In this episode of US-UK Tax Talk, Aidan Grant is joined by Catherine Betancourt, a US immigration specialist at Flynn Hodkinson, to answer the practical questions people actually ask when planning a move to the United States.

Aidan and Catherine walk through the typical US immigration journey from visas, to green cards, to citizenship. They cover what is realistic, what is commonly misunderstood, and where people get caught out. They discuss why work-based immigration often depends on having an overseas connection, why the H-1B is uniquely unpredictable, how family sponsorship works in practice, and why green card travel rules can become a major risk for UK-based lifestyles.

Come back for new episodes of US-UK Tax Talk released on the first Wednesday of every month.

For questions or feedback, please contact us:

🔗 Aidan Grant – Partner, Tax & Estate Planning
https://collyerbristow.com/people-listing/aidan-grant/

🔗 Collyer Bristow – Tax & Estate Planning Team
https://collyerbristow.com/

🎧 Listen on the go
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/us-uk-tax-talk/id1570411216

Key Take Aways

• What are the main ways to move to the US if you’re not a US citizen? For most people it comes down to two routes: work or family. There is not, in the way people often assume, a simple “invest money and you get a visa” pathway. If you are not being sponsored through work or a qualifying family relationship, options narrow quickly.
• I’m a US employer (or I’ve got a US job offer). Why is it still so hard to get a visa? If the employer is US-only with no overseas footprint, the available visa routes can be surprisingly limited. Many common work routes are designed around a connection abroad, such as transfers. Without that link you are often pushed into more restrictive categories unless you qualify under something like “extraordinary ability.”
• Everyone mentions the H-1B. Is it actually a lottery and can you increase your chances? Yes. The H-1B begins with a genuine random selection lottery, and selection still does not guarantee approval. You also cannot “flood” the process with duplicates. It is one entry per applicant and duplicates can be disqualified, so it is not a reliable hiring strategy.
• If H-1B is uncertain, what are the realistic alternatives people actually use? Two of the most practical routes discussed are the L-1, moving someone from an overseas office to the US, and the E-2, a treaty-based business route that can work for UK nationals. Both can be effective, but both are highly fact-specific. The E-2 in particular can turn on ownership and nationality tracing.
• Once I have a green card, can I live outside the US and still keep it? This is where the rules tighten. Travel patterns can trigger scrutiny. Around six months abroad can lead to questioning at the border, and 12 months or more can be treated as evidence you have abandoned permanent residence. If extended time outside the US is likely, planning ahead and considering a re-entry strategy matters.