Has anyone moved to the UK then taken their partner back to the US later?

Okay, here's some background:

I moved to the UK in August 2005 as a student and moved in w/ my brit bf (jmaster911) Steve. We are planning on making it permanent sometime in the fall of 2006 - nothing has been official yet. I will live in the UK with him, but we both want to move to the US eventually in about 2-4 yrs. He has an excellent job here and tons of references and experience, but no college degree. I will have my masters in summer 2006 and will look for a job here (I also have some prof exp from the states). Has anyone done this? Started over completely in the states after living in the UK?

We have no idea how much savings we'll need or even where to start with it. I figure we get a month to month lease somewhere near my family and have about 6months savings to live on for jobhunting. Once Steve gets a job, I'll look for one in the same location, maybe working while he's looking too somewhere. Any advice and experience is most helpful. We both desire to eventually settle in the states, yet prefer some time here before we make the big leap b/c he has a son that is 14 and we want to be there for him before we go to the states.

Thank you so much for any advice. 

PS: I know this is OT, but does anyone know once we're married and we move to the US, how long is it before my brit can work?

I am the USC living in Newcastle and we are in the process of obtaining a settlement visa for my husband (CR1) We originally married in the states and I moved here, now we are moving back to New England (hopefully this coming summer.) Once he is granted his visa, because he is my spouse, he is free to work in the US...so he can work right away. If your BF goes to the US as your fiancee, he will have to wait until you are married and he obtains his green card before working.

we're going to do it the way you are, get married in teh US, but live in the UK then move back to the US after a few years - tell me, do either of you have a job or are you going to jobhunt when you move there? May I ask if you're buying a house, renting or staying w/ friends/relatives? It's the logistics that confuse us, we don't know how much money we'll have to save to make the leap, but we want to do it, so saving for it starting after we are married sounds like the only way.

thanks!

If your BF goes to the US as your fiancee, he will have to wait until you are married and he obtains his green card before working.

Okay, so this is really nitpicky, but that's not technically correct- if you arrive on a K-1 fiancee visa (or K-3 spouse visa and adjust status), you do have to wait after marriage, but you then apply for temporary employment authorization along with the green card application exactly so you *don't* have to wait to get your GC before working- it allows you to work while the application is going through the system.

Sorry for the threadjack!

not having a college degree can be somewhat of a obstacle when getting jobs in the US.  has he got any trade certifications, professional education qualifications, etc. ? 

there are some sites out there for people who are repatriating w/a partner that might be helpful.

good luck!

He's a Director and part of senior management at his company. He has over 15yrs professional experience. He and I have discussed the lack of college degree before. His experience should overcome that, plus he has had some training through work that i suppose he might have certificates for - management training courses. I think it's a matter of a company choosing experience over schooling, which at that level I have to think is experience is worth a LOT more. I do know what you mean, especially in certain fields, but before we make the leap in a couple years, we will do more research and see what employers think.

if you have or know the site links, I'd be most grateful to have them. I will google as well.

Thanks!

Okay, so this is really nitpicky, but that's not technically correct- if you arrive on a K-1 fiancee visa (or K-3 spouse visa and adjust status), you do have to wait after marriage, but you then apply for temporary employment authorization along with the green card application exactly so you *don't* have to wait to get your GC before working- it allows you to work while the application is going through the system.

Sorry for the threadjack!

Correct...but, what I meant is that he would have to wait for this to be processed, which can take a loooong time! If they are married and move on a CR1 visa (permanent settlement visa for spouse of USC) he will be able to work once his visa is received here in the UK and they move.

we're going to do it the way you are, get married in teh US, but live in the UK then move back to the US after a few years - tell me, do either of you have a job or are you going to jobhunt when you move there? May I ask if you're buying a house, renting or staying w/ friends/relatives? It's the logistics that confuse us, we don't know how much money we'll have to save to make the leap, but we want to do it, so saving for it starting after we are married sounds like the only way.

thanks!

Luckily, I still own my house in the US, we are renting it out now. I know most people seem to live with family members for a while if they plan on house hunting (because you need a US address for the visa application.)

We don't have jobs lined up, but we're starting to look. Obviously he can't apply yet, as he has no green card or social security number, but I contacted a man I knew in my hometown that is in a related business as my husband and he has sent him some contact info. My husband has just started sending off some resumes. Who knows what will come of this, but it is the best we can do right now. I used to teach in the local school system, so I plan on contacting the superintendent's office in a month or so informing them that I am moving back and would be interested in ANY job in the local school district!

The process can seem overwhelming at times! Good luck to you both!

we're doing it......in about 14 months.  But who's counting. 

We're planning on one of us having a job (i might try to transfer within my company), living in a furnished short term flat for 4-6 months until we buy a house or condo.  We're saving a lot of our vacation time this year to start looking for new jobs (my vacation time goes march-march so i'll need some beginning of next year).

I'm so excited, and as is he. We'll be returning to Boston where i moved from and where my friends are and where my family will be retiring (Cape Cod).  Going home just made me realize how much i can't WAIT to get back!

My DH has been offered a company transfer to Maryland. His work will take care of the Visa and also provide moving expenses to a degree.  We just do not know the timeline.