UK wants to move to US - Work visa?

Hello!

I am a 23 year old female from the United States and I am in love with a 20 year old who
lives in the UK. He has visited me several times for about a month each time, for the past 2
and a half years. We wish to marry and start a family someday, but we don't want to rush
into things and plan on doing things legally.

We are wondering what our options are. We would like to spend more time together before
getting married. Am I correct in understanding that a fiance visa would only allow him to
stay here for 3 months and he would not be able to work in that period of time?

He has thought about going to school over here, but since he cannot seem to get financial
aid until after completing a whole year of school here, that was knocked out of the
equation. He also doesn't have much money (he is currently working to pay off ALL debts
and should be finished by the end of October). Am I correct in thinking that he wouldn't be
able to work here while studying unless he applied for a week visa?

He has also thought about getting a work visa, but neither of us really understand the
process and would like some advice. He has a few years work experience in Web
Developing (PHP, mysql, java, css, html, etc.), but nothing equivalent to a college degree.
He has completed his GCSE's and took 2 years of education after that. He has NVQ's in
Maths, Communications, and English.

What are our options? What are the most efficient steps to take from now through
marriage and starting a family? Should he try for a work visa? Should he apply for a fiance
visa before a marriage visa?

Any guidance and advice would be greatly appreciated.

- Hopelessly Devoted

Dear Hopeless Devoted,

How about a visitor's visa? He will be allowed an initial stay of 6 months. If after 6 months you are still undecided he can apply for extension for another 6 months. Anytime during the 1 year stay should you decide to get married you can then petition him for a green card.

uslawyer wrote:Dear Hopeless Devoted,

How about a visitor's visa? He will be allowed an initial stay of 6 months. If after 6 months you are still undecided he can apply for extension for another 6 months. Anytime during the 1 year stay should you decide to get married you can then petition him for a green card.

If he's a British citizen and eligible for the visa waiver then it might not be so easy to get a tourist visa.

it's just as easy for a visa waiver citizen to get a tourist visa as it is for anyone else. it's certainly worth a shot.

uslawyer wrote:it's just as easy for a visa waiver citizen to get a tourist visa as it is for anyone else. it's certainly worth a shot.

Unclear how you suggest the original poster should answer the question : "why do you want a visa?"

It's hard to say without knowing original poster's specific situation. Someone who has relatives in the U.S. may say they wish to spend more time with their loved ones here then the 3 months permitted under Visa Waiver. Others might simply want to spend more time touring the U.S.

uslawyer wrote:it's just as easy for a visa waiver citizen to get a tourist visa as it is for anyone else. it's certainly worth a shot.

Actually, this may be a very bad idea. If the person cannot show he has enough ties to the UK (i.e. no permanent job, does not own property, etc) his application may be denied. And if it's denied, he will have fewer chances of ever using the visa waiver programme (at the very least he will be questioned when he comes in).