I want to live and work in the UK

In order to be able to live with my boyfriend. 

We were planning on getting married in order to acoomplish this, but we both decided marriage isn't for us.  I've been applying to job postings on the web, and had some interest, but becuase the company would have to sponsor a work permit for me, I've had no luck.

I don't qualify for the HSMP, and especially not after the changes that are being made to it.  I'm in IT, which hasn't been on the skills shortages list since 2002.  I'm fairly frustrated and don't quite know which way to go... should I still just try and find a company to sponsor me for a work permit, or is there another option out there?  Marriage isn't an option for us... we've been down that road and it didn't work out. 

Thanks.

Hey Mary,

I know its tough figuring out visa options, I'm having the same problems myself 

Check out the post on the Immigration and Visa's board, there's a lot of helpful info. there

Best of luck to you...

the best thing I can think of is to find a job with a US company that can eventually transfer you to the UK.  Or retrain in a shortage profession.  Or get an degree in the UK, although that's not permanent.

the best thing I can think of is to find a job with a US company that can eventually transfer you to the UK.  Or retrain in a shortage profession.  Or get an degree in the UK, although that's not permanent.

Exactly what I was going to say!  Google, Yahoo, Microsoft are good, but this could be a long range prospect.  The student visa is a great idea, although you'd have to find out what you're entitlement to work is.  I think they let you work no more than 20 hours per week if I remember. 

Plenty of people get IT jobs that need work permits - just keep plugging away is my advice.

20 hours on a student visa is right.

Vicky

And full-time is allowed during holidays/vacations.  You just have to keep in mind that, when applying for a student visa (aside from having actually been accepted into a UK university), you have to show enough funds to live on for the duration of your schooling.  You can't really include any income from student work in that, since you won't actually have a job at the time of application...and, if I was relying on my income from student work to support myself for the three years of my visa...I'd have had to go back to the US during the middle of the first year!

just want to add that i am here on a work permit and feel the same way about marraige (not for us), but....i'm feeling more and more pressure (self induced) to do it and get ILR.
if you want to have a permanent relationship, (as permanent as they come these days) it feels petty to split hairs over what to call it...
there is the unmarried partners option also?
but you have to live together for two years and show joint financial responsibilities.

and show joint financial responsibilities.

This bit is not necessary - it is just the cohabitation they are looking for.

Vicky

seems a bit tricky to document cohabitation without showing joint financial accounts but...i don't fall into that category anyway
thanks victoria