VISA/IMMIGRATION

[lp_myles]

has anyone moved abroad or have ideas how I can start applying for a Immigrant visa (green card). I've searched the internet, US embasy sites etc. the only way I can figure out is to get a company to sponsor me- agree to employ me. the problem I've had so far is that no one wants to employ me before I've got my visa.

I'm interested in information on immigrating to USA.

thanks for any information
Lee

[cswalker]

Try Si Wiles, I think he lives in the N.E of the US - Mark R can tell you more or try Magic Tom who skulks around this site every so often.

How much thought have you put into this, or is it a 'fancy idea'. Certainly the US and Canadian Immigration procedures are very tough with the Canadian one being the toughest in the world. They both require a valid reason for immigration and an objective view on what you can 'give' to their economy and way of life.

Good luck - I've just spent 3 years & nearly £5000, by the time I land there, having my BC immigration application processed!

[River Honey]

US visa's are certainly not easy to obtain.

Firstly Si and I both have sponsored work visa's from a UK company. They are not green cards. There are many different types of work visa's depending on the work your doing. We both have E1 visa's. Once our work is done we can stay up to the expiry date on our I-94 but we won't be allowed to work for anyone else.
Green cards are even harder to get as they allow you to stay in the country. But in order to obtain them in the first place (UK citizen) you either have to be work sponsored or marrying an American citizen. (I have heard obtaining green cards is an expensive and long process). Also they need to be reapplied for every 10 years.
After 5 years?? (not sure the exact time) anyone working here can apply for citizenship which is different from the Green Card.

Other options are student visa's but you need to be registered at a US school/ college etc but will allow you to do minimal work.

This website contains all the information you require.
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

[magictom]

Getting a Green Card is indeed a long and expensive process and the procedure to do it can be summed up as a threefold process;

1) marry and american citizen
2) have a skill that a US company cannot find within the US ( the "brain drain")
3) have a shed load of cash and be willing to invest it in some aspect of the failing US economy.

In my case my wife happens to be american ( poor girl) and so I went through the K1 Fiance Visa process followed by the long, tedious and frustrating process of applying firstly for "employment authorisation", 'advance parole" ( permission to leave the US) and then for "permamnent resident status" ( green card). My Green Card is up for renewal this summer ( gulp) and I am anticipating the usual array of misfiles and cock ups for which the INS ( Department of Homeland Insecurity) is renowned.

My advise is to stay in the UK. The US dollar is weak which makes travelling abroad expensive, work conditions for teachers ( in my case) are less than pleasant and ( especially where I live) there are no decent pubs. (However the boating here in the S.E. can only be described as considerably better than home.)

Or try Canada. From what I hear they'll take pretty much anybody.

[lp_myles]

Thanks for getting back to me. it's not a "I fancy it", "sounds like fun" sort of thing- although I suppose it is, there's some awesome boating there. but it's more than that.

I've spent the last few years with an american and so I want to move back over there when she goes. it's something we've been talking about for a long time but I've always put it off because I couldn't be bothered with the hassel of visa, etc.

One of us is goin to have to get a visa and as she is going back to study for her PhD. I thought I should put some serious thought into moving and the logistics as she'll have to be there. also the longer that I can stay over there the better.

I'm planning for a year in advance. I'm not a student, and not rich either. I know the chances aren't great but I'd like to try.

I hope that explains a little more about me and why I'd like to move.

thanks again for all your input, and keep it coming.
lee

[cswalker]

Or try Canada. From what I hear they'll take pretty much anybody.

Ha ha your so funny gringos, don't recall marrying a resident to get their mind!!

[AlanMellon]

Try visiting this show. It cost me about 8 quid & saved about 9 months in the processing time!!!!! (I attended their lecture where the man said "if you have a sponsor who lives in the middle of no where - you can save 9 months processing" - I leapt on that!!)

http://www.outboundpublishing.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?location=000011000002&showitem=000001

There are emigration agencies for many countries & they will give you a basic review of how to get in to your preferred country.

If you are close it is well worth the trip. There is also an exhibition later in the year & further north! I went to two, one re intricacies of applying & one re. moving ourselves here to Brissie.

Mark - I used a spelling website for intricacies - do I get brownie points!

Good luck
G'day mate. (lol)

[steddyjames]

US is difficult.

Canada is considerably easier to get a permanent immigration visa if you have a skills shortage.

Basically, do you have a science or engineering degree a few years work experience and about 5k? If you have you'll get in.

You also don't need a job to move there.

If you don't have a degree it'll be very difficult for Canada as well.

We applied while in Whistler and got through all the bumf without the hassle I was expecting.

Apparently New Zealand have recently bought in the same kind of process for skills shortage but I've never been through that one.

SJ

[magictom]

Canada is considerably easier to get a permanent immigration visa if you have a skills shortage.

Ha ha your so funny gringos, don't recall marrying a resident to get their mind!!

I rest my case! Flump, you've met my wife, what on earth makes you think I now own her mind?

[River Honey]

Years ago I had a book called working abroad which covered many different countries, visa entries and employment agencies.
I can't remember who published it but there is one on Amazon which you may find useful called Live and Work in the USA.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 46-4477267

At least you sort of have time on your hands. I was given just four weeks to pack up and get ready to leave.
Generally I have found our Life here to be fantastic kayaking for 9 months , snowboarding for 4 months.

Good luck and hope it works out.

[cswalker]

Canada is considerably easier to get a permanent immigration visa if you have a skills shortage.

If your a Northwest Territories deep mine gold digger, Sub Arctic oil driller, Grand Banks deep sea fishermen maybe

I rest my case! Flump, you've met my wife, what on earth makes you think I now own her mind?

Grrr, picking on my grammar, aspirant hick!

[Ed Lefley]

I've looked at Canada, as a youth worker I appear to be alright, I just scrape over the threshold without having a job lined up there. If I had a job lined up I'd be quite well in!

The website for canada is www.canada.ca and then follow the links from there.

Ed

[cswalker]

You actually want this site: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

It can be a bit misleading. You check things out on the info site, then when it comes down to the form filling, evidence supplying it becomes a lot harder but acheivable!

[steddyjames]

Canada is considerably easier to get a permanent immigration visa if you have a skills shortage.

If your a Northwest Territories deep mine gold digger, Sub Arctic oil driller, Grand Banks deep sea fishermen maybe
quote]

Not at all, there is a long list of trades that are skills shortages. Just go on the website and it's all there.

If you have anything to do with Science or Engineering there are loads of trades that are classed as a shortage.

My job isn't anything special and I managed it.

SJ