Laying the ground work... North America

[WindyMiller1020]

I was looking for help on living and working in North America, either the USA or Canada.

Me and my DH know that we eventually want to leave the UK, no rush to move immediately but we want to start laying the groundwork to open up the option to go.

My DH works in a niche area of IT and I work in marketing. In your experience would the best way to get the visas needed be to get a job at a company that has offices there so that we could then look at transferring?

We'd be happy to look at going on either a shorter secondment or on longer contracts but I'm not really sure how it all works, I've looked quite deeply into Canada and have come across IEC visas but it seems we'd have to apply independently from each other which wouldn't be ideal.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks all for your help everyone, it seems I was right in my initial feeling that the only viable way to go about it is to work in a company that has both UK and US/Canadian presences so that we could look at transferring.

I didnt intend to start any contentious conversations so apologies there!

I have an acquaintance who recently moved to San Francisco with her boyfriend (not husband) from the UK and they post on social media about going to work, I think I need to ask her how she managed it!

@windymiller1020. For the purposes of the calculator just put down full marks for English. For real application you do actually have to sit a test even if you are a native speaker . There are test centres all over the UK but there is a fee.

I've recently sat the IELTS for a Canadian visa application. It is trickier than you think! I studied for it and managed to get an 8.5 out of 9 - there are 4 sections, all scored out of 9, which are tested in the same day:
Listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Google IELTS Liz for info on the tests.

The IELTS costs £170 to sit. But definitely revise and study! I struggled with the writing part and got 7.5 out of 9 - I write policy and consultation documents all day long but this was a bonkers test that asks you to write a letter (mine was thanking a colleague who lent me a book, explaining how the book helped me with a presentation I was doing. In 150 words ) and a persuasive writing piece (present two sides of an argument and the your thoughts. 250 words) - topics of letter and essay given in the test.

Don't assume as a native speaker that you'll smash it!

Good luck!

It's s good starting point to work in a company with jobs in the US, but as you can guess there's absolutely zero guarantee, especially for anything long term. Are there any particular states you'd want to live?

Huntley gives good advice on IELTS. It was surprisingly hard as there are lots of trick questions to try and catch people out. Plus I think as a native speaker you are inclined to think too much into the questions (and I think some were written wrong). I dropped half a point on speaking as my answers were too complicated so got 8.5 (for the record I have A in English A level and a PhD). I know lots of native speakers that scored 7 overall. Well worth practicing! You need 6.5 to be regarded sufficiently proficient.

@Huntlybyelection and @Taytotots thank you both that's very helpful to know! The question examples you gave do seem quite strange!

@Grumbley I havent thought enough into it to have a preference on state tbh, I just know I dont want to stay in the UK forever, whether that means we go on secondment for a year or two or what. I think everything around Brexit has just compounded my feelings of being stifled if that makes any sense. Either way we're not in a position yet but it's in my mid to long term life plan so we want to start thinking about it now just so that we can make sure that our next job moves are to bigger companies that have offices overseas for example.

Many old friends and colleagues have moved to either Australia or the middle east so it would seem it's quite easy to move either of those areas but we just dont fancy either. My husband doesnt have much of preference and would go wherever I want to go but he would consider New Zealand- but again, I just dont feel drawn there at all so havent looked into it

How old are you? My DSis went to Vancouver on a working holiday visa for 2 years, got a permanent job and had no problems at all getting residency. And doesn't speak a word of French. She's in Vancouver. Canada and Australia are still much more accessible than the US if you are young enough for those type of visas.

Hi @turkeyboots I'm 26 and my husband is 28.

I thought that working holiday visas were the ones that were drawn separately though and we'd want to go together, am I wrong there?

Billie, your knowledge is completely wrong, sorry. No idea what happened in your case (perhaps they didn’t believe your marriage was legit?) but dh and I came over at the same time you were applying having qualified for PR the usual way. Neither of us had jobs, neither of us speak French. We just had enough points to qualify as skilled workers and passed our medicals. The End.
I have NEVER heard of a spousal visa (which I assume you were trying to enter under, so completely different to the op’s case) be refused unless they deemed it a marriage of convenience/ not a real relationship.
I know many many spousal visa holders. And common law. And a shit ton of PR via SW. and CEC. None of them speak French.
I can go days where I live without speaking to a Canadian
Ten years ago they had only just switched to the ‘simplified’ application system. It was pretty bumpy with lots of simplified applicants clearing in a year what us old skool folk took four years on a waitlist to be looked at. Were you actually turned down for a spousal visa? Why?

I think the US ones can be a draw type affair. But DSis went with a gang of friends to Canada and no issue with anyone not getting a visa.