Moving To/Working In The USA

[chrism]

I am looking for some advice and hopefully there are plenty of you here who can advise me.

 

I love teaching golf but in the UK it is an uphill struggle to find a teaching job if you aren't a PGA pro - I'm a USGTF pro, ran my own business for three years and then thought I wanted to go back to college to get back into the computer business.

 

I have now decided it's time to follow my dreams and get teaching, preferrably somewhere warmer than the frozen north of the UK! I had considered Dubai - have heard of a few opportunities but I have always had a desire to move to America and work there. This is where my need for help comes in.

 

Can anyone give me advice on the procedures for applying for a greencard (if that is the correct term?) I'm not even sure about the UK's procedure's for other nationality's working in the UK so I really have very little idea about the restrictions in the US.

 

Secondly, I see quite a lot of positions advertised in the PGA of America's website for assistants, if anyone who has moved to the US and worked this type of position could you provide your feedback?

 

Thank you all in advance, here's hoping I can get on the "right" side of the pond for all that tour equipment! lol

[joey3108]

I would have to say that you need to find the job who are willing to sponsor you first.

 

 

Here is the link to study more:

 

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org

 

 

Good luck!

 

Joe

[parkinni]

I moved here in the late 1990's, and what Joe is saying is correct. You need to secure a job in the US first, then get your new employer to sponsor you for a work visa, so that you can move here to take up the position with them. If you're not already engaged/married to a US citizen, you will need to apply for one of two types of work visa: H-1B and H-2B. The H-1B work visa is for persons educated to at least college level, and the H-2B is for all others.

 

My advice would be to search out prospective employers in the US, make some calls, and hopefully get several interviews lined up in different areas. Then come over, see what you think of the opportunities, and hopefully land a job!

 

After you've accepted a position, it's up to your employer to file the necessary US Immigration paperwork to get your visa....and there's a lot of it! And don't think that things will happen overnight for you: this is good ol' Uncle Sam you're dealing with here! I had to wait 3 months before my visa came through, and I finally said goodbye to Old Blighty.

 

Well, that's how to get started (in a nutshell). Hope it helped you out, and feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. I'll try to answer them if I can.

[chrism]

Thanks for the advice guys, at least I have an idea of whats ahead of me now - time to start researching jobs and get reading about the immigration laws!

[Golfchicago]

Chris, It sounds like very hard work to get it done. I just want to encourage you to follow your dream! You only live once, go for it!

[addamsmith]

Hi Chrism

Good luck with your mission, if you don't have any luck in the US we are always looking for good teachers Downunder in OZ

There is always that conflict between usgtf and Pga through out the teaching world, I know of ton's of good jobs going here in Golf retail then set yourself up, start getting student's and bang there you are teaching and earning good money.

Give me a PM

Best wishes

Addam smith

[chrism]

Thanks golfchicago - for the great site as well as the encouragement!

 

Thanks addam - I've sent you a PM, you've piqued my interest in the land of Oz too - if I can teach golf in the sun it's gotta be better than selling computers in cold Scotland! :drinks:

[dbren1]

Its very hard to get into the US from the UK unless you have a company prepared to make the business case to US Immigration as why they need you rather than a US citizen. Even then you'd only get a work visa, not residency.

 

Unfortunately it would be very hard for any golf business to make the case that a teaching golf pro from the UK is significantly better than an equivalent US citizen and so you stand very little chance of gaining a work visa for the US.

 

Countries such as Australia and Canada are more welcoming towards British citizens than the US (due to the Commonwealth) so maybe they may be more realistic destinations if you wish to emigrate.

 

Good luck.