Please help! (Or Darris will shout at you all)

**Maria** · 06-19-2001, 03:30 PM

Has anyone........

Emigrated from Britain to the US
Employed someone who has
Married someone who has
Met someone who has
Heard rumours about someone who may have done
Seen a Brit on TV

and is willing and/or able to tell Pete and I anything about it, either from an employer or an immigrant point of view?

Maria (and Pete)

**JRS** · 06-19-2001, 03:53 PM

I'm pretty sure if you MARRY Pete, you'll have no problems getting into the US. However..... working for Pete could pose problems. Hard working with your spouse (LOL).

**Maria** · 06-19-2001, 04:32 PM

I think Pete's wife would have something to say about that!

**Texas Ranger** · 06-19-2001, 09:50 PM

Maria, My Mother in law is from Darby England; delightful lady! I don't think you would like Florida.

**Joann Raytar** · 06-19-2001, 11:31 PM

Al,

You are right. Maria, you would like New England much better. You could visit me and LaurieC if she is New York, and Harry and Sean.

Yes, we have seen Brits on TV, especially on Public Television here in New England. There is Faulty Towers, Monty Python, The Weakest Link; Are You Being Served; that show with the Bucket's(Bouquet's), of course we Yanks can relate to the Mrs' sister and inlaws more than Mrs. Bouquet; and that other show with the middle aged married couple, the husband is an author, who got married late in life and live with the wife's grown daughters; One Foot In The Grave and finally, there is the co-host of Junkyard Wars.

One of our wholesale lab reps was born in London and has spent the last few years in Brooklyn; that makes for an interesting accent.

**Joann Raytar** · 06-19-2001, 11:39 PM

Seriously, in this business emigrating to the US can be a tough one. Folks spend many years learning their trade in a foreign country, even getting college degrees, to come over and learn their certifications and degrees do not count. Emigrees are left to start all over again. My co-worker's wife is in the process of going through nursing school, again, because she loves what she does and her education from overseas was null here.

On a lighter side, Americans fall head over heels for British accents so you would be treated like royalty by people in general.

**mullo** · 06-19-2001, 11:43 PM

Maria, I know of two of my old flat mates that had emigrated from England. One from London, the other from Lestershire. Unfortunately not the USA though. If you ever want info about Canada let me know. We have better beer..........Mullo ;)

:cheers:

**Steve Machol** · 06-19-2001, 11:52 PM

Maria,

One of Sola's R&D Engineers was recruited from the U.K. Even with a solid job in hand, it took many, many months before he was able to get his Green card and come to work in the U.S. My understanding is that this can be a very long and cumbersome process.

**Rick-Strong** · 06-20-2001, 05:00 AM

I am forced to agree with mullo,
Canadian Beer does rock !!!!

**Cindy Hamlin** · 06-20-2001, 08:47 AM

Maria,
The process usually takes at the minumum 2 years. Also, you must have a job in order to apply for the visa. We recently checked on getting an optician in Canada the paperwork to work in the US. It is a standard process and takes the same amount of time no matter what country is involved.
Cindy :)

**hcjilson** · 06-20-2001, 11:58 AM

Maria, I'll give you my first thought

You could always ask for political asylum...its worked for the eastern block folks-Vietnamese and Cuban population....why not our FRIENDS ? I don't mean to be personal but just out of curiosity, why do you want to know? The circumstances may have different solutions than those of a more traditional nature.
Best from Harry just back from CA

**Maria** · 06-20-2001, 12:26 PM

As some of you may remember, my long term goal has always been to move over to the US. Jo and the others are right, it is an unbelievably complicated process. Pete and I were debating it the other day, and we decided to look into it, so that when the time comes, it's relatively straightforward.

Failing that, one of you is going to have to marry me, I'm afraid. But there's a T-shirt for the lucky (?) volunteer, available in any shade of lilac you care to imagine. :D

**Texas Ranger** · 06-20-2001, 04:22 PM

Maria, Ya' cud move here to the Republic of Texas, lots of "lonesome" cowboys. They love women! The guvmint don't care 'bout credentials; any ole buddy can fit spectacles! don't know what Texas immigration laws are. the guvmints mostly concerned about the southern border, witch is more like a third world cuntrie. but I don think theys pays much attention to the northern border, so maybe you could git on one of those brittish air flights from Gatwick to Dallas aireport. gas here is only $1.59 a gallon, and the natives are screaming bloody murder! But we have lectricity all the time, and air conditioning when it's hot! and it's hot, ast Darris, it's really hot where he is! maybe he and Chad need an a,sis,tint? might e-mail him? well, best of luck, Al.

**Sean** · 06-20-2001, 06:08 PM

Maria,
I agree with Jo on this......New England is a great place to be. Different season's and plenty to do in each of them. Not that there aren't other great places to live though..........Just one persons view. :)

**stephanie** · 06-20-2001, 08:34 PM

YIPPIE!! Maria is coming to the United States. That could mean we might run into you somewhere doing ce hours!! I think it is awesome. Where this a will there is a way!!

Steph

**Susan Henault** · 06-20-2001, 08:41 PM

I have two customers here in WA state that are from England. Both are opticians, one employed, the other a business owner. If you want to hear from them let me know & I'll refer them to this site/thread! Oh yeah, both married to Americans also -- though I doubt that had anything to do with them getting here:-D

**Shwing** · 06-20-2001, 10:32 PM

As a Canadian (and therefore an experienced hand (to mouth) at this, I'll add my half pints worth.

Kokanee is the beer of choice, but rather expensive to imbibe regularly (ie: every other night...)

Sleeman's is by far the best, but as a micro brewery in Eastern Canada, hard to come by until recently, and now VERY pricey.

I prefer Rainier. Tastes the same as Labatts, costs way less, and the bonus of twice the refund value at the recycling place (imported, and all...)

**Suzy W** · 06-21-2001, 12:54 PM

Maria,
Have you talked to anyone at the American Embassy yet?

Suzy

**Jim G** · 06-22-2001, 03:18 PM

Well, I knew a Welshman by the name of Ralph Drew pretty well but, unfortunately, he can't help anymore.

I'm currently reading, "Letters from a Small Island," a delightful little travelog--actually a love story--about England. Except for the constant rain, provincialism, dank reconstructed look-alike towns, unpleasant civil servants, prejudice, irregular public transportation, abysmal food (except for the "imported" varieties) and, generally decaying institutions, why would you ever want to leave?

Should you need some reason for permanence in this country, we have a tall, good looking, successful 28 year old son who we've been trying to get rid, uh, encourage, uh, push, uh, arrange, uh, oh hell, it's just that no one in their right mind would stay with him for more than a week. Oh, well, we tried.

Welcome. I'd be very interested in you views, comments, opinions, etc. upon your visit.

**Maria** · 06-22-2001, 05:36 PM

Bill Bryson's book? If it is, I've just finished reading that, and am actually in the process of sending it over to Pete for him to read.

I'm sure you son would be not at all mortified to find out his dad tried to give him away on the internet :)

I'm thinking of doing a 'daily post' while I'm in Florida, actually, as it may make interesting reading. It may bore the ar$es off you all, though. :) At least my mother can log on to check that no-one's bumped me off.