two really stupid questions but you'd know better than i!

Hi to all. My name is Andrew, currently living in Sarasota, FL and dying due to the humidity and heat. I've travelled to England all my life and all of my friends live there and I've decided that it's time I make the leap. I can't help but think that I was born in the wrong place, and perhaps the wrong decade (some have said I'm better suited for the Victorian era).

Well my questions are this: firstly, would you recommend going through a third-party source to obtain an employer-sponsored work permit? I'm referring specifically to workpermit.com which seems to be the best and most professional out there, not to mention speedy. The site claims that most of their work permit applications are decided within a fortnight. It seems rather costly but I'd rather pay the extra and get it on my first run. Has anyone had any experiences with them or others like them?

Secondly is the issue of proving that there is no one in the UK or EU better suited for the position. I think it's a relevant question but I'm not sure how specific they're looking for me to be. In my instance, the position was advertised for a month in The Guardian. Would my selection out of all possible applicants as being the most qualified meet the Home Office's requirements? It's a specialised position dealing with cars, import and export laws, and command of the English language, all in which I have vast experience. I'm really not sure what they're looking for and I get the impression that if I decided to use workpermit.com and gave them an answer they'd be likely to say "reiterate a bit more" or "that's fine, that's about what they're looking for". Since I figure that you are all so much more enlightened than I am, what is your advice?

I just remembered one last thing; after the permit is issued I need a visa, right? What do I fill out for that? If I'm not mistaken I'll take that to the consulate in Miami and do that there. How long does that take (I get the impression from reading other posts that that's just a day thing that you interview for and wait a bit and they issue it the same day. Am I dreadfully wrong?) And how much does it cost? Again, apologies for the stupid questions but without them I'll sink like a rock. Thanks!
Andrew

Your work permit will need to be applied for by your future employer.  You can't apply for a work-based permit yourself.  If I were you, I'd get on the phone to this company who wants to hire you and give them the information you've found so they can get the ball rolling. 

You will need an entry clearance, but again, your company should be organising all this for you.  Once the work permit has been issued, it's a matter of a form and a fee and is usually issued very quickly.

hi andrew,

I am trying to work in the UK too. I found the workpermit.com site you mentioned and I was a bit skeptical.

first, you need to find an employer willing to sponsor a work permit for you. which means you need to work hard finding jobs you are well qualified for and perfecting your CV/resume to convince an employer to consider  even calling you back, offer an interview and fingers crossed, a job.

once you've gotten this far, either you wait the regular waiting time for the work permit paperwork to clear which from what i've read- anywhere from 2 weeks to longer depending on the completeness of the application, type of career (in demand) or you use a company like workpermit.com who looks like they expedite the paperwork... but for a whole lot of money.

have you looked into the highly skilled migrant program?  there is a specific formula for figuring out if you qualify.

and as wishstar mentioned you also need to gain entry clearance. the "visa" is the "stamp of approval" for entrance into a country. make sense?

that's my understanding in layperson's speak 

bottom line... this is not an easy process- it weeds out the people who just fancy the idea of working in a foreign country from those who are committed to upholding the country's values. hee hee, plus you are dealing with the government and nothing is ever "easy" with them.

good luck!

Just to let you know, the Counsulate in Miami doesn't deal with Visa issues - you would deal with the Consulate in New York as you are living in Florida.

ah son of a b*tch so i'll have to go all the way to new york? do they not realise that the US is really big? it isn't like living in manchester and having to take the train to london. that would be the distance of me to miami! i know that the employer has to apply, i'm just willing to help organise a lot of the paperwork so that they have to actually spend as little time as possible. i'll keep my fingers crossed. god that is frustrating as hell! i live very close to miami and i'll have to pay a lot of money to travel to new york even though i was just there at someone else's expense a few weeks ago. and jklm725 yes i have looked at the hsmp but i don't qualify because i'm too young to have completed higher education (i've finished a-level equivalent qualifications specific to the job) but without a uni degree i don't qualify for a huge number of points necessary. i'm willing to use workpermit.com because not only will they be willing to tell me exactly what i need and whether or not it'll fly but they also expedite the process and in my case time = money to the nth degree. i'm completely devoted to living in the uk for a number of reasons and i know that i cannot stay here. i think it'll go over okay

ah son of a b*tch so i'll have to go all the way to new york?

Yeah, you cannot use Miami for visas unless you have permanent residence in the Bahamas - go figure - I'm not making it up  .  And hat's off to Peedal, cuz she saved you a needless experience of frustration and humiliation at the Miami consulate.  If you're Merkin and anywhere near the same time zone as I-95, you have to go through NY...

