frustrated american, wanting in UK

Ok, well this thread had more replies then i orginally thought..... Thanks for feedback, ill keep this short as i am very tired. Some of you are a bit harsh though, as im a typical american thinking everyone should bend over backwards for me...no.

I am not saying we should do anything we want, but being close allies with the UK, i just thought it be nice to have some kind of agreement for at least the youth like the YMS tier 5 scheme. if not permanent, a taste, experience. Before the new immigration point system went into affect, there was at least Bunac's work in britain.

Sure id like an easy way in, at least temporarily, im young, and i met a lovely girl over there bout a year ago. whats wrong with me wanting to be closer to her, living somewhere i  happen to enjoy, feeling frustrated when it seems at least from my point of view were one of the few being blocked from such a thing.

I think part of the "problem" is your attitude with your posting.  Wishful thinking is fine, joking about wanting something is fine, but downright ranting that the US and the UK should have an agreement....not exactly going to gain you many friends around here, I'm sorry to say.  Many of us have been there, done that, and that's why there are forums like grievances and enduring the distance.  Those forums are for people to go and rant freely or whine about missing their SO. You're posting in the Visa forum with a rant....not going to win points with anyone.

I'd love a "shack up" visa.  Most everyone knows this - BUT, they also know that I know it will NEVER happen and am taking steps towards other means of getting myself to the UK to live with Tim (which is currently biding my time until Tim and I feel we're ready to get married).  I understand the hoops you need to jump through to be able to live in the UK because I've been doing my research and I can freely joke about wanting a "shack up" visa.  

Individual U. S. states, most recently New York State, have snubbed approaches from the DVLA to extend the reciprocity of UK and New York driving permits.  Pennsylvania rejected it also.

Individual U. S. states, most recently New York State, have snubbed approaches from the DVLA to extend the reciprocity of UK and New York driving permits.  Pennsylvania rejected it also.

Uhm. Does this mean I can't drive on my PA License in the UK?

Uhm. Does this mean I can't drive on my PA License in the UK?

No you can for 12 months as long as you have a full PA license not a provisional or learners permit. At the end of the 12 months you either have to have a UK license or stop driving.

No you can for 12 months as long as you have a full PA license not a provisional or learners permit. At the end of the 12 months you either have to have a UK license or stop driving.

*whew* I got worried there for a minute!

Yes.  It's true.  Be pissed with your government, not (just this once) with ours!

Vicky

While you're casting hate in that direction, you can also throw a thought about us being unable to transfer driving licenses.

you can also throw a thought about us being unable to transfer driving licenses.

I can understand why this is the case though. When I took my test in Ohio it was a 5 minute drive around the block and a simple manoeuvrability test, significantly easier than the test here. Because each state in the US has different criteria and different tests, it would be impossible for the DVLA to determine if the licenses were comparable. It also forces people to learn the rules of the road; American tourists are particularly bad about not bothering to find these out, judging by the number of times I've nearly been run over at zebra crossing or run into at roundabouts by American golfers

But again, the UK are willing to have reciprocal arrangements, it is the States who are not.

Vicky

As mentioned above, be it Federal or State, the refusals to engage in reciprocity are invariably on the American side.  It's Federal for stuff like T5 YMS, and states for driving.  

However, the UK recognizes marriages and divorces issued stateside.  

I have a friend with joint Canadian/American citizenship.  They tried for years and years to get her Canadian husband into the US and finally gave up and signed him up as a full-time student just so they could move.  He had to completely change his career in order to get into the States, and he was married to an American citizen for years before he applied!

If any countries have enough similarities and ties that there should be smoother transitions to enter a country, I would think Canada and the USA would, but no.  Foreign countries are foreign countries.

This is so true! My fiance is Mexican and if we wanted to live together in the US after our wedding it would take AT LEAST a year before he could legally join me in the US. Being that I have a Tier 1 visa and he's my dependant we'll be living together in the UK right after the wedding. How's that for crazy.

Only thing is with the new scheme, you have to find the internship before you leave the US, whereas with the Work in Britain scheme, you found the job after you arrived in the UK - and if you couldn't get a job, you were stuck in the UK with no income and rapidly depleting savings!

Omigod can I related to your last sentence! It took me 5 weeks to find a job on BUNAC (out of a 10 week stay) and that was with me pounding the pavement everyday for at least 8 hours begging for a low wage job of any kind. How I wish I had been forced to try to secure employment BEFORE I went. I think my experience would've been much more enjoyable and much less traumatic. 

As mentioned above, be it Federal or State, the refusals to engage in reciprocity are invariably on the American side.  It's Federal for stuff like T5 YMS, and states for driving.  

However, the UK recognizes marriages and divorces issued stateside.  

US recognizes UK marriages and divorces too, I think.

I agree entirely that you came about this the worst way possible. You really need to consider that you walked into a forum full of people who have been going through the motions for far longer then yourself.

We have all worked tirelessly to gain the status we desire in the UK and grow weary of the occasional "Why am I not being given what I am entitled to right this minute" post. I speak for myself but also for the majority of the responses I see to said topics. Maybe I shouldn't.

Obviously a good amount of people would love to have the pleasure of a "shack up" visa but really when you think about it, it's not a good idea for MANY reasons. I will never understand where that sense of entitlement comes from. You may also wish to consider the feelings of people on this board who are currently separated from spouses, partners, children and other loved ones. I say this not to demean your own relationship, but emphasize that there are those far worse off then yourself.

As for the people who come over on work visas, perhaps you need to consider that they have worked extremely hard to achieve their educational and performance back rounds. These skilled professionals often bring expertise or can fill jobs that are currently not being employed by citizens for whatever reason, but are in dire need.

Jobs are very hard to come by in the UK right now (as in other countries) and the attitude that non citizens should be allowed to just come over and work as they please isn't going to bide well with the natural families struggling to feed their children. In fact I don't think it would bide well with those who aren't.



Just my two pence.

[MOD NOTE]


OK, people the discussion is immigration.  You can discuss this all you want but all discussion of the OP and the OP's 'attitude' are over.  People seem to be posting just to have their say on this.  It's been covered and it's starting to look like ganging up.

 Move along.

Any more posts about anything other than immigration or opportunities or reciprocal agreements will be removed.

US recognizes UK marriages and divorces too, I think.

I believe that marriages are recognised at the state level, but  yes, US states generally recognise UK marriages. Marriages in some other US states, not so much...