Moving this fall?!

I've been checking out this site for about three months now, and it has helped a lot. Such great information. I am quite nervous to make the move, as it will be a temporary (for right now). My boyfriend is from the UK, I currently live in Boston. We met about 7 months ago and want to give this a go...
He is moving here (Boston) for 3 months or so, and then this fall I am planning on coming over there for a few months, obviously on a tourist visa, as I cant figure out how to finagle a work visa.
Regardless, I am sure it will be sorta tricky to come and go, but I don't want to marry him, just to stay. I'm a hopeless romantic....
My question, I guess, is how long can you stay on a tourist visa, and how long do you have to wait before coming back?
Also, any ideas on how to find a work visa...they seem pretty difficult to come by! I have no real special trade (I've been in advertising sales for 8 years) that would give me and edge.
Lastly, anyone from Manchester? That seems to be where we are going to settle.
Wow, glad I got all this out there. I look forward to any advice or information!
Thanks!

Hiya  Glad you finally posted after 3 months!  Hopefully you've been able to make sense of the wealth of information available both here and on other sites.

I totally understand not wanting to marry primarily for the purpose of being able to stay there.  I'm in the same situation.  

As far as the tourist visa (waiver) goes, you're allowed to stay in the country for up to 6 months.  I don't know how long you have to wait before you can return, or if there is even a minimum time at all.  I do know though, that customs won't be too fond of you staying 6 months, leaving for 2 weeks, and trying to return for many more months (if it is allowed.)  I'm not sure if there is a maximum amount of time you can spend there in one year.  I know the U.S. allows a total of 6 months (3 months in one go) on the visa waiver program in one year's time.  I'm not sure if England has a 6 month limit as well.  I'm sure there are tons of people here who can better answer your question  Good luck and hope you enjoy your time spent in the UK!

I am not even going to try to advise you on the Visa thing.  I could not add much more than Tenrith did anyways.

I know that there are people that have done the same thing so someone will be able to give advice.  If your questions don't get answered her just pop over to the Visa Section and post them again!  

I am glad you posted and look forward to reading more!

Hi and welcome   It's great that you both will be able to experience both countries! Good luck!
Melissa

Hello and welcome to de-lurker status.    We're glad to have you here!

I don't have any specific advise on the times allowed in the UK, etc., but my hunch is that it probably isn't written in stone.  I know there are some people that have come and gone on a visa waiver (tourist visa) three or four times a year (but not for more than a month or two at a time) and had no problems.  But after a few of those stamps in your passport, immigration may raise the flags and you may have a hard time one time out of the blue if you do it that way for any amount of time.  I wouldn't recommend the whole "got to France for a week" trick...that rarely turns out well.  

I'm sorry that isn't very helpful!  But I do wish you and your sweetie lots of luck.    

Have you been to the UK before at all?

hello sfkitten8,

welcome to UKY...  even though i can not answer your question correctly, I am sure there will be someone here that can...  it is nice to have you join us though...and good luck!

Like Wishstar says, nothing's written in stone as to the frequency one can use the Visa Waiver Program but keep in mind that there is no automatic "right of admittal" for 6  months every time one shows up at the immigration desk in London either. Keep in mind also that you're basically asking for admittance based on an "agreement" between the two countries rather than an entry clearance visa so the determination is made "on the spot" so to speak by British immigration. Some people travel back and forth a 1/2 dozen times a year without so much as raising an eyebrow while others for whatever reason get questioned rather vigorously. There's really no point in worrying about the latter.

 Hiya dito for me too in what everyone is saying about the visa thing.

 Anywhoo,welcome from the land of lurkers!

 Rhia

Hi sfkitten glad to meet you.  I've only traveled to the UK for up to two weeks at a time.  So my visits have been less than some others.  Usually only twice a year.  I've never had any problems whatsoever but I think thats due to the shortness of the visits.  

From what I understand you cannot work there if you are there on a tourist visa.  But you can check out the visa section here on these boards.  I'll bet you will find that someone has asked that before.  Which is one of the best parts about this site.  If you were to ask a question no one has asked before then you will find some researchers here love the challenge and will help you find the answer you need.  Trust me on this you are in the right place.  Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and advice. I've been very optimistic the past few months as I have been planning this move, but I know now, it won't be as easy as it seems.   I have lived all over the US, from SF to Iowa and many places inbetween (at least moving won't be a big hurdle). Have any of you had any luck meeting and making friends? I am such a social person, I don't want to give up hanging out with friends and drinking beers...

I was so excited to get in this morning and read my responses. This is a great website! Thanks again for the welcome!

Awww, aren't you sweet.  

We've all been there before so, trust me, we know how it is!  As hard as it all seems right now, it will be worth it once you get here and have it all behind you.  Honest!

There are about a million things that will contribute to how easy it is for you to make friends here.  The main one will probably be where you are moving to within the UK.  Since you said you will probably be ending up in Manchester, you may be absolutely fine!  It seems folk up north are much more friendly than down south around London, etc.  

I know people here who have more friends than they had before they moved to the UK, and I know people who have a lot less and have tried everything they can possibly think of to crack that hard British nut.  I've yet to really do it, but I have made lots of American expat friends here that have *more* than made up for it.  

Plus, if you like drinking beer, you'll have it made in the shade.  

Welcome! From another who can be considered a lurker (but trying to change that!  :-/ )

Hope things work out for you with the volleying back and forth. I have a very good friend who is in a similar situation as neither her (US) or her b/friend (UK) want to get married, least of all because the government says so. She's been over frequently but again not for the full 6 months. Sometimes with hassle at immigration; sometimes without. It's pot luck I think. Best of luck!