I’ve recently revived the idea of emigrating – hope some basic questions can be answered / pointers given to help my research on its way by folk who have been there, done that.
California is top of the list of destinations, but other locations considered. Not too fussy, other than must have high levels of sunshine (I’m not joking) and non-impenetrable language. California, specifically Sonoma county, really appealed on a recent visit.

I imagine sorting a work visa whilst still in UK is the best way forward, I.e. tracking down an employer to sponsor me? Rather than upping sticks and hoping for the best? I’m already married, but no children.

Will I have to take a few steps back in order to get my foot on the work ladder? I’m guessing yes. I’m currently a bit niche in my employment i suspect – property surveyor (not chartered) in renewables industry, so no jump-out practical/in demand skills? About to start some project management courses to add to my CV though. Current employer may be able to offer opportunities, but I don’t want to hang on indefinitely for that.

I’m 43 now and think I may have left it too late!

Any help/ pointers would be gratefully received! Cheers.

Getting the visa will be key. If you are an intra company transfer then it is pretty easy. If you are expecting to get a job with a new company in California you will need to have some very special skills. Not many companies will look at you without a visa in place and these are not so easy to get for the US. Alternatively if you have the cash to spend on getting a student visa and a masters at a Californian university then you could do that then move onto a h1 type visa. But this could all get much harder if Trump gets elected in November….

One thing that you will need to factor in is taxes and pensions. Once you add in federal, state and city taxes alongside medical insurance the overall package may not look so great. As for your pension I believe you will need to get permanent residence to be eligible for us social security but as you are 43 you may never reach the pay in enough threshold. The IRS is also a bit grabby so you will be taxed on any monies or assets worldwide…

Depending on if your profession is on the right list Australia might be a better option for easier access.

Hi. Yes you need really to get a sponsorship from a company to get a VISA. Normally you would require a specialist skill to go to the US.
I suspect that being a being a property surveyor (are your qualifications recognised in the US – probably not) wouldn’t get you there. Definitely go down the route of your employer if you can.

You can’t just “upping sticks and hoping for the best”. You will require a return ticket when you arrive plus the usual places to stay.

Oh and I forgot to add don’t expect the visa system to recognise your qualifications due to the different school system. For example a masters from a top university will be classed as a bachelors by an immigration lawyer and a phd as a masters…
They do not really understand the concept of education from outside of the USA…

You don’t need permanent residence for Social Security – you’ll start earning credits when you start paying your federal tax. I was there on an L1 visa (intra-company transfer) from 98-04 – earned 24 SS credits, I still get a yearly US SS statement even though I’m back in the UK. You need 40 credits before you can claim SS – Maximum you can earn in a year is 4, so 10 year minimum before you can claim SS.

* Edit: Good news is if you ever come back to the UK you can get credit towards your UK State Pension (Nat Insurance contributions) based on your US SS contributions (known as ‘Totalization’ I think – basically US and UK have a tax treaty).

Great, thanks for the all the info guys, all good food for thought!

California – VERY expensive to live there compared to much of the rest of the USA.
Most all UK professional and trade qualifications are worth squat in the US. They have completely different associations and ways of doing things so the transfer of that side of things is far harder than academic quals.

You would need to qualify for straight immigration or find a company willing to sponsor you. Sponsorship tends to only happen if your skills cannot be found fast enough in the domestic market. Renewables is a good market in CA but it isn’t the boom it once was. The federal and state systems that go towards financing the renewables market are also hideous and, to a Brit, very complicated.
As for taking a few steps back for the work – you’re then getting into the really lower skilled end of the market and there will not be positions there for visa sponsorship.
I know you don’t want to hear this but I moved to the US from the UK 3.5 years ago (American wife) and I have more than a passing familiarity with the renewables industry here.
If you really want to move to the US, I would look at moving TO the US, THEN look at moving to where you want to be. If your wife doesn’t have transferable skills it could be a real backward step and see her unhappy without a decent job as well.

Education isn’t as big a deal as he said up there. In addition, a British accent gives you 10 more IQ points and far more gravitas!

Its all about the job. You should start job hunting and general research. Having such a specific location may not help, start there but be flexible. The important thing is to find a job and get them to sponsor your visa. You really want a flexible visa that allows you to work for a different company as well as the one that sponsors you. That may not be possible, you can change when there. You should also contact the embassy and see what advice they can offer you.

Be prepared to fight hard for a job and to get the visa. It’s a competitive country and process.

I was in NY for 3 years, good times.

Good luck.

The negatives around tax, health care, qualifications and quality of life really very. My brother looked up the pathetic holiday allowance (with the expectation that you wouldn’t use it all) really put him off.
I know of one friend who got the green card lottery, but he works for a company he knows well while still running his business back in Germany so gets more freedom.

Take a look here for this way in
http://www.immihelp.com/green-card-lottery/green-card-lottery-usa-eligibility.html
http://www.onetonline.org/find/family

Make sure you know your earthquake drills?

Make sure you know your earthquake drills?

Run for the hills!?

The hills make be heading for you….

Thanks for the continuing info – all good stuff.
CA being expensive has come up elsewhere – flexibility on location is sound advice. Think I’ll focus on sorting a job as the priority.
Cheers

The hills make be heading for you….

lol

And bears. And mountain lions.

(Originally typed “cougars” but that didn’t sound too bad 😀 )

Become a porn star?

Two colleagues of mine emigrated to the US; I was offered the chance to move to San Diego (where I have family and have spent much time and dearly love the place) but it just wasn’t going to work with my wife’s job and family.

What I can tell you is that even with a company sponsoring you it’s not an easy process. It costs a decent chunk of money to get the lawyers to structure the application in such a way that it passes US Immigration and even then they can get snippy. It can be done, but the fact that it costs reasonable money means the employer really needs to have a compelling reason to send you to justify it to them even before they justify it to the US authorities.

That said, if you think there is a chance you can swing it and relocate to California I would encourage you to go for it with everything you’ve got. It’s a fabulous place, for the most part, there are a few downsides but aren’t there always.

I think Australia or Southern Spain would be more realistic. Language wouldnt necessarily be a barrier in spain, a friend of mine with no spanish managed to find an Engineering job in Northern Spain, just depends if you have the skills/experience they want. Your English can be seen as an asset when they are dealing with foreign companies.

Can you not get your RICS qualification as that is internationally recognised I believe.

MCTD – bears, pah! 😉
Senor j – I don’t fancy LA 😉
Geetee – useful info ta.
Mackem – thanks, that’s good to know re Spain. Would fit the bill location wise as a second choice.
Nipper – would rather not have to go through the assessment process, but may have to grin and bear it.

Cheers all

Also to add, living here in Oz at the moment I’d take it above the US for many reasons but workers rights are up there (I currently get a mandatory 9.5% pension contribution) and holiday minimums etc.