Are there ways to move without getting married?

Hi Everyone,

I discovered this site last night. There seems to be lots of knowledgable people and I'm hoping that someone may be able to help.

I'm an American, my boyfriend is a Brit. We want to be together and I'm sure that we'll marry someday, but I don't like the idea of getting married too soon just to satisfy the immigration laws. His field (military/defense stuff) leaves little change of him moving here - most of his potential jobs specify that the applicant must be a U.S.Citizen. I do not fall into any of the skilled-labour shortages that I saw on the embassy site. Are these the only fields that qualify for a work-permit? Do you need a work permit for "non-professional" fields like waitressing or housekeeping? I have a good job here, but would be willing to do anything for a year or two, until we have other options.

Also, I've been wanting to go to grad school. If I attend grad school in the UK, will I be allowed to work under the student visa? Not working really isn't an option, as neither of us is wealthy. Has anyone had any experience with grad school in the U.K.?

I feel very lucky to have found the man I love. I don't want to lose him just because we're from different countries. Thanks for any help.

My boyfriend is also a brit, and it can make things difficult trying to get work permits for one or the other. If you're a student it is easier, an agency named BUNAC offers 6 month 'blue card' work permits for $250, but you have to have been in school or university within the past 6 months to qualify. Short of that, you would have to apply directly to a company that would be interested in sponsoring you for a work permit.

I'm more familiar with the US immigration rules (though I am British), but I think that they are broadly the same as the UK's.

Basically, if you aren't married to a Brit or have skills in short supply in the UK, it is very difficult to get a visa to work in the UK.  Of the options that you do have, getting your employer to transfer you is the easiest, but even then you have to meet a test of being imortant/ necessary to the business - i.e. of management grade, and (I think) have been employed by them for at least 12 months.

You don't by chance have a grandparent who was a citizen of any country in the EU do you?  If you do you could get a passport from that country (in most cases) and live and work in the UK or anywhere in the European Onion.

If you do you could get a passport from that country (in most cases) and live and work in the UK or anywhere in the European Onion.

European Onion?  


That's just too cute a typo to overlook - sorry Mr. Val!!!  Not really picking on you - just couldn't let this one go by!!  

..... That's just too cute a typo to overlook - sorry Mr. Val!!!  Not really picking on you - just couldn't let this one go by!!  

It wasn't really a typo, interference in British affairs by the European parliament just makes me want to cry and "onion" seems appropriate!  

Ok, not to rain on anyone's parade about the grandparent deal.  But this is what I have been told about a dozen times by the British Consulate.  

I have a grandmother, here in the US,(about 12 miles away) that is from the UK, she still is a UK citizen and still has a UK passport, with a US green card.  I saw on the websites about about entering under the Commonwealth Ancestory Visa, and thought "aww perfect!"  Well, I called, and Commonwealth means Canada!  Then I inquired about entering under the ancestory visa, and they said ONLY if your parent was a UK citizen could you enter under that visa provision.  

So.....I am to the enter under the fiance visa, and no work till we are married.    Luckily my fiance was all for supporting my son and I till we are married.  

I do wish you luck, but in my research it was about impossible to just "move".  I am really sorry, as this disappointed me, I love working, (yes I am nuts), but I have been doing it for so many years, it will be wierd to be off for a while.

Cheers!
Vonny