There really isn't much you can do to help expedite the work permit process for your employer.  They have to do all the paperwork and then you apply for your entry clearance (FLR).  For your FLR, you need your passport, approval letter from the WP division of the Home Office, the fee and application, two passport pics of yourself, and bank statements.  The application form for FLR tells you everything you need to include and there's no need to go to New York in person.  You can apply by mail.

I wouldn't pay workpermits.com for a process only your employer can do.  It's a very simple process as a prospective employee.  I'm waiting for my FLR to come for my work permit and considering the sizeable fee you'll have to pay just for the application process, paying a third party IMO is an additional and unnecessary expense.

check out www.britainusa.com/visas

there are only three consulates that issue visas... LA, Chicago and NY

If I am reading correctly, your application options are online, mail or in person.

E-fastrack

Why use the E-fastrack system?

E-fastrack allows you to apply for a UK Visa or entry clearance on-line using a secure connection over the internet.

Apply anywhere anytime. Twenty four hours a day. Please note that you must be in the country of application when submitting your passport and supporting documentation.

This service also includes the option to pay securely by credit card (Visa or Mastercard)

Allows the option to save your application and return at a later date

The correct form will be generated depending on the choices you make when you start your application. The forms you will complete on-line are the electronic equivalent of the VAF1, VAF2, VAF3 and VAF4 application forms.


Once you have applied you must deliver either in person or by mail your printed application and supporting documents to the applicable consulate. (Click here for supporting documents for all visas)

E-fastrack will select which Consulate you should apply to based on the state you live in. Your application will not be accepted at any other visa issuing post than the one you are directed to. Failure to submit your documents to the correct visa issuing post will result in a delay to the processing of your application.


The website also lists other expeditors for NY, Chicago and LA...  compare prices and services.

This was my favorite part, as a native California...

IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR VISITORS & RESIDENT BRITISH NATIONALS!

The West Coast of the USA is prone to Earthquakes. USGS and other scientists conclude that there is a 62% probability of at least one magnitude 6.7 or greater quake, capable of causing widespread damage, striking the San Francisco Bay region before 2032. Please refer the following resources on how to prepare for and respond to both natural and man-made disasters http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/future/index.html http://www.ready.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR VISITORS & RESIDENT BRITISH NATIONALS!

The West Coast of the USA is prone to Earthquakes. USGS and other scientists conclude that there is a 62% probability of at least one magnitude 6.7 or greater quake, capable of causing widespread damage, striking the San Francisco Bay region before 2032. Please refer the following resources on how to prepare for and respond to both natural and man-made disasters http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/future/index.html http://www.ready.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

ROFLMAO!

In my instance, the position was advertised for a month in The Guardian. Would my selection out of all possible applicants as being the most qualified meet the Home Office's requirements? It's a specialised position dealing with cars, import and export laws, and command of the English language, all in which I have vast experience.

I can't really add much to this thread except one small word of advice - using the Guardian as a job source sets you up for a long haul. I just finally ended a 2 1/2 month long job search during which I applied to TONS of Guardian-advertised jobs (I'd estimate 3 or 4 per week, sometimes more) as well as jobs from more specialized job sites and I only got ONE interview from a Guardian job (and I already have permission to work here.) The competition is beyond fierce for anything advertised there - the person at the interview I did have told me they were averaging 30 CVs a day. If you can find job sites that specialize in your field you'll have far better luck. For instance, I ended up getting a job through a charity jobs website. Good luck!!

Nothing much to add except to say, Yep you've got to go through the NY consulate (I'm in Bradenton, FL and just sent my stuff off this morning).

Yeah I imagined the Guardian jobs would be rather cutthroat because it's such a huge resource. SlicesMissus you're only in Bradenton? I'm just right down the road in Sarasota. Hope you have some luck! If things don't work out I'm going to look at more editing positions on editing sites. I think that'll be my best bet. Thanks everyone! And sorry it's taken so long to respond. This great Florida weather threw a lightning bolt at my house 2 days ago and I've been without internet or TV since then. Finally just got repaired right in time for Hurricane Katrina 

By the way, good news for everyone already in the UK, Channel 4 just signed a contract with Comedy Central to air The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the new More4 channel Rejoice!

By the way, good news for everyone already in the UK, Channel 4 just signed a contract with Comedy Central to air The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the new More4 channel Rejoice!

YAY!!!! I miss that show so much! I hate the Global Edition. Yay yay yay!