planning to move back...have questions

first, my main question is, I know we will be eligible for DCF when the time comes, but Ive seen mention of an immediate visa for parents of US citizens...does anyone have more info on that, and what is meant by 'immediate'? I know in the visa world it could mean a lot of things.

Also, I'm signed up for an interior design course that is distance learning but offered through a school that is considered a 'proper' school, and do dl, a mix of dl and courses you show up for, and full-time attendance (I could do some of the courses on-site if it helped, but live too far to attend full-time).

having said all of that, my degree would be recognized here, would companies in the US also recognize it? I know it sounds silly...I just don't know..I signed on for this expecting to reside permanently in the UK.

England is looked at as having great education, so it wouldn't be a problem.  If anything, it would help (in my opinion).  I am taking professional exams for accounting and they looked at my transcripts from the US when considering me for exemptions, so if universities here are okay with US education, I can't see why US companies wouldn't be okay with UK education.

I think only doctors and similar professionals would have issues with working in a different country.

first, my main question is, I know we will be eligible for DCF when the time comes, but Ive seen mention of an immediate visa for parents of US citizens...does anyone have more info on that, and what is meant by 'immediate'?

This just means that you won't have to wait for a visa number - visas are unlimited in numbers for those who are immediate relatives, i.e. spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21.

When parents of USCs are mentioned it means USCs that are eligible to file the I-130 who are over 18.

People who don't fall into that category who are family members will have to wait years for a visa number to become available before they are able to apply for the visa itself upon approval of a petition.

ok thanks for that, so we'd need roughly 4-5 months before we go...is it just me or does uk to us seem a lot more involved and complicated? maybe its just the numbers for visas..

If it's any help for a timeline, my DH applied at the end of October 2006 using the DCF option and had his final interview March 8, 2007 with the visa arriving a few days afterwards. Of course, we had both the Thanksgiving and Christmas & New Years holidays during that time frame so they may be a bit quicker at other times of year.

Check out www.diveintoamerica.com it's really helpful.

June