Moving To America For A Job

[myauq]

This is a bit complicated, but here goes...

I'm an Australian citizen and my wife (or wife to be) are in the process of applying for a Spouse visa to Australia. From what others have said, this usually takes about 1 year to get processed, maybe longer. We are living in Thailand, but we are a bit sick of life here.

I might be able to work in the US, for a really good company. If I were offered this job in the states, my question is this - would my wife be able to come and livee with me, as my wife, but on her Burmese passport whilst we're waiting for the Aust. Spouse visa to come through?

Thanks for any advice

[OriginalPoster]

This is a bit complicated, but here goes...

I'm an Australian citizen and my wife (or wife to be) are in the process of applying for a Spouse visa to Australia. From what others have said, this usually takes about 1 year to get processed, maybe longer. We are living in Thailand, but we are a bit sick of life here.

I might be able to work in the US, for a really good company. If I were offered this job in the states, my question is this - would my wife be able to come and livee with me, as my wife, but on her Burmese passport whilst we're waiting for the Aust. Spouse visa to come through?

Thanks for any advice

If it's a really good company in the US, maybe they can give you advice and assistance on getting your wife a visa. Often companies who headhunt internationally are pretty good at visa assistance.

Edited May 14, 2009 by OriginalPoster

[DragonQuest]

First of all you mean Myanmar passport, shes not burmese anymore because Myanmar is not a colony anymore, its under dictatorship control now. You can apply at other embassies as long as you have all your paper work together and passports on hand.

Edited May 14, 2009 by DragonQuest

[myauq]

shes not burmese anymore because Myanmar is not a colony anymore

actually she's neither burmese or myanmarese. the name burma was retained well after independence from britain, though that's neither here nor there really.

OriginalPoster - yes i will make an application and see how that goes first, then ask questions later. btw, it's a university, an institution which, in my experience (in the west), has been good with things like that.

[OriginalPoster]

shes not burmese anymore because Myanmar is not a colony anymore

actually she's neither burmese or myanmarese. the name burma was retained well after independence from britain, though that's neither here nor there really.

OriginalPoster - yes i will make an application and see how that goes first, then ask questions later. btw, it's a university, an institution which, in my experience (in the west), has been good with things like that.

Universities especially should be good at the type of thing. Remember that it's a pretty big deal to the employer when then are bringing a new guy in from overseas, they wouldn't be hiring you unless they thought that you were someone who was worth seeking. There's no way that they are going to think that your wife shouldn't come over, in fact they will probably consider it to be an outrage if there is any resistance to it.

Edited May 14, 2009 by OriginalPoster

[myauq]

shes not burmese anymore because Myanmar is not a colony anymore

actually she's neither burmese or myanmarese. the name burma was retained well after independence from britain, though that's neither here nor there really.

OriginalPoster - yes i will make an application and see how that goes first, then ask questions later. btw, it's a university, an institution which, in my experience (in the west), has been good with things like that.

Universities especially should be good at the type of thing. Remember that it's a pretty big deal to the employer when then are bringing a new guy in from overseas, they wouldn't be hiring you unless they thought that you were someone who was worth seeking. There's no way that they are going to think that your wife shouldn't come over, in fact they will probably consider it to be an outrage if there is any resistance to it.

OP - Thanks for reminding me of that . I think I've been in Thailand too long, and forgotton how decent work conditions were elsewhere.

BTW - I got sacked from my first job in the LOS (research company) because I answered the phone and spoke Burmese to a friend who called my mobile. That's truely pathetic .

[BigSnake]

Have you check the latest jobless in the U.S.???

[myauq]

Have you check the latest jobless in the U.S.???

i know it is shocking

thankfully they've been advertising in australia for researchers/lecturers for a while - us skippies must be valued over their . i've never lived there and i'm looking for a cold place to live, where i can earn a proper wage and my girlfriend won't be treated like <deleted>.

[OriginalPoster]

Universities especially should be good at the type of thing. Remember that it's a pretty big deal to the employer when then are bringing a new guy in from overseas, they wouldn't be hiring you unless they thought that you were someone who was worth seeking. There's no way that they are going to think that your wife shouldn't come over, in fact they will probably consider it to be an outrage if there is any resistance to it.

