Do I have any chance?

Perhaps the lady was a bit confused.  It's legal, for example, to enter the UK to go on a job interview if the interview is already set up.  Perhaps she thought that was your situation.  You can't get there and start applying, but if you can get a UK company to agree to interview you after seeing your resume or CV then you are permitted to enter on a visitor's visa for that interview.  Then, of course, if they hire you they get to prove to the gov't that nobody in the UK or EU is better qualified than you and get you a visa.

We have lots of links here, some of them have been posted in this thread.  There's lot of great info there.

Good luck!

Perhaps the lady was a bit confused.  It's legal, for example, to enter the UK to go on a job interview if the interview is already set up.  Perhaps she thought that was your situation.  You can't get there and start applying, but if you can get a UK company to agree to interview you after seeing your resume or CV then you are permitted to enter on a visitor's visa for that interview.  Then, of course, if they hire you they get to prove to the gov't that nobody in the UK or EU is better qualified than you and get you a visa.

We have lots of links here, some of them have been posted in this thread.  There's lot of great info there.

Good luck!

I was trying to put that into words and you did a much better job than my attempts, as usual!

Call me crazy, but, um... since you just graduated from high school... how about like, backpacking around Europe or something like that, and worry about visas and - the future  - after you've had some "time off" ?

I certainly commend you for doing the research ahead of time, but my advice would be DON'T tie yerself down to anything yet!

What is it that you would like to do with your life, aside from living overseas?

Believe me this has been in the working for around two years. There's not really much else I'd be happy doing so Im not going to bother with anything else.

Ok well if you want to be able to work in the UK these are the ways you can do it:

1. Get an employer to sponsor you. To do this you must jobsearch from the US. Your employer will need to satisfy the authorities that there is no-one already in the UK who can do the job so you will need to have specialist qualifications and skills in short supply here; Teaching & social work spring to mind; This is a difficult visa to get;

2. Enrol in a course of study and get a student visa which allows you to work part time.  This is pretty straightforward but could be costly;

3. Should you marry a British citizen you could apply for a spouse visa which would enable you to live and work here. Obviously it is not advisable to get married solely for this purpose.;

4. Highly skilled migrant programme: a points based visa - you get points for things like qualifications, skills etc, you would need to have at least a tertiary level qualifiication;

5. There are some other special categories of visas for artists, performers and members of the clergy.

Hope this is helpful to you.  You can find more information here: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1006977149953

If you're looking at working in any capacity, you're going to need a settlement visa (as a wife or a fiancee'), a student visa (you can work up to 20 hpw), or a work visa (which would be next to impossible to get with only a high school education and no specialised skills).  You can't come over as a tourist and work or volunteer in any capacity -- that's illegal.

Hey Lola,

Can one work when they're on a fiance visa?!  I wasn't sure about that but I thought it was not possible.  Am I wrong about this?

Thanks 

Hey Lola,

Can one work when they're on a fiance visa?!  I wasn't sure about that but I thought it was not possible.  Am I wrong about this?

Thanks 

I'm not Lola, but the answer is no.    You can't work on a fiancee visa.

I am Lola, and the answer is still no.     You can work once you're married and have "converted" your fiancee' visa into a spousal visa.  Depending on when you enter the UK and when you get married, you could be unemployed for six months or so.

It's not just work, stuff with cash prizes, like karaoke competitions, are also prohibited - unless they are designated as "international" or "invitational", and you have an invitation.  And this item in this morning's news....

http://www.worldfootballers.com/news.php?filter=&id=8191&year=2005
 

It's not just work, stuff with cash prizes, like karaoke competitions, are also prohibited - unless they are designated as "international" or "invitational", and you have an invitation.  And this item in this morning's news....

http://www.worldfootballers.com/news.php?filter=&id=8191&year=2005
 

Hey, now that's very interesting. Can you still get stuff, such as the lottery, if you have a visa? I keep looking for information on this but the lotto website isn't very clear.  I don't play it, mind you, just wanted to know that if I was to win, I'd still get the money. (I have an ILR)

Hey, now that's very interesting. Can you still get stuff, such as the lottery, if you have a visa?

You get the money  no problem, it's a game of chance, not a vocation.

Problem is that Uncle Sam is going to want a bite too....

Hey, now that's very interesting. Can you still get stuff, such as the lottery, if you have a visa? I keep looking for information on this but the lotto website isn't very clear.  I don't play it, mind you, just wanted to know that if I was to win, I'd still get the money. (I have an ILR)

Have your British spouse buy the ticket.  If the ticket wins, see a tax solicitor. 

Believe me this has been in the working for around two years. There's not really much else I'd be happy doing so Im not going to bother with anything else.

A piece of totally unsolicited advice....(feel free to ignore it if you wish....I promise I won't be offended!) 

....but, try not to rule anything out at this point.  You never know where life will take you and what opportunities may arise.  It's kind of like the quote at the bottom of my posts....you don't have to give up on your dream of moving to the UK, but enjoy the journey between now and when you end up there.  Explore other countries....travel....experience new cultures, foods, languages, friends....explore other regions of your own country....broaden your horizons....get some more education, not only formal education, but education in the school of life....

I'm kind of doing things backwards.  I got married WAYYYY too young, before I really had a chance to do much exploring either of my world OR of my inner self.  Don't get me wrong, I don't live my life full of regrets.  My experiences have shaped the person that I am today.  BUT....looking back now I can see other paths that I could have chosen and it's hard not to wonder 'what if'.....

Just a little friendly advice to do with as you wish.  Good luck with whatever you choose to do! 

I'm kind of doing things backwards.  I got married WAYYYY too young, before I really had a chance to do much exploring either of my world OR of my inner self.  Don't get me wrong, I don't live my life full of regrets.  My experiences have shaped the person that I am today.  BUT....looking back now I can see other paths that I could have chosen and it's hard not to wonder 'what if'.....

Just a little friendly advice to do with as you wish.  Good luck with whatever you choose to do! 

Hey closet.hippie, I hope you don't mind me asking but how old were you when you got married?  J/W because I know the meaning of getting married "way too young" can mean a different age for eveyone.

Hey closet.hippie, I hope you don't mind me asking but how old were you when you got married?  J/W because I know the meaning of getting married "way too young" can mean a different age for eveyone.

I think you're right - "way too young" can have a totally different meaning depending on the person.  I was 20 when I got married, which was "way too young" for me.  I would never presume to tell a total stranger what "way too young" is for them.  All I know, is that I didn't really have the life experience I needed in order to make a good choice at that time.  I was very focused on one thing (getting married) at the exclusion of anything else.  And, in my case, it was a mistake.  I'm really not trying to dissuade ash900 from following her dreams, just trying to get her to open up to other possibilities.  Sometimes wonderful things happen when you allow them to.....