Moving from England to America, how hard?

If your official paperwork is all taken care of, I don’t see any problem except you’ll be relying on a man for your well-being, far from your family, which makes me uncomfortable.

@KNOWITALL I don’t have any family now. Just a quick text from my mum every now and then. Moving from my end wouldn’t be a problem.

@Headhurts Plus there’s all us jellies around the US, just in case. ;)

It is not that easy to emigrate to the US.

A few places to read up on the requirements:

1. http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/marriage-to-a-u.s.-citizen.html

2. http://shusterman.com/greencardsthroughmarriage.html

The time, expense and hassle of dealing with the US INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services) bureaucracy is not to be discounted. I’ve helped several friends who’ve married non-US citizens and it’s nightmarish – like navigating a maze, blindfolded and being pick-pocketed and insulted constantly during the process. Take a number, sit down..never get called. Be told you HAVE to be at an in-person appointment, show up at the designated time, date and office and then sit in a crowded room waiting for an appointment that never happens. Rinse & repeat.

Also, this is all predicated on his willingness to marry and sponsor your immigration. If during the time it takes for you to get citizenship (you can get dual citizenship—you can keep your UK Passport) you break up, you WILL be deported unless your employer sponsors your visa. (And most US employers are unwilling.)

Also, one important additional note—(I went back and re-read your profile)..
In the US most people do not have health insurance unless they pay for it on their own or receive it via their employer. Without good benefits ( = good employment) you will find access to mental health professionals (which is required to get meds) potentially cost prohibitive or impossible depending on what State you reside in.. because funding for mental health care varies very much State to State.

The UK and Canada both have better health care “safety nets” for someone who needs on-going medication for BPD (and I know someone with BPD and she hasn’t had the most stable employment—and it had really negatively impacted her ability to get care..and I’m in MN which is considered one of the very best States for mental health care.)

Very big adjustment emotionally. My Ex moved here from England and is doing fine, but there are a lot of cultural differences. You would not be able to legally unless you were married. Also, you should be developing multiple people as supports and it would be hard to be relying on just one person for support. (I am thinking specifically of you and your emotions.)

To me when I went from America to England, it was just like moving across the street, only they expected me to drive over on the other side. It felt very strange sitting in what should be the passenger seat up front, and finding a steering wheel in front of me and a gearshift lever on what sure seemed to me like the wrong side of the steering column.

The rest of it was pretty straightforward. But I was just there on a tourist visa. I imagine things get much more stick moving in either direction when you want to take up permanent residency in the new country.

Very, very hard legally, financially, emotionally and culturally. Doable, certainly, but not without investing lot of time, work and money. See Like Crazy.

Like Crazy

As an American, I cannot fathom why on earth anyone would choose that move.

Moving to the USA for the UK is not like moving to Italy or Spain or the European Union member countries from UK. A residency Visa would require a marriage to a US citizen, or a company sponsoring a person for a special employment need.
Here’s the start of many web pages for getting a USA Visa.

@geeky_mama that was very informative, I have been thinking of moving to the States myself because most of my family is living in Jacksonville. Do you think it would be easier to move to America if one already have family living there?

@antimatter – what kind of family? It really is hard to get family sponsorship and they need to be super close (your parents or sibling) relationship, to begin.

Also, I have lots of family in Jacksonville, FL – and while it’s a beautiful city near nice beach areas (e.g. Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville Beach) it has relatively high unemployment so personally, I wouldn’t consider moving there, and I am an American citizen.

The other thing about Jacksonville is that it is not at all a “walkable” city – you would immediately need to have a vehicle that you could borrow (or buy your own) to get around. You can’t get anywhere without a car in that particular city/area.

Last, but probably most important to note is that having family here might give you the ability to apply for their sponsorship, but they have to be willing AND have the financial means, and even then—it’s not a certainty that you’ll be granted a visa.
Start here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html
Most important note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration.

“First, the USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative filed by your sponsoring relative for you. Next, most sponsors will need to demonstrate adequate income or assets to support the intending immigrant, and accept legal responsibility for financially supporting their family member, by completing and signing a document called an Affidavit of Support. Once this is complete, then the intending immigrant will apply for the immigrant visa.”

More info on family sponsorship visas are here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1306.html

The best possible “path” I’ve seen is to find an employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa and then if you want to stay in the US more permanently you follow the steps to Citizenship after you have fulfilled residency OR you might marry an American.

I think the first step is to try to get a job lined up. If you can prove you have one waiting on you the difficulty of getting a work permit is reduced and once you are here and gainfully employed, then you can apply for permanent residency with less headaches.
‘Course the other option is to marry an American and move in with him but that is, in my opinion, a pretty drastic step.

I don’t think so its a good idea to move with that person who is new to you. First of all, find the proper information about the person. As well as look the other option for you in a new place.

@JamesHarrison Excellent point. Here is another question addressing a very similar issue involving that very thing.