Boylerz

Hi Folks,

Let me tell you all about myself and my situation -

I'm 26 years old. I've been going out with an American girl for just over a year now and she is living in Seattle. She practices law and can only do it in WA state. I'm a Service engineer. I really want to move over there and make a proper go at our relationship instead of 2 weeks here, a week there etc.

So what I have done is - I've gotten a USIT (Irish version of BUNAC) one year working visa for Canada and Vancouver will be my destination (2 hours from Seattle) so that we can be slightly closer!!!

Basically what I want to ask you guys is has anyone been in my situation and what have they done to get around the fact that US is sooooo hard to get a visa etc!!! The marriage option is a bit hasty I think!!!

Any thoughts would be great

Conor.

Frank

Well

- As Irish you can use the VWP. I would imagine you'd need to be a little
careful visiting the US frequently from Canada when you have an american
girlfriend. US officials may view you as somebody likely to marry try to
adjust status in the US and you are not meant to do this under VWP. By a
"little careful" I mean you should be aware of the problem and have
documentation to address it.

- I'd strongly suggest you look into using the visa lottery (DV visa). These
are basically full green-cards given out to nationals of countries whose
immigration levels by other means falls below a certain threshold. Ireland
qualifies, UK and many larger countries do not. You can apply to win the DV
lottery for the cost of an envelope and stamp. Entering the DV visa program
is not the same as applying for a US visa so there is no downside (applying
to a US immigration visa carries the downside of effecting your ability to
travel on a non-immigratant visa). If you win you'll be able to get a US
green card provided you have no complications. In the past various
Irish-American politicians were able to secure special quotas of these for
Ireland and to help legalization of those Irish working in the US illegally.

Good luck
-F


--


"Boylerz" <member47768@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
    > Hi Folks,
    > Let me tell you all about myself and my situation -
    > I'm 26 years old. I've been going out with an American girl for just
    > over a year now and she is living in Seattle. She practices law and can
    > only do it in WA state. I'm a Service engineer. I really want to move
    > over there and make a proper go at our relationship instead of 2 weeks
    > here, a week there etc.
    > So what I have done is - I've gotten a USIT (Irish version of BUNAC) one
    > year working visa for Canada and Vancouver will be my destination (2
    > hours from Seattle) so that we can be slightly closer!!!
    > Basically what I want to ask you guys is has anyone been in my situation
    > and what have they done to get around the fact that US is sooooo hard to
    > get a visa etc!!! The marriage option is a bit hasty I think!!!
    > Any thoughts would be great
    > Conor.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com