Bob

Consider it a small investment in life. That could easily be one years tuition at a decent uni in the US.

Getting a degree is much more than the course of study though, which you need to realise. It's a opportunity to study and do lots of other things that you might not consider, it's a great chance to network and this will be the biggest benefit, but it opens so many doors for visa's, not just the US, but for anywhere and these days, sadly it's becoming the minimum to tick that box so your job application isn't binned.

The other thing about uni, you might be able to far more likely get a student exchange. I did product design at uni, Brunel has an exchange program with San Fran State, so you don't have to pay tuition on the exchange year, just the visa and living expenses. The work was a piece of piss and didn't reflect on their home grades anyway as it was in place of doing a work internship, so a great way to experience life in the US as a spring board to going to other places and doing new things.

You're young, you've got the world as your oyster, seriously consider the Workers Holiday Visa, you can't use that in the US, but it essentially gives you the chance to doss around and do casual work for a year or two in various countries, Canada, NZ, Oz, etc, etc...even if you only do it for a summer, it's a great experience of getting out of your rut for minimal costs and it's something nice on the CV.

A mate did that in NZ and OZ for 2 years, didn't work at all, he literally shagged his way across both countries as a bit of a gigolo pretending to be a builder or fitness trainer, even got one old dear to pay for his flight back to England at the end of it

Having long term plans are great, aiming for the US is great and living abroad is an amazing experience whether it works out for you or not. Don't waste your life away faffing around with the intent if you can't see a likely path to get you on to that road. Instead look at the alternatives, and there are many out there that can certainly be attainable.

Either way, good luck with it!

christmasoompa

Just a few flaws in it from a Canadian immigration point of view - you can't extend a Working Holiday Visa (although you could reapply for a new one), what method would you use to apply for PR after 2 years, and you wouldn't be able to apply for Canadian citizenship after carrying 'on for another year in Canada' (you wouldn't be eligible that early).

Realistically, you'd be around 8 years away from Canadian citizenship just so you are aware - if you go on a one year WHV, then apply for a second one, then try and get PR (allow a year or two for the application), then once you've been a PR for 3 years apply for citizenship, then citizenship takes around 18 months to get (going on current timescales). Only then could you think about a TN visa, and of course that's only if you are in one of the eligible occupations. And there is no direct route from a TN visa to a green card is there?

I wish you the best of luck with it all, you do seem very mature and determined, so hope you manage it one day. FWIW, I agree with the pp's and think that a degree is going to be pretty much essential, even for Canada - you're just not likely to get a Skilled job (an unskilled would be unlikely to qualify for PR) without one.

Bob

No there isn't and you can't have immigrant intent if you came time for a TN renewal...but it gives you a chance to get married to a local and then go through that palaver I guess. I know a few Canadians who came to the US that route, but obviously it wasn't their intent when they got their US jobs

E3only

I am going to say the way it is. It's not going to happen based on what you have told us. So someone else pointed out here

1. Marry a USC
2. Think about long term plan. And further to be honest, long term I am thinking 8-10 years.

That's just the way it is.

tk338

I guess so, I'm very very reluctant to go to university as it has never been anything I've been keen to do at all really. However I've been looking at jobs over here for a few years now and the fact I haven't got a degree is the major setback for me, and it seems to be anywhere.

The idea of a student exchange is nice too, and definitely something I will look at again it can only help a future application if I can put lived and studied in the US for a year in my experience.

The working holiday visa I've been looking into a lot. I highly doubt moving countries is anything I'll be doing with anyone else except maybe on a business level, therefore to see if I am cut out for it before spending who knows how much on a degree by the means of a WHV would be good! If it worked out, finish a year abroad and come back to start university. I know you do need money to do it, but its LOT less money than tuition fees and living expenses all without a full time job. At the same time I would be faced with the reality I am now thousands of miles from family and friends and have to start a new chapter in my life.

I've spent a couple of years trying to reach a career that will 'make me' you can remain as optimistic as you like and apply for everything suitable that comes up. But if the right jobs aren't coming up, optimism is only a means of getting by, for who knows how long! It'd nice to be able to finally do something I realise could really make something of me, Thank you!

Sorry I was very vague with what I posted, I was trying to make it as brief as possible. I assumed you could keep on reapplying for WHV's? Looking into what method I would be applying for PR after 2 years, unless I hit the jackpot there is no real opportunity of using WHV experience for it. I misread the Canada situation horribly, however as an experience I don't think it would hurt even if I did end it after 1 year. Thank you both though, looking at every immigration system and trying to work out a pathway through them is horribly confusing!

Fairplay. I see, right now my current situation in no way qualifies for anything, which from the US immigration authorities would be of any use to them, and nothing in the short term either. I guess the long game it is. I know there are many people who would say this, thousands, but if there were a sure fire way I could be guaranteed a place just with a job over there with the view to be coming a citizen I would work my nads off for it. The problem I have throughout my life is remaining unfocused, and thats exaggerated with the fact I don't even have a fixed goal. Nothing certain, and in all honesty being realistic I could end up a 28 year old unemployed graduate with a ton of debt. But back to being optimistic because thats what gets you places, I guess a degree opens up a job for an L1? visa, a H1b visa, or a job where I can afford loads of time off in the States to meet a USC .

