I'll leave it to you to research exactly how to go about getting your student visa. There's lots of help on the 'Net for that with a bit of googling.
NetSquirrel wrote:I'm eligible for the F-1, and I then move and begin my studies, what is the time limit? Is it 2 years (with no employment) then I have to come back England?
Usually it's tied directly to your studies .. so long as you are enrolled & attending class with good grades, you generally get the visa and various extensions long enough to complete your studies.
The degree/curricula you are in and the repute of the university will affect this. If you try for a two-year certificate or 'degree' in beauty school or trucking, you'll have far more trouble than if you are in a four-year program at an accredited university for engineering.
NetSquirrel wrote:The thing is, I really want to stay in the US permanently
Nothing wrong with that, but don't go saying it out loud very much. Build your strategy quietly and pick your friends and professional contacts carefully.
NetSquirrel wrote:I know I just don't have the skills right now. What about after 2 years of study -- are qualifications alone enough to be considered for a more permanent visa?
Not usually. You need a job.
Best bet is to get in for a real degree & perform well, all the time hunting for an amployer who will sponsor you for an H-1B visa when you accomplish your degree. Between being a student and an H-1B, you'll get that five or six years you need of continuous residency (with a record of immaculate conduct) that you'll need to take a shot at a green card.
Keep in mind that you can try to get your own business started up and employ yourself, thereby granting yourself sponsorship for a green card.
NetSquirrel wrote:I don't know. And even then they'd probably have to be really good qualifications, right?
Yes. You need a sponsor, and they are limited on who they can hire to highly qualified specialists that are in deficit in the U.S.
NetSquirrel wrote:I also wonder if it is considered thoughtless or possibly illegal to acquire a student visa with the intention of applying for citizenship after the 2 (?) years are up, whether through qualifications or business funding or marriage or whatever.
Not illegal, so long as you study and obey the laws and get all the proper forms done right.
Going the marriage route is probably not a Good Plan ... marriages of convenience are an ancient trick and scrutinized VERY closely. Two years as a student is generally not enough time to apply for citizenship ... well, you can
apply, but it won't be
granted in time to keep you in the U.S.
You need to plan out a four to six year strategy. Many people today are on a ten year waiting list for citizenship. Being a British citizen will help you, but it's not a magic bullet. Generally, these days you need to demonstrate you're a nice, safe, legal, non-violent and qualified specialist, which takes four to six years to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the U.S. government.
If healthcare is your gig, then consider becoming a nurse with a specialty (management or rehabilitation, for examples) & full certification (Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner for examples). Pharmacist is another good bet right now. You'll have guaranteed career options for thirty years or longer.
Luck!
-- vilkatis