confused - repatriation questions...

So I've read the posts, and have a few questions. I'm sorry if this is actually said elsewhere, but I didn't see it

My husband (British) is applying for jobs at both US and UK universities as a professor. We live in the UK, I'm American, 7mo into my 2 year temp visa. If he gets a job, we expect that they'd get him a work visa, but aren't sure so want to know our options (about how feasible it is for him to get right to work thru me quickly-ish), and we're confused about a few things.

Firstly, does it make a difference if he gets right to work in the US thru a work visa as opposed to a spousal visa? (I'm sorry, I can't keep the 'names' straight - I've only just sorted the UK versions.) Would it make it harder to switch over, etc, if he decided to switch jobs a few years later?

Secondly, say they offered him the job at Easter, to start around Labor Day, I know we can't do DCF yet, but is that enough time for us to do the forms thru the US and get him the right to work, temporarily at least, as a spouse of a US citizen?

Thanks!

I don't know much about visa stuff in the US but..

From my own experience, i would go with the work permit first and then transfer to a green card later.  That way, the University would do all the leg work.  The end result is the same.

Again, this is me speculating from our experience in US academe immigration issues. 

Although, less and less universities are willing to hire non-Americans/non-new immigrants so maybe the spousal route might be your way to go.  Either way, you'll have it covered. 

Well, actually, as you said about non-willingness to hire non-Americans, that's got me thinking. I had no idea ,and some of the universities say he'll have to prove right to work before starting work. I assumed that meant, they'd have to actually get a work permit for him OR we go the spousal route. But now I'm thinking they perhaps won't do anything themselves? That it'll have to come to his right to work thru me? Huh. Craziness!

There was a big crack down among universities and immigration right after 9-11.  We got our last visa renewal on Halloween 2001 and so ours was the first wave of new visas post 9-11.  When we left at the end of our visa in 2004, we certainly weren't alone.  The whole complexion of academe  where we lived had changed, because of this.  Tons of people had left or were leaving, not wanting to deal with the whole visa mess.  as well, not as many new immigrants were coming in with new visas. 

I think if you already have a visa and are applying for the next  one, then they'll help you, but if you have nothing, they are reluctant to touch it.  The risk assessments for one, are enormous.

If i had known it was going to be so difficult to get back to the states, I would never have left and we would have stayed to get our green cards.   

Jeepers! I had no idea - I've been out of the US since 2000, but my recollections of US academia must be very different from what it is now.

We don't have anything at the moment, and wouldn't even start until they offered him a job - we aren't planning on moving unless he gets a job there. So that's sucky.

perhaps you should start the ball rolling for his paperwork in the US now?

But like I said, I don't know any of this for certain (well some i do - the part about not wanting to bring in new immigrants.  it was documented in the journal Science.  also, renewal for some people we know was very difficult.)  so best ask someone who specialises in this kind of thing.