Employment in America.

[movetousa2021 3]

Hello all. 
 

I have a quick question. My wife and I looking at moving to America on an I-130 visa. We have a minor (at least I hope it’s minor) stumbling block in that I have a “criminal” record - 1 caution from 2001 when I was 15 and a 12 month conditional discharge from back in 2008 when I was 22 - this is now spent/stepped down. Both convictions are for minor offences. The first was from damage to property and the second was for disorderly behaviour/using threatening and/or abusive language. 
 

I'm worried that despite these two convictions only being minor, they may cause a couple of issues in the visa process, but going forward ahead of that, I’m worried that it might impact my chances of employment when the time comes around once we have moved. What are the chances that this could happen?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Are you the American or the foreigner? 

[movetousa2021 3]

56 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

Are you the American or the foreigner? 

Foreigner, I’m English. 

[movetousa2021 3]

For what it’s worth, these are the only two times I’ve ever been in trouble and both were cases of wrong place, wrong time. I’m a fully qualified electrician with 15 years of experience and we’re looking at moving to California. 

[Boiler 45,638]

You are US qualified?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

You have to admit all prior arrests re: visa but your juvenile record would never be disclosed regarding a job in the US and if the arrest at 22 was a misdemeanor, not felony, it would probably never come up as well re: job. Based on what you described neither should have a hinderance on your visa. 

[movetousa2021 3]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

You are US qualified?

Not yet, no. Only UK. My plan is to get the relevant US certifications once I'm there. I’ve been lead to believe that I have enough experience in the UK to be able to just do a competency test for my licence.

[movetousa2021 3]

40 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

You have to admit all prior arrests re: visa but your juvenile record would never be disclosed regarding a job in the US and if the arrest at 22 was a misdemeanor, not felony, it would probably never come up as well re: job. Based on what you described neither should have a hinderance on your visa. 

I assume the one from when I was 22 will only be a misdemeanour. It wasn’t anything serious. Short story is that I was at a football against a rival side (if you’re British you’ll know what that’s like) and was arrested in a group for shouting stuff at rival supporters. The annoying thing is, I didn’t even actually do anything. I just happened to be there when the police walked by and arrested everybody in sight.

 

The only reason I’m asking is because my UK police certificate I’ve got as part of my visa application says no live trace, so I’m wondering if I’ll have to present and then explain this when I’m applying for jobs when the time comes. Or will my record in the UK be largely irrelevant to employers if I’ve obtained a green card?

Edited February 1, 2021 by movetousa2021

[Boiler 45,638]

6 minutes ago, movetousa2021 said:

Not yet, no. Only UK. My plan is to get the relevant US certifications once I'm there. I’ve been lead to believe that I have enough experience in the UK to be able to just do a competency test for my license.

You might want to look into this. I know a few Electricians and am sort of familiar with how the qualifications work in Colorado, knowing California I can only assume it is worse. Very very different to the UK, as are electrical practices.

[movetousa2021 3]

Just now, Boiler said:

You might want to look into this. I know a few Electricians and am sort of familiar with how the qualifications work in Colorado, knowing California I can only assume it is worse. Very very different to the UK, as are electrical practices.

I’m only going off what I’ve been told. I emailed somebody who works for the board of licensing or something and was told that given my years of experience, if I’ve obtained over 8000 hours in certain fields, then all I need to do is sit a test. I’ve got well over the 8000 hours I was told I needed...

[movetousa2021 3]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You might want to look into this. I know a few Electricians and am sort of familiar with how the qualifications work in Colorado, knowing California I can only assume it is worse. Very very different to the UK, as are electrical practices.

But yeah, there are a whole lot of differences. Different cable sizing, colours, voltages, practises, legislations and whatnot. I have been reading up on a lot of it. 

[Boiler 45,638]

4 minutes ago, movetousa2021 said:

I’m only going off what I’ve been told. I emailed somebody who works for the board of licensing or something and was told that given my years of experience, if I’ve obtained over 8000 hours in certain fields, then all I need to do is sit a test. I’ve got well over the 8000 hours I was told I needed...

That is one element, working 8,000 hours under a certified electrician, anyway lots of good information on the web, be prepared to start from scratch.

[movetousa2021 3]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

That is one element, working 8,000 hours under a certified electrician, anyway lots of good information on the web, be prepared to start from scratch.

You mean 8000 hours working under a certified electrician over in the US, even though I have 15 years of experience in the UK? Seems a bit crazy. I’ll have to have another read up and see what’s what. Starting from scratch at 35 years old seems a bit undoable/unrealistic really, but we’ll see!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Is it possible to get the second conviction expunged? You’d still have to declare it to immigration regardless of that (and it doesn’t sound like the type of thing that is a problem for an immigrant visa) but then it wouldn’t come up in employer background checks. Not sure how the uk system works. Then again I’m also not sure how through US employer background checks would be for something like that either. Bottom line it doesn’t sound like something that’s going to be a huge hindrance. 
 

Board of licensing in your intended state is surely the best source of information.

[Boiler 45,638]

From what I have been told it is a pain moving States never mind Countries. I seriously doubt there are many CA certified Electricians in the UK. Like so many things totally different.

 

I know my way around the UK system, always interesting mentioning ring mains here. Still do not understand bonding of live and earth, need to look more into that.