questions about moving the other way

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but DH and I haven't ruled out a move to the US.

I've found a potential job in the US - starting in the fall of 2007 (15 months after I got my spousal visa letting me live/work in the UK). If we moved, obviously I would forfeit my visa here. But does anyone know how it works the other way? E.G. how long it might take before DH could work? How mucy money are we talking about? Etc.

Thanks! We want to know how viable this is, or if it'd make more sense to ride the next few years out til I get my ILR/passport...

If you don't have ILR then you can't do DCF (Direct Consular Filing) which is relatively fast. But if the job doesn't start for 15 months then your timing might be just right for the CR-1/IR-1. That whole process takes about a year...will get your hubby a green card from the start (a ten-year one if you have been married two years or more). It costs are a few hundred dollars, but it nickles and dimes you to death...$180 for the I-130...then you pay for police records...medical exams...another fee at the NVC (National Visa Center)...and a Visa fee at the embassy. But all in all about the cost of your visa should be a good guess...with this high exchange rate. Acouple of things to think about...as the US citizen you have to show that you can support him...ie 125% above the poverty line (they actually give you a set guideline...only thing I like better about their system) that is based on three years income taxes. Your income taxes you file here does count, but it be better if you can actually show that you have a job waiting. Other thing is a place to live...either you go ahead and get something or arrange with relatives. If you can't met any of those requirements you can also get someone to be a co-sponsor. Oh...and you need a US address for the correspondence that determines which service center you would file at. Good thing is that you get to be together while you go through the whole logn process. If you have other questions, there are similar sites for doing it the other way.

Ooh, that's a lot of info - thanks!

So applying pre-ILR means it'll take about a year? I doubt I'd have a job that far in advance, so that's a bit rubbish. I've just found one, but it's a gamble. But good to know. 

that is an approximate guess, yeah

technically you can try to DCF before getting ILR....there is no guarantee that you'd get it BUT you can try and if they don't let you, they send on to the appropriate sevice center.

i never wanted to try it, as we have waited till i get ILR so we can DCF asap....also if you apply being married under 2 years, he will have a conditional green card...then you have to apply to revoke the conditional status in just under 2 years from living in the US.

it's all a hassle. 

Most everyone I know from this forum and others that have attempted DCF before living in the UK for at least 11 months have been turned down for DCF and have had to go through a service center in the US. If you have been here for 11 months or more you should give DCF a try...you will know in a few weeks whether or not you were accepted and if not, you can just send the application on to the appropriate service center in the US. (You do not have to pay an application fee twice or anything.)

Also...once your husband enters the US on his spousal visa he is eligible to work right away. It usually takes 3 weeks or so before his SS# arrives, which he needs for tax purposes.

Good luck!