USA to UK

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:30 pm

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum and immigration in general so bare with me. My Girlfriend is from New York, USA and we've both decided that we want her to come and live with me here in the UK. I was just wondering if someone could advise us of our best option, she is currently an apprentice electrician in NY and i'm disabled, with my own flat and claiming Income Support & DLA here in the UK. I've read that in certain visa cases the immigrant must live without help from the government but surely cases change when it comes to living with disabled residents of the UK?

Anyway thanks for your time and advice would be grately appriciated.

James

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:52 pm

The government are not especially lenient. You can get all the benefits to which you are entitled, but you have to show that extra benefits will not be needed to support your girlfriend when she comes over. I advise she get a job offer.

Or do either of you have savings?

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:56 pm

She obviously wants to work when she comes over here, can she only get the job while she's still in the US or can she come here and look for a job when here?

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:15 pm

What visa are you looking to get?

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:19 pm

I'm not even sure, all this is very new to us. She wants to come and live with me and work here without it effecting my disability benefits. It gets very frustrating because she is so eager to find a job over here and it seems to be so difficult, and it looks like the only way is for her to find a job whilst over there which is also very hard.

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:37 pm

Any plans to marry?

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:40 pm

No not really lol, we didn't want to have to just for a visa if you know what I mean.

paulp · Post by **paulp** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:45 pm

Unfortunately, there isn't a girlfriend visa. There are fiance visas (to marry within 6 months) and spouse visas (already married).

If she wants to apply on her own, there are work permit and hsmp visas (does your girlfriend have a degree?). Otherwise, there are student visas but she must be able to show funds for fees+accomodation+living expenses.

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:45 pm

Then she is going to find it very difficult. Does she have any formal qualifications?

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:51 pm

Don't know to hand, so basically the only way it either as a student or to try and find a job whilst she is still in the US?

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:05 pm

Yes, although I doubt that she would be able to get a work permit. perhaps a TWES if she were able to switch her apprenticeship, but I doubt it, as I don't think she would qualify for this.

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:09 pm

Why would u doubt she'd be able to get a work permit?

VictoriaS · Post by **VictoriaS** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:13 pm

www.workingintheuk.gov.uk

Please check out the rules. They are quite hard to meet.

Victoria

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:55 pm

Thanks for your help Victoria, I didn't reaslise how hard it would be, its quite saddening now i've seen it all. It seems near impossible and i'm stuck cause i don't know what we can do.

ci07jjs · Post by **ci07jjs** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:35 pm

Lagerbreath,
How about a two year working holiday visa? I have met lot of americans, australians are on these visas. basically this visa enables a commonwealth citizen to work full time one year and tour around the uk for another...(but usually people end up in working for the whole two years). Quick search on google will give you more information on this. Good thing about this visa is your g/f don't need a job offer before she comes to the UK.

Many thanks

Post by **JAJ** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:43 pm

ci07jjs wrote:Lagerbreath,
How about a two year working holiday visa? I have met lot of americans, australians are on these visas. basically this visa enables a commonwealth citizen to work full time one year and tour around the uk for another..

Americans are not eligible for the working holiday visa (unless they also hold citizenship of a Commonwealth country).

thirdwave · Post by **thirdwave** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:11 am

ci07jjs wrote:Lagerbreath,
How about a two year working holiday visa? I have met lot of americans, australians are on these visas. basically this visa enables a commonwealth citizen to work full time one year and tour around the uk for another...(but usually people end up in working for the whole two years). Quick search on google will give you more information on this. Good thing about this visa is your g/f don't need a job offer before she comes to the UK.

Many thanks

US is not part of the commonwealth..

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:28 am

Thats a pretty good shout, just a bit concerned that she'd have to move back to america if she wants to apply for a work permit after the holidaymaker visa is up, unless she can apply for the permit while still being here.

But yeah that one looks more promising than getting the work permit first.

Thanks alot

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:37 am

Lagerbreath wrote:Thats a pretty good shout, just a bit concerned that she'd have to move back to america if she wants to apply for a work permit after the holidaymaker visa is up, unless she can apply for the permit while still being here.

But yeah that one looks more promising than getting the work permit first.

Thanks alot

Americans aren't eligible for the WHM visa unless they hold a Commonwealth citizenship too.

What qualifications does she have?

SYH · Post by **SYH** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:37 am

Lagerbreath wrote:Thats a pretty good shout, just a bit concerned that she'd have to move back to america if she wants to apply for a work permit after the holidaymaker visa is up, unless she can apply for the permit while still being here.

But yeah that one looks more promising than getting the work permit first.

Thanks alot

Again there is no holiday maker visa for Americans

Lagerbreath · Post by **Lagerbreath** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:07 am

She just hss her high school diploma, she has alot of experience as a dispenser at Pharmacies which I think we read there was a shortage of over here and now she's an apprentice electrician.

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USA to UK

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