View Full Version : We want to re locate to Florida and need help
wpclcbrad
16-11-2004, 15:12
Hi,
I hope there is someone here who can point us in the right direction to get us started.
My husband and myself want to re locate and live our life in Florida, for many reasons, the main being that my sister has lived there for the last 27 years, since she was 4 years old, during that time we have only seen each other 5 times and feel now we want to bring our children up together and be part of a big family. Mt sister is an American citizen.
I am a serving Police Officer and my Husband is a self employed UPVC double glazing window fitter. We have a 4 year old daughter.
Where do we start the process in order to set up amd make out new life in Florida ?,
What about work, what sort of jobs would we both be able to get ? I would like to remain in LAw enforecement in some sort of way if possible and I am quite happy to take extra qualifications whilst still here to help get work, How about my husband what sort of work would he be able to do, as im not too sure if they having double glazing fitters in Florida ?
Our main conern is work, would we get any, and if so where is the best place to look for it or enquire .
Are there any websites that can hep with the whole thing, like the BBC programme Get a new life, from helping with visas, finding a place to stay and helping find work, and where are the relocaters based if anyone knows that can help us.
Your sister may petion to bring you over
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/sibapp.htm
The current time to get a visa for a sibling is about 13 years in total
There are basically SEVEN ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:
(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.
(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience.
(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.
(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.
(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)
The business must have a minimum value of around $100k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $250k+ would be a nearer minimum
(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. And your background will be investigated to the hilt.
(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-15 years…
Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $3k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent
Ray
If your sister is a citizen ( i say that because I know people here for 20 plus years on green card who never took the pledge) she can sponsor you for green card. BUT it is a long wait as not high priority. A lot of people from the third world who win the green card lottery eventually sponsor their families to come over. This clogs the system up, I heard an urban legend that one Philipino took over 20 years to get his brother over, that was on another immigration forum I think.
May be more sensible to look at other options in the meantime, safe in the knowledge that eventually you will get a green card anyway... Is hubbies double glazing firm big enough to take on employees to keep it running while yoy are here as you could then go for L1 company trsnsfer visa and start a business ( any business say a franchise) in the US. Or you can buy an existing business and go on E2 without having to trade in the UK.
Work permit, only when you get a green card or can convince someone to sponsor you and immigration that there is a shortage in your given profession so they need to bring in someone from outside. I would say the police would be a no-no. I know enough policeman here running businesses to make me think that. You could start a business related to crime, I am thinking possibly security systems??
wpclcbrad
16-11-2004, 21:15
My sister is a US citizen and has been since the age of 4, I didn't realise it took so long for a family memeber to help you into the Country.
My Husband would not continue with his Double glazing compnay here, he would want to start a fresh when we moved.
Do they have such things as Double galzing or windows fitters in the USA ? Are there any websites we could look at so to see what the prices/competition is all about.
chrizzy100
16-11-2004, 21:30
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wpclcbrad
My sister is a US citizen and has been since the age of 4, I didn't realise it took so long for a family memeber to help you into the Country.
My Husband would not continue with his Double glazing compnay here, he would want to start a fresh when we moved.
Do they have such things as Double galzing or windows fitters in the USA ? Are there any websites we could look at so to see what the prices/competition is all about.
[/quote]
I have a guy come to fit my windows....its about $230 for a normal size window.....
I think...but only think that you have to be a citizen to be a cop....
Window fitters yes. Double glazing, well not a lot in Florida but further north, the colder it gets the more likely really. Or you coukd doi something else entirely.