I don't know this is the right place to ask, but if I rack up 30-40k in student debt what happens when I move to the US? Do I just keep paying it on my earnings out there or do the terms change a bit? Thanks everyone!

Noorah101

Which one of the US visas is the working holiday one? You mean like J-1 for summer camp type of thing?


If you mean the J-1, yes, you can get more than one J-1 in your lifetime.

Please use the actual visa name instead of WHV. I have been on this board for a very long time, and have never seen a WHV to the USA. If you mean a certain visa type, please say it (example, J-1). There is no direct route to a green card via a J-1.

If you rack up any debt in the UK, you just continue paying on it after you move to the USA.

Rene

tk338

Sorry I really wasn't clear on that, looking at a Canadian, Australian or NZ Working holiday visa as a means of getting experience into moving away, living completely alone and emigrating if only for a while. I have looked at the summer camp ones and the US national parks one but they are quite short and expensive!

Thanks for the heads up on the debt question

Bob

Student loans become a bit of a hassle as you won't have the PAYE system taking care of it and at the moment the earning threshold before you have to pay it back is lower in the US than for the UK, but it's essentially the same idea, you pay a percentage back of your salary above the earning threshold, either monthly or quarterly, however you set it up.

tk338

Thanks! A hassle but its not like you have to pay it off all at once or anything!

Looking more into the degree route too there is a degree in American studies, would this just be scoffed at abroad or is it worthwhile looking at? I could do it combined with another subject as well, or would a more subject focused degree be better?

Bob

Have a think about it....

How will a degree help you get a job? What do you fancy doing with your time?

Something like this would be marginal better than a degree in surfing.

You can do something fairly general that'll have modules covering a lot of other topics. But you need to have a look at the list of job titles and companies that have petitioned H1B's to see the theme of jobs and realise they're fairly specialised, tech, science, finance....very little in the way of liberal arts. That's not to say you might not be able to wing an opportunity, but if you're hedging your bets you will be limiting your chances.

http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/H1B_Visa_Reports.aspx
http://www.myvisajobs.com/Top_Visa_Sponsors.aspx
http://www.flcdatacenter.com/CaseH1B.aspx

Noorah101

What job do you see yourself doing with this degree? Would a company in the USA be more inclined to hire you to do that job rather than a USC already in the USA? These are the things you need to think about.

In general, in life, you should follow what interests you, as you'll end up being good at it. What would that 2nd subject be? What subject are you interested in studying?

Rene

tk338

Thank you very much! I honestly thought, yes there would be a fair few people who were recruited on the IT side of things but not that many! With that in mind I've found a place on a course, very last minute, for a BSc in IT, looks a brilliant course, at the very top of my credits level too. I've spent all night working on the application for it, literally, and when I manage to get hold of someone I can use as a reference I shall be applying straight away!

I've been told I may be made redundant in a week or sos time anyway so if this worked out for me it'd be perfect. I'm not in a strong position, but holding out hope

A very good point, Americans have already Studied American studies, aka life for them, I wondered if it was anything more, but obviously not As I said to Bob above I've applied for a degree, well am in the process of in computing, looks all very good in all honesty, and it is something I have an interest in.

I'll get back to you on how it goes, but if this doesn't work out then I guess its another year at work, and an application for next years courses, at a much higher cost .

RayM

Do a bit more research on IT jobs and the future outlook for the industry. Particularly look at the skills that have a growing demand and can't be "off-shored" to India etc.. There are many areas of IT that are stagnating or reducing. You'll also find that there are many USCs in IT that are unemployed or looking for jobs.
You need to be aiming at something that gives you a USP and will have big demand when you're ready to move. If you're just another support analyst etc you'll likely never get a role in the US and probably not in the UK. The fall in demand for some roles is not about the recession it's much more about those skills no longer being needed.
If you're not already then join linkedin.com, that will enable you to join specialist IT groups and start some networking.
Having said all that I got my H1b because of specialist skills in IT BUT the skills I have are combined with many years of experience in the Pharma Industry giving a combination that was impossible to find in the US.
Good luck.

tk338

Thanks very much!

I've definitely got onto this course now, its starts of pretty broad and then you have the option to specialize in a specific area, or still keep a broader overview. I'll be doing a lot more research in my spare time and I try and get some relevant work experience which could result in a strong work placement in this country for when I leave .

Also I will join linkedin, since I'm actually going to have a 'skill' finally so to speak!

I've set myself an aim of at the very least being in the process of moving over there by the time I hit 30, give me a little 9 years to work at it ideally before though!

Going to spend the next 3 years giving everything to this course and maybe take it too the next level aka masters? Come out with a top result and then get job which will either transfer me there or a job from where I can apply for another one in the US which will get me an H1B

Thanks to all the help everyones given in the past few weeks!