MsElui

we got Gc cards within 2 years of arriving on an L1a visa, but still have to wait another 5 years for citizenship (so we have another 3 years to wait as we came in 2007). AND to get the visa in the first place husband had to have worked for that company for over a year and they had to like us enough to want to pay to move us (Husband had worked for them for over 7 years at that point) and to get that job he had to have the education and other work experience to go with it. We are 41 years old now - having been in the USA for 3 years. It isnt quick!!

Elliot-Ross

Seems like moving to USA and becoming a citizen is harder than i thought!

So let me get this right, if i went to university and got a good degree, and then went for a green card (would i get one if i had a good degree) And after 5 years i can apply for citizenship? How long after applying for citizenship does it take to become a citizen?

And it says on the career pages that you need a bachelors degree from an accredited US university, what is this??


Thanks for all the help and it has been very useful, just piecing everything together now.

Elliot

meauxna

Becoming a citizen once you are a Permanent Resident (green card) is not difficult. It's mostly a matter of sufficient time passing and you staying out of trouble before applying.

The difficult part is getting a green card aka permanent resident status.

Please go back to the link in post 3 and read about the various ways one can get a green card.

"Just" having a 'good degree' is not sufficient to get a green card. You can not apply yourself; a relative or employer's petition is required first in most cases.

Noorah101

Upon getting a good degree, you wouldn't go directly for a green card. You'd go for a work visa and you'd make sure the employer will apply for your green card at some point after you come to work in the USA.

After 5 years of having your green card, yes. You don't get your green card immediately upon entry to the USA when coming on a work visa.

Currently, about 6 months. Processing time changes over time, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. No idea what the processing time will be when you're at this stage years from now.

Rene

dbj1000

The kid's certainly special, so he's got that going for him already.

Duncan Roberts

I already told you that, accredited by the US department of education. Pretty much every university in the UK is NOT accredited. That means you will likely have to go to a US school which means you need a visa and tens of thousands of dollars in the bank since you need to go to a high ranked school if you are trying to get into the FBI. Figure a 4 year degree at a US accredited university that would be worth something to the FBI at anywhere between $200k and $350K all in (tuition, insurance, books, room and board, flights, visa costs, living expenses, etc), probably closer to the top end. You will need to have a large chunk of that in cash in order to get a visa.

Why do you want to become an FBI agent? What exactly about the job appeals to you? What do you think would make you a good candidate?

Duncan Roberts

That in itself could take 10-15 years or more.

ian-mstm

I had similiar questions, but it seems he didn't want to answer.

Ian

Flabound oneday

tsk its classified, if he told you he would have to kill you

discoviking

I am curious too. Based on the investigative skills demonstrated so far, the FBI does not seem like a logical career choice.

I do smell a wind-up, though. (And I investigated the British meaning of the term before I said that, even though I have no desire to attend Quantico myself)

Manc

I want to be an astronaut.

scrubbedexpat099

Have you thought of emmigrating to Russia?

Might be a long wait to get a chance int the US.

Quite what their educational and citizenship requirements are, I do not know.

nettlebed

Lumberjack!

JAJ

If you're a British citizen, then maybe Special Branch rather than special agent?

ian-mstm

To clarify, the term "special agent" refers to any government investigator... local, state, or federal. So, you don't want to be just any special agent, you specifically want to be an FBI special agent. If you're going to shoot for the moon, you may as well aim correctly.

Ian