Work visa

Sarah321!

Hello! I am looking to move to Ireland this summer! I am having a difficult time finding a visa permitting me to live and work. I am planning to be married to a man that lives in Northern Derry. I have a nice resume, however, I have been declined by hundreds of jobs that stated they would like me to work for them but are unable to sponsor a work visa. How can I possibly get into Ireland? I am desperate for advice. I spend hours every day trying to sort this. Thank you in advance!

Boards.ie: Niamh

Moved to Work & Jobs forum, this will be more appropriate for your query

Sarah321!

Thank you so much! Obviously new here! lol Now, where can I find my question posted, and is it normal to not have any responses?

Nody

Well for starters what visa are you on at the moment? There is a special spouse visa as I recall that would let you work but your chances of finding a company to sponsor you is next to none short of you being in a very specialised field.

R.D. aka MR.D

Are you planning to move to Derry or the Republic? Northern Ireland has different immigration laws that the Republic of Ireland.

Not too familiar with NI laws but here you would need to be on a working holiday or find sponsorship which is hard if you are not very skilled in a field that has a lack of staff.

Laws here also depend on where you are from (visa required nationals have a harder time)

Sarah321!

Thank you for the responses! I am living in The United States. I have not moved over yet. I spend all of my time looking for ways to come. I apply for every job, but that is next to impossible without a visa already. Although I personally would prefer Republic, my fiance lives in Derry and he is established there. So NI it is.

R.D. aka MR.D

Sarah321! wrote: »

Thank you for the responses! I am living in The United States. I have not moved over yet. I spend all of my time looking for ways to come. I apply for every job, but that is next to impossible without a visa already. Although I personally would prefer Republic, my fiance lives in Derry and he is established there. So NI it is.

The British immigration laws are extremely strict. I would say that unless there is a holiday visa programme with the US and UK then it is unlikely that you will find anyone to sponsor you.

You'd be better off asking on a British site as their immigration laws apply to Northern Ireland. The Republic's immigration laws are completely different.

Jim2007

Sarah321! wrote: »

Thank you for the responses! I am living in The United States. I have not moved over yet. I spend all of my time looking for ways to come. I apply for every job, but that is next to impossible without a visa already. Although I personally would prefer Republic, my fiance lives in Derry and he is established there. So NI it is.

So then you need to get into the U.K. not Ireland! Next thing you need to understand is that in the EU, the US is considered to be a third country as far as work visas are concerned, which means priority goes to EU, EFTA and CH citizens and holders of permanent residence in those countries.

Applying for a work permit in such circumstances is expensive and unlikely to be successful, so it is understandable that companies are unwilling to do so.

However this will all change in the U.K. after BREXIT, so perhaps it will work out for you in the end.

Sarah321!

You are quite knowledgeable! I appreciate you a lot! Do you by chance know how it works to be married in Noethern Ireland. We are wanting to get married. But will I be kicked out and forced to leave him and come home? I'm scare of selling everything and taking my daughter over and then to be forced to leave.

cactusgal

I know this isn't what you're asking, but I would seriously recommend living in Northern Ireland temporarily (ie come over on a tourist visa for 90 days) to see how you and your daughter get on before making any major legal commitments and uprooting yourselves.

A year is not a long time to know someone, and a year long distance is no time at all.

Sarah321!

Thank you for the advice and concern, however, I know what is best for myself and my child.

cactusgal

Sarah321! wrote: »

Thank you for the advice and concern, however, I know what is best for myself and my child.

No problem. I'm an American living in Ireland and previously moved elsewhere overseas to marry someone. Just offering advice from my perspective having been there myself, no need to be snippy.
Good luck with it all.

David6330

The British Expats forum is your best bet to find the info you are looking for. I find it very good.

britishexpats.com

Sarah321!

David6330 wrote: »

The British Expats forum is your best bet to find the info you are looking for. I find it very good.

britishexpats.com

This was extremely helpful!!! Thank you so much!! I will move to there!!

Jim2007

Sarah321! wrote: »

You are quite knowledgeable! I appreciate you a lot! Do you by chance know how it works to be married in Noethern Ireland. We are wanting to get married. But will I be kicked out and forced to leave him and come home? I'm scare of selling everything and taking my daughter over and then to be forced to leave.

Some how my last post is missing! Basically your partner needs a minimum income of £18,600 to bring a wife to the UK, same for NI. Assuming the tories win the election this will rise to £22,000. There will be additional income requirements if he as to sponsor your daughter.

On top of this you will need private health insurance and disability insurance for you and your daughter.