karl259

My wife and i are desperately looking for ways to live in the USA. WE are not rich, we do not have jobs or qualifications that would guarantee us a green card, and we are not eligble for a green card under the green card lottery scheme. I know its a long shot but does anyone have any ideas as to how we could get to live in the USA please? Thankyou

A I

You have stated a lot of what you don't have....

How about things that you might have in your favor ?

Assests? Current Occupation ? US Citizen Children or Parents ? Skills in Languages in the middle east and desire to join the military ? Anything else you think might help you ?

karl259

Iam afraid it,s more of what we dont have. No relationships to USA citizen, no tangeable assets. We run our own mobile dog grooming bussiness, and we have done for 8yrs. Befor that my wife was in electronics , servicing curcuit boards ect, i was a truck driver on long haul, covering all of europe, including Russia, Turkey, Greece ect. I also worked for Bridgestone tyres in F1 for a while.. We are honest and hard working, but that dont get you a green card!

meauxna

I guess my questions would be why 'desperate'? What is it you think the US would do for you that other countries (that are easier to get into) would?
Then again, that topic has been done a hundred times over if it's been done once.
Canada is another nice option. Not 'easy' to get into either, but it may offer you an opportunity that the US does not.

Sally Redux

It's not that great here if you're short of money.

ian-mstm

There are only so many ways to get a visa that'll allow you to live/work in the US. Start here: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA. If none of these visas are viable, then I'm afraid you won't be coming to the US as anything other than a visitor.

I've got to stand with Meauxna on this... why are you "desperate"?

Ian

karl259

We have visited USA on a number of occasions and and travelled through a few states and like the lifestyle, culture ect. Also no country is total fun when you dont have a lot of money. But then life is what you make it, and although we all agree you need money it aint the b all and end all! I have been looking at Canada, may be a way in there but we are really seeking warmer climes. Desperate as in we love the USA and want out of blighty!

karl259

Thanx Ian will give it a look.

fatbrit

Or you can try the alternate, http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski_Simplified, if you want. If you can't answer yes to any of them, then this board knows of no way you can live and work in the US.

ian-mstm

You need to know that there is a huge difference between visiting on occasion and living here. I'm not sure where you've been but things like lifestye and culture vary widely across the country.

That said, if you don't have much money, have no assets, and no university education (I'm guessing on this based on your "it's more of what we dont have" comment), you will find the US very discouraging - especially in the current economic climate. Jobs are few and far between, unemployment is at about 10%, and there are hundreds of thousands of people already here and able to work... people who don't need visas!

By all means, pursue the dream if you can... but you need to understand how incredibly difficult it's going to be for you.

Ian

BritishGuy36

a) Why?

b) Then you aren't getting in as anything other than a visitor.

c) There aren't any, sorry. Unless you want to go to college for 4-8 years and get a qualification that will make it easier for you to get an employment visa.

As you don't have money, you wouldn't want to come here anyway.....you're always one popped appendix away from bankruptcy. Think about how that affects your disposition during everyday life.

Scott33

Just to follow on from the previous post. Have you thought about health insurance? Not something you need to stress about when visiting the US, but all consuming (both financially and metaphorically) when you reside here. Not all employers offer health insurance to their staff, so it is often up to the individual to provide their own. This can run to thousands a month. And to think I used to whinge about council tax

Good luck anyway.

Rete

Ahhh read returning to the UK and you will see that many Brits don't think much of our lifestyle. Too fanatically religious, too hectic, too slow *if from the south*, whatever.

We have a culture? Wow would you tell others here what that is please.

You've been here to the US as a vacationer. You don't know diddly about what it is like to live, work, raise a family, etc. in the US. You don't know squat all about healthcare, no employee rights, lack of vacation and/or personal paid time off, high cost of living, poor quality bread, bacon and chocolate.

Right now we may as well be in a depression instead of a recession. You're lucky if you are still employed. Raises are nearly non-existent, bonuses for the little guy is a memory, and finding a job that offers decent healthcare at an affordable price is almost as bad.

Stay in the UK. You have a business, you have income coming in and you can always vacation in a warm climate. Gount your blessings.

Ray

forget it .... move to Rhyll

E3only

Not a good start I am afraid.....