Possible / Cost to get USA immigrant VISA?

Doshwaster

One relatively easy way to get a work visa for the US to to work for an American company in the UK then ask/apply for a transfer to one of their US offices. This bypasses most of the immigration rules.

scottishperson2

alanrowell wrote: »

Can you get an Irish passport (born to Irish people, born in ANY part of Ireland)? If so you can apply for the Diversity Lottery as apparently there aren't enough Irish folk in the US

You need to have been born in Ireland to be able to enter the lottery. I could, if I could be bothered to apply, get an Irish passport but that wouldn't entitle me to enter the lottery.

neilbond007

Doshwaster wrote: »

One relatively easy way to get a work visa for the US to to work for an American company in the UK then ask/apply for a transfer to one of their US offices. This bypasses most of the immigration rules.

It ain't that easy now. I came over on an L1 visa just over 2 years ago. The visa, normally a formality, took 4 months (with paying for fast track too). The US embassy wanted a LOT of supporting evidence to prove I wasn't taking the job off of a US citizen. Paperwork was about 2inches thick by the time we were done!!

alleycat`

neilbond007 wrote: »

It ain't that easy now. I came over on an L1 visa just over 2 years ago. The visa, normally a formality, took 4 months (with paying for fast track too). The US embassy wanted a LOT of supporting evidence to prove I wasn't taking the job off of a US citizen. Paperwork was about 2inches thick by the time we were done!!

I do find this hilarious when you consider the amount of jobs the US actually outsourced over the last 15 years.

Any country that is turning down people who are going to work and pay taxes seems incredibly short sighted to me.

As to the original OP.
I'm married to an American and we have a child.
Both have rights to remain/live/work in the UK and the US but i have no direct right to live/work in the US.

I'd have to apply for a visa like you other mere mortals too

jammin_2

alleycat` wrote: »

I'm married to an American and we have a child.
Both have rights to remain/live/work in the UK and the US but i have no direct right to live/work in the US.

US citizens do not have the right to live and work in the UK merely by virtue of marriage to a British citizen - your husband would have had to obtain a spouse visa initially (assuming you're British).

alleycat`

jammin wrote: »

US citizens do not have the right to live and work in the UK merely by virtue of marriage to a British citizen - your husband would have had to obtain a spouse visa initially (assuming you're British).

My wife actually
Yes she did and it took less than 2 weeks to get (by post) - many years ago mind.

Trying to do it in reverse would be at least 6 months, involve a medical and various other quite annoying trips to London.

jammin_2

alleycat` wrote: »

My wife actually
Yes she did and it took less than 2 weeks to get (by post) - many years ago mind.

Trying to do it in reverse would be at least 6 months, involve a medical and various other quite annoying trips to London.

Apologies - I saw alleycat, thought of Ally McBeal and assumed you were a lady.

bobwilson

It sounds like it's nearly impossible to hold down a new relationship between a british and an american, simply because the countries make it so hard to see each other.

matt9b

I agree with your analysis there bob.

I didn't choose to be British, and I didn't choose to be born here, but choosing who I date or fall in love with is a human right. It's a shame the petty governments of certain land masses such as UK and USA can't see that.

alleycat`

jammin wrote: »

Apologies - I saw alleycat, thought of Ally McBeal and assumed you were a lady.

Name is the call sign of a fighter pilot shot down in the gulf war.
Not the first to be caught out mind you

I wasn't offended in the slightest