I am a US citizen and have been dating a man from England for the last year - He lived with me for 3 months and we have both gone back and forth. (I have traveled to the UK 7 times the last year and he has traveled 5 times to the US) We want to get married, but do not want to rush (we want to get married in a year) He applied for a 6 month vacation visa and was denied. A finance visa is only 90 days- I think the only other visa he qualifies for is the H2B work visa. He has no university degree and no special skill. My question is, does he need to have employment lined up? How does that work? I have been unable to find the exact qualifications. Any help is greatly appreciated

Hey jrockstar. Your story is the same for me apart from that I'm in UK and my wife to be is American.
I called the American embassy yesterday, they said. With any visa wanting to work in the U.S. you need a job to go with the visa.

Yes only with employer petition one can enter US in order to obtain work permit.