Hi! New to site, desperately need help re: emigrating from Florida to London!

Hello,

I'm totally new to this and not sure where to start and how this all works. My name is Phil and I'm trying to get some info and guidance about how my girlfriend can move to the UK from the US. She is about to finish Grad School in Florida, when she graduates in June, she will have an MA in Acting. She is hoping to move to London to be with me in June, and ideally she would like to be able to legally pursue acting work, though it's probable she would need to work legally in another capacity also, just getting some kind of normal job to pay the bills.

We've looked into some options and are quite worried as we think she may not qualify for a Tier1 Visa as she's marginally under the required points system. And the Tier1 Visas seem to be closed until at least April anyway.

We don't know what to do and much of the info we've had so far is confusing and inconsistent. The stress and worry about our situation is very upsetting for both of us, as we just want to be together.

If anyone can help us, we would be so appreciative!

Many thanks,

Phil

Hi Phil welcome to UKY!

First, you should remove your email from your post (we don't want you to be flooded by spammers).

Second: Tier 1 Visas are no longer an option for anyone outside the UK as that visa path has been shut down since 23 December 2010. Tier 1 is only open for inside UK applicants and it will close after April 2011. After that Tier 1 will no longer exist except for the Investor & Entrepreneur categories. So unfortunately that is not an option for your girlfriend.

Her only option at the moment (for a work visa) is Tier 2 General -- which requires her to find a employer in the UK to sponsor her visa. Be aware that there has to be no one else in the UK or the EU that could possibly do the job that they're offering to her. So it's difficult at the moment to obtain a Tier 2. And I don't believe that Acting is on the Shortage list.

As she'll be a recent graduate you can look at BUNAC Intern in Britian program, but it would only give her 6 months in the UK and then she has to leave and cannot apply for a new visa while in the UK so no matter what at the end of the 6 months she has to go back to the US.

Unfortunately most people have come to the point that you have and make the realisation that you have to consider your relationship and what stage you're at and if you're ready to make the commitments in order to be together. This usually means marriage. There really is no visa that will allow her to live & work in the UK just so you can be together as bf & gf (we call this the 'lets shack up visa'  ) it just doesn't exist.

We have a dedicated Visas section which has loads of info, feel free to nose around there and ask as many questions as you like.

Again, welcome to UKY!

Hi Phil,

I'd highly recommend you delete your email address off there. This is a forum and people will respond to you that way or through the Private Messaging system that is part of this site.

There are others who will be along soon to help you out with the other stuff, but you are right to be worried, it's not easy to come over to the UK. Marriage is likely your only option. Or she could look into another degree or try for a student visa.

Good luck!

x-posted with WebyJ