OP - Thanks for reminding me of that . I think I've been in Thailand too long, and forgotton how decent work conditions were elsewhere.

BTW - I got sacked from my first job in the LOS (research company) because I answered the phone and spoke Burmese to a friend who called my mobile. That's truely pathetic .

That's a pretty outrageous reason to fire someone, even in Thailand. I agree that work conditions are generally decent for professional people in the US but of course hostile work environments can develop in any country.

BTW, if you aren't married yet, that could have some bearing on how easy/hard it will be to get a visa for her to accompany you. I should point out that I don't know the rules though.

[sendbaht]

Have you check the latest jobless in the U.S.???

91% of the workforce is employed, and most of the 9% that do not have jobs are receiving unemployment benefits. It was not that long ago that some considered unemployment rates as high as 6% to be full employment. Depends on all you look at it. Now, I know if you are one of the 9% it's not fun.

I was in the USA last March, I had jobs offered to me from pass bosses. No thanks, I like my new job here in Thailand, working out and staying as healthy as I can. Great job!

[myauq]

Universities especially should be good at the type of thing. Remember that it's a pretty big deal to the employer when then are bringing a new guy in from overseas, they wouldn't be hiring you unless they thought that you were someone who was worth seeking. There's no way that they are going to think that your wife shouldn't come over, in fact they will probably consider it to be an outrage if there is any resistance to it.

OP - Thanks for reminding me of that . I think I've been in Thailand too long, and forgotton how decent work conditions were elsewhere.

BTW - I got sacked from my first job in the LOS (research company) because I answered the phone and spoke Burmese to a friend who called my mobile. That's truely pathetic .

That's a pretty outrageous reason to fire someone, even in Thailand. I agree that work conditions are generally decent for professional people in the US but of course hostile work environments can develop in any country.

BTW, if you aren't married yet, that could have some bearing on how easy/hard it will be to get a visa for her to accompany you. I should point out that I don't know the rules though.

yes, it's incredibly sad being fired for speaking another asian language - something which, in another place (say amercia or australia), would be considered an asset. but if it's the burmese language in thailand, then i can never be too sure what my boss will think. it's quite terrible, but my gf has come across much worse attitudes on a regular basis

marriage is another story. in fact, i have another thread from about 3 weeks ago still going on this subject. i'm still on the look out for a good lawyer/translation service to perform the marriage and get it registered under thai law (due to the fact that myanmar laws prohibit marriage btn burmese and foreigners, meaning my gf can't get the affidavit from her embassy). i'm working on this though and, like you say OP, i don't want to apply for a visa to any other country without being legally married first.

[Texpat]

wife to be???

I'd guess it infinitely more advantageous to make her your wife.

Those old finacee visas ain't what they used to be -- 'specially for non-citizen ockers.

[andyc2006]

First of all you mean Myanmar passport, shes not burmese anymore because Myanmar is not a colony anymore, its under dictatorship control now. You can apply at other embassies as long as you have all your paper work together and passports on hand.

Funny thing that... that whole Myanmar/dictatorship/U.S.A. thing... the US refuses to recognize "Myanmar" as a legitimate regime, and instructs its consular officer to "Burma" to refer to the country as "Burma."

[InterestedObserver]

Not complicated at all. Until you find a way to legally marry your GF you are not going anywhere, not as a family anyway.

[andyc2006]

Have you check the latest jobless in the U.S.???

91% of the workforce is employed, and most of the 9% that do not have jobs are receiving unemployment benefits. It was not that long ago that some considered unemployment rates as high as 6% to be full employment. Depends on all you look at it. Now, I know if you are one of the 9% it's not fun.

Lol, under what definition of "workforce." U3 headlines state ~9% unemployment, but that doesn't measure those who are underemployed (part timers who want fulltime work), those ineligible for UEI (because their paychecks weren't on a W2, i.e., they contracted or owned a business before going belly-up), and those who received UEI but their benefits have expired.

The closest measurement of true unemployment in the US is the BLS's U6 number, which is now in double digits, close to 20% in some states.

Yes, some people, because of their particular skills/experience, can always find a job -- maybe you're one of them. But unemployment in the States right now can truly be characterized as "bad and getting worse."