you posted. lol jx

Originally Posted by julie

It was nice to hear the people are friendly ive read so many articles-forums etc where other have said the opposite. How they do not socialise how we might and that they only think of themselfs. Have you found this?

It is what you make it - I've heard people here as well as in the UK being negative about the experiences and people around them but you do get back what you put out. It's actually made me more sociable being here!! The first 6 months is always the toughest settling anywhere as it takes time to put down roots and there always some people, no matter how long they've been there that don't like it. If you don't like it move, I say!! :twitcy:

As for here in California - people are very friendly as part of their nature - you can strike up a conversation with anyone. You will always meet the odd person who has a lousy attitude or opinion on the world and feels the need to express it no matter how offensive, but again you can get that in the UK and we just ignore it and move on over here.

As for socialising - we've not encountered any problems - we meet up for a few beers, go out and ride motorbikes, they invite us to their homes for Thanksgiving, birthday parties, barbeques etc When I was in hospital last year some of them drove in the middle of the night to bring my husband up and take him home and then they drove me to each and every hospital appointment as we only own motorbikes here. People lent us cars when I broke my wrist so that we could get about. So no, they certainly don't just think of themselves, but I guess it's how you are with people as to how they treat you.

If you get over here on holiday and are up San Francisco way we'll happily introduce you to our friends and show you around!

That was such a kind offer, thanku for that, its nice to know there would be someone there for us. Im loving it already!!!!!!!! Sorry to hear about your wrist, hope its all better and your riding around once again on your bike. Do you not have children? lol jx

hi im new to this site and i was wondering if any1 couold help me you see i currently live in the u.k but wanting to move to usa im 23 and i have an offer of sponsorship but as they are not related to me they cant sponsor me i think thats dumb as the are my 2nd cousins mom and stepdad! and the stepdad owns his own buisness its just driving me insane that countrys are letting people in who plan on not working and just being a bum but for the people that want to work and live in america cant!

Hi shelly_p and welcome to Britsabroad!
I understand your frustration at wanting to work here but not being able to - I'm here on a spouse visa and have been waiting for over a year to be able to start work!

I am a little confused by your post - you say you've been offered a sponsorship but they can't sponsor you 'cos you're not related? If their business is established in the US is there any chance of them sponsoring you on a H1B? It really depends on your employment skills and qualifications? What about studying here? It might be worth having a look at the other visas

http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

I'm not sure if this is any help but if you want to PM me and discuss it in more detail I'll be happy to help.

A word of caution....Please don't pay any attention to sites which promise a quick way to the USA, or hint that they can get you a visa....they can't.
There was a Company set up in Florida by two Brits, about 6 years ago.
They advertised in the UK, and set up a stall at Overseas Property Exhibitions. They had a scheme which sounded foolproof.
They led couples to believe they could get a business visa and would be set up in their own business.
Many British couples lost everything, having sold up in England and put everything they had into the new "business".
The couples got visits from US Special Agents.
The British scam-artist who started it is in a Federal Penitentiary, and will be deported when he has served his time. The other one is still trying to dodge the inevitable.

This is not the first time and won't be the last that British conmen have cheated their own countryrmen. I've seen it happen many times, and heard many horror stories.

If you come over on a fact-finding tour, find the nearest British Consul and ask if they can give you the name of a reputable Immigration Attorney.
Or ask around the British community, but check the attorney out first.
Go and have a chat with him. Again, there are no short cuts.

First of all though, visit that USCIS site as recommended in a previous post.