One of the most common questions from internet surfers that contact a website ask how do I get to the U.S. The reality is that most people are unaware of the U.S. Immigration policies and its complex manner in which it addresses processing migrants and immigrants for visiting or moving the the United States.

So, we have added this category in an effort to start a list of people in different countries with different circumstances in hope that maybe someone will find themselves in a similar situation as one of the posters and hence will gain some easy knowledge.

We do not recommend that the information in this forum be used as a substitute for immigration advice from an experienced immigration attorney. This is an effort to help be better understand the immigration process and direct them to attorneys that may assist them if they find that they do want go through the immigration process.

As this category is rather empty, we encourage those that are curious to share with us a little non-detailed de_script_ion about their situation so that we can give a generic de_script_ion about your immigration possibilities in the U.S.

My partner and I are both female. My partner lives in England, I live in Pennsylvania. She has been wanting to move to the US far before she met me, and I want to help her in every way to get here and be able to live here.

We... are running into a lot of road blocks. I do not live in a state that would allow us to marry and get her here that way.

She just completed her degree in England (well, will have in a month) and it is a bit pricey for us to have her go back to school here, so the student visa thing doesn't work.

She is a journalist, and as she is nearly done with her degree, doesn't have a job... and we aren't sure how to get a job that will sponsor her because she is so new.

We are also a bit clueless (we are youngish, so please don't be too harsh) about what she will have to do to actually get in here, besides the green card to actually stay. I've been told she'll need to take a basic knowledge test and would need a certain amount of money (6 months of living expenses, but how much IS that??)

Any information would be welcomed! Thank you!

Thanks for sharing in detail your circumstances revolving you and your partner. Your situation is definitely something that has many obstacles.

The good news is that being from the United Kingdom, she can easily attain a B visa for a certain period of time, that would require her to leave every six months. This would require her to show that she can support herself while here, because she is not authorized for employment. Also, it would require intent to return home and not immigrate to the United States.

This B option is inconvenient and expensive, but at least allows you some options.

As for marriage, I'm no expert, or have I seen any of mine cases revolving same sex marriage. However, I have seen and met a few lawyers who focus on immigration issues within to the gay community, this might be more related to asylum claims though.

However, I imagine there are probably some cases currently contesting the same sex marriage issue, especially now with California's lifting of the ban.

For employment or schooling visas, Employment visa is a whole other issue. And once she is finished with school, and decides what to do with her career, then she can look into whether she can get employed here. As a journalist, there a few specific visas she can look into. And as for educational, she can apply to US schools and if accepted they would assist her with her visa.

There are plenty of options, none that are without effort. However, at least your partner has options and being from the UK also makes it a little easier.

thanks

David,

Thank you for your response. It was, I am glad to say, heartening. It has been incredibly difficult for someone my age (23) and circumstance (very steady job making about $25k a year just out of college, and gay) to even... get the right information!

Where would I find out more information about the B visa? I only know about the waiver-visa thing that grants you 90 days in the country without a visa that people get to go on vacation. Do I have to pay for it, is that why you said its expensive, or is it because of the flying back and forth thing? Can she do anything towards getting a more permenant visa while on the B visa? Also, can she WORK while she is here on the B Visa?

Is there anyway to get in contact with the lawyers you know that deal with gay community and immigration? What exactly is an 'asylum claim'?

Could she complete the remaining years of her degree in journalism here in the US on a student-visa, and then ... 'upgrade' or whatever to an employement-_base_d visa? How long does she have to be here to be able to apply for Citizenship?

Sorry for the huge amount of questions, but you are the first and only person with knowledge to respond to my many attempts across websites to find out information. Thank you so much!

Its no problem, thats why we have the forum. Glad you used it, as no one has. Anyways the reason you haven't got much response is because on the same sex marriage issue, its something new and most immigration lawyers would not know how to deal with (I am one of them). And the other matters, there's rarely a right answer.

As for B visa. I'll try to get you some info. Yes, when I refer to cost, I refer to the cost of having to leave the country and providing financial independence.

No asylum for your case. Its the UK, Thats is very unlikely. Was originally referring to gay communities in middle eastern countries where they are human rights issues, those are the types. Not UK

I can look for those immigration lawyers. Give me a few days.

Yes, if she could apply to a school here and is accepted, they can provide her with the necessary visa assistance. And it might be your best alternative at the time. Later she can worry about changing her status due to employment or familial. At least it becomes easier as she is more familiar with the immigration procedures.

Just shoot me a PM, and I'll try to get together that information in the next few days.

Trying to figure out how to PM you...

The only thing we are not sure about is just how MUCH it will cost to get her the rest of her degree here. She actually gets paid to do her courses in England, versus... well, paying 20,000 dollars a year. We are refusing to go into serious debt at our ages...

Thank you kindly for being willing to look up the information for us. This is the only ray of hope we've had so far.