sir_eccles

Different visas.

EB5 $500k-$1m (buying a greencard)
E2 $50-250k (no direct route to greencard)

ian-mstm

I see that sir_eccles has outlined the difference for you. The type of visa you choose to pursue is directly related to your end goals. If your end goal is to get a green card, then the lower end of the investment spectrum is not for you!

Ian

Ray

Pick a visa


There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:

(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.

(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience. (H visas)applications next received on 1st April in this current year

(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.(L visas)

(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries. The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $350k would be a nearer minimum (E-2 visas)

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt. (EB-5 visas)

(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-25 years?

(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation

(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.
The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime


Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this (World Education Services - International Credential Evaluation Expertise) ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent ©
DO NOT USE VISA CONSULTANTS

The regulations define a "specialty occupation" as requiring theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in a field of human endeavor including but not limited to biotechnology, chemistry, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, law, accounting, business specialties, theology, and the arts, and requiring the attainment of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent as a minimum

H Bomb

Not even degrees are without confusion. I have had to explain numerous times that whilst my degree was 'only 3 years' in length - it doesn't mean I dropped out. When some people are told some UK degrees are only 3 years they just refuse to believe you and insist it must not be a 'proper 4 year degree like an American one'.

Muswell Hill

Dear Carl,

From reading your posts it honestly doesn't sound like you would be eligible for any kind of permanent visa in the US. However, your partner as a teacher may, but in order for you to come along, you would need to be married (I believe). Would you do this to "beat the visa game"? I know quite a few people who have come to the US through "VIF" visiting international faculty www.vifprogram.com or "FACES" FACES (My wife is a teacher). These are basically agencies that places foreign teachers usually in pretty crappy schools (that Americans don't want to work in), but it is a viable way for you to move to the US. BUT, and it's a big but: you will come on a J1 visa which is for a maximum of 3 years I believe then you have to leave. It could give you a taste of life in the US, and US teaching experience. 2 couples I know used their time in the US to prepare the paperwork for moving to Canada (in both cases the wife teacher worked and the husband did a degree/got educational training), which they did right after their US experience. Another couple I know moved from the US to an American school in the middle east after and have been global expats for 15+ years.

So, I guess I am saying be flexible and look for alternative ways to accomplish your dream.

Best of luck and keep at it.