Moving to USA? Which Visa? How easy?

Question

We live in the UK my husband works for a US oil company but work in the UK, we have a 2 yr old daughter and would to move to the US,which Visa would we need to apply for, how long does the process take and how easy is it to get in?

Answer 1

Well, in theory at least, your husband's company could transfer him to their company in the US. That would probably be easiest in terms of visas, as it would fall under the L category. But he'd have to be a manager or have some specialized skill to qualify. There are also H1b visas for skilled employment, which is defined as work requiring a university degree or the equivalent in training and experiece. But, those are limited in number and are closed at present, until next April. Your husband would need to find an employer who was not only willing to hire him, but also file all the paperwork with immigration and wait, with about a 50% chance of success. So, that may not be easy.

Othewise, most immigrant visas are related to close family relationships with legal residents or US citizens. So, if you don't already have an American mother, etc, you won't be able to qualify for that. If you are UK citizens, you won't be eligible to register for the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, unless  you're from Northern Ireland. Even if you could, your chances of winning in any given year are under 1%.

I'd recommend looking around a bit at travel.state.gov for more information on immigration to the US, and work visas. The site tends to be somewhat  more user friendly than its equivalent at uscis.gov., the primary immigration site. Take a tour around the visa section and especially the immigrant visa section, plus the Diversity Visa Section. If you aren't both UK citizens, you may be able to apply for that when it opens up later this year. Entry is free, if you're eligible to apply, unlike the private sites.          

Answer 2

Green Card Lottery - 50,000 quota a year, allocated by region

Family based petition - if you have family in here, they can sponsor you.

Employment based petition - I guess your husband is a specialist.  He can talk to his company or find a sponsor in USA.  If they like your husband a lot, he doesn't need to apply a visa to come here.  They can start filing work permit and green card for him.  So you'll wait for the green card before you fly over here.  Makes everything easy.  But the process may be very long.  Depends on the sponsor and how special your husband is.  If he is a scientist, we have something call national interest wavier - NIW, mean he has an extraordinary talents in his field and will benefit to this country.  Then he doesn't need a sponsor.  He can apply by himself.  

www.immigrationportal.com

Yahoo.answers is not specialize in immigration matter.  Go to the above web site.  They have more people in there to share with you.  Again, if your husband is a scientist or specialist, should find a license attorney to discuss this matter.

Good luck.

Answer 3

The best way, ring the US Embassy in London; they will tell you everything you want.

Answer 4

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/...

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/...