[SouthernBelle3]

madmumof2
I checked out the website and none of the positions would you or your partner be qualified for if you do not have an advanced - Master's or PhD from a University. I do know post docs on these H1 visas and the employer has to pay the cost of this plus I may be mistaken but the ones I know said that their employer also had to provide health insurance. That my only be for Education such as Teachers and Researchers in Universities, so no one would bring you over on a HB1 visa unless you were an expert in your field. There are welding jobs in the want ads all the time, but how someone obtains a green card is something other British would know who are already working here. If everything works out and you find you are able to come over, you may want to check out the Mount Dora area in LAke County. There is even an English tea room in downtown Mt. Dora. It's a nice place to live.

[Cougar31]

Originally Posted by Sueilp

YOU ARE SOOOOO RIGHT!!!! They do make it extremely difficult for the Brits to come to the USA....I know a lot of people who are trying to get over here or have finally got here and it is almost like having your teeth pulled it is that hard to get here!

...may be it has to do something with the US History
I do not want to offend any Brits, but the past will always be remembered

[Sueilp]

Originally Posted by Cougar31

...may be it has to do something with the US History
I do not want to offend any Brits, but the past will always be remembered

[SKB]

I think you have a better chance at the Green Card Lottery.

[Cougar31]

Originally Posted by SKB

I can understand your excited tone as the thought of living in Florida is a nice one.
I hate to be the party pooper over here but unless you marry an American simply moving to the USA and getting the legal right to work is pretty tough.

You can apply for the green card lottery and see if you get lucky. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/yqsu25 (broken link)

There are a lot of illegal immigrants living and working in the USA. Normally these people are Mexicans or Cubans or Haitians working for next to nothing pay. If you get caught living and working illegally in the USA you can be baned for 10 years from entering the Country again.
It is very difficult to get an employer to sponsor you, normally this is done for a specialty field which you have indicated you have none.

Check out the lottery site, they are accepting applications.

No kidding!!! the UK is not included in the Visa Lottery
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/DV_2008_Final.pdf (broken link)

[Cougar31]

Originally Posted by SKB

I think you have a better chance at the Green Card Lottery.

may be not.
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/DV_2008_Final.pdf (broken link)

[LovesNorthPort34289]

We love North Port its close enough to the beaches but not on it....We have several british people in my development my next door neighbor is from the UK.Schools are excellent and it is a growing young city visit northport.com We are in southern Sarasota County in SW Florida on the beautiful Suncoast Good Luck on your move to the great USA...And Florida.

[madmumof2]

No, I looked at that, Uk has reached it's maximum quota! 50,000 brits have already moved to the U.S in the last 5 years.

Do they do this every year? When does it 'reset'? I could have another look in a few months, and keep looking to see if the 'quota' is reset again.

I think I'm going to study for one of the specialist jobs. Like I said, I've looked into accountancy and IT work before, so I could follow that up now.

Or maybe it'll be easier to go for a job where there is a real lack of workers, so I may have a better chance of getting a job then?

I really am determined, no mater how long it takes. My partner saw something yesterday about applying to be an asylum seeker! lol

I've been looking at houses, and so far the best value for money (nice house, cheap price) are in Orlando, which is also close to everything.

Is there anywhere else, better value for money? And what are the stats for Orlando (crime rate, schools etc)?

We're not set on Orlando, but it's the best we've seen so far. We're looking at everywhere that has been recommended here too.

Thanks again everyone! You've all been a real help so far!

[madmumof2]

Oh I've not looked at Sarasota yet. Will do now.

[madmumof2]

Sarasota looks lovely, and good value too.

Just reading up on visas and I found this.

http://www.immigrationvisausa.com/EB3.html (broken link)

My partner is a skilled welder with 4 years experience. would that fit the criteria?

And does this mean he will need to find an employer willing to take him on and sponsor him, apply for the eb3 card, then when over there apply for a green card? This is all so confusing! lol