Thread: Which Visa?

Thread: Which Visa?
Posted 21 June 2007 at 20:04:13 UK time
Vicki and Justin Hoskins, United Kingdom

I know that the UK does not allow American Aupairs but is it possible to invite an American (student) to stay with us and pay them pocket money (in return for some help around the house?)

Can they do this on a visitors visa (it's only for a couple of months) or must they get a working visa?

Thanks
Posted 28 June 2007 at 02:52:29 UK time
Ugo and Veronica Di Girolamo, United States

America doesn't allow you to sponsor anybody for a working visa. Those are hard to get even for big companies nowadays. They have so many applications that they started a lottery to see which application to process. The number of H! is set to 65,000 each year ant they get taken in the first couple of hours of the first day they open, which is only once a year.
So, no way you can do something with that.

There are 2 more options, though. The first one is a J-1 visa. This option is expensive, because you have to go thru an agency and usually agencies fees for the visa are around $6000-7000. The visa is for one year and renewable for one more year.

If it is only for a couple of months, the tourist visa is the best option. For countries who don't require a visa to get to the US (like Europe), the visa waiver allow somone to be in the US for up to 3 months. There are restriction to the tourist entry, though. The 3 months max are per year. So, no re-entry for one year once you leave. Then, they might not give you a stamp for 3 months, but only for 1 or 2. This is at discretion of the INS officer at the airport. (Do not get in from San Francisco, they tend to deny entrance). Of course with a tourist visa or waiver, nobody is allow to work or study. Only visiting. Accepting money is not a legal option. Then, you do what you want.
The tourist visa B-2 allows youto stay 6 months or so.

Hope I could help.
Veronica