First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Hey there. Hope this is the right place for this.

Been reading through threads on this forum for a while now. Have to firstly say how nice it is to find such a pleasant and helpful forum!

Now, I'm only 18 but I know deep down that I would love to move out of the UK and move to America. Reasons for this are the whole lifestyle I seem to love whilst i have been over visiting friends, and that I really don't like living in the UK, can't really describe why, it's just how I feel.

In regards to moving abroad, I am still reading up on different Visa's and reading through peoples stories and advice on here. I know I won't have moved until early-mid twenties at the earliest if things go well.

The problem being, I'm hardly qualified. I did average in my A levels, getting D's and E's and I havn't been to University. At the moment im a department Manager in a large retail store. By the time im looking to move to the USA, i could quite probaly be in a position where I am a Store Manager with 3-4 years experience.
I know that having a degree from University helps alot with the Visa process, And have been looking at Open University degree's to do from home. Are these viable or are they looked down upon?

What are my realistic chances of being able to immigrate to the USA, and what can i be doing, achieving to strengthen the odds?

Thanks for any help! Sorry for the wall of text.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Currently Zero

A degree or two would be good ..or start chatting up
American women on-line

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

If you've been reading "for a while", you know that Pulaski's ways are in the wiki, and that the easiest way is via marriage to a USC.

It strikes me that all of your questions wouldn't need to be asked by anyone who had been reading for a while (and paying attention).

Sorry not trying to be rude Dave, just wonder what you are getting at, what different responses do you expect than are contained in the 10 other identical threads a week we get (that you've already read) asking the exact same questions? Or are you seeking reassurance about something?

If you're wanting information about something more specific then maybe be more specific with your questions?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Slow down ..he is 18 ...

We all had dreams at that age ....... and read nothing ...

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Fair comment Ray......but he say's he's been reading for a while....then asks the same questions as everyone else...which are already answered.....

Just wondered if there was something more specific Dave had not mentioned....otherwise why ask the repeat questions?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Sorry if that sounded like i was an expert on the forums.etc

I am still abit clueless and daunted by it all. I didnt mean i had read, broken down, learnt every single thread on here word for word. I have been browsing and i have read quite a few threads. I am fairly new to forums!

The main question that i guess im trying to ask is, if you were in my situation, what would/can be done to improve my chances of being accepted. Fair enough marriage to a USC is one option, but using that as a second resort, what can i do in the next 4-5 years to help myself out?

I will go back and read the threads you mentioned Britishguy36, sorry i seem to have started out on the wrong foot!

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

[QUOTE=Dave L;6844541]Hey there. Hope this is the right place for this.

The problem being, I'm hardly qualified. I did average in my A levels, getting D's and E's and I havn't been to University.

Ya call D's and E's average ??

Honest M8 give it 5 years and see what you really want out of life .
Get a bit under your belt first (not too much tho) :)

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

[QUOTE=AngloDreamer;6844666]I only im still young and ideas/dreams can change. Thing is, i am commited to this. If i can do anything to improve my chances of being accepted ill do it until im ready to make the final choice. If i decide to stay/go elsewhere, at least ill have abit more "under my belt" in the way of experience/qualifications?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

[QUOTE=Dave L;6844673]I admire your spirit actually. It is positive .

Which part of the USA would you want to live in and more importantly why ?

As another poster said. Your only realistic option at the moment is to marry a USC.

Are you that committed ??

You said dreams can change so I am wondering about your heart ruling your head so to speak.

We all do this at times whatever age we are but you are only young and as they say

'The grass is always greener t'other side'

Good luck whatever you decide to do but the USA is not the land of milk and honey that some people think it is .

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

hiya, yep why don't you get on and apply to do a OU degree, it can only feather your nest meanwhile get looking for an american gal, they're a sucker for brit accents ;).....good luck ..

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

get a job working for a large multinational company that has offices based in the US. Then work your way up until you are in a role that is of great benefit to the company and could be done in the US, then try and get a transfer using a L visa. (doesnt need a degree - costs company money so you have to be well worth it to them).

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Trubrit is right.
About the accents I mean.

I wish I was 18 again LoL.

Go for it !!!

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

instead of doing OU there. why don't you come to US college ?
i know it's expensive, but rather than doing OU there which doesn't really help to secure you visa at all (people with phd with experience have trouble with visa), get student visa and get some part time job here.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

If he could swing college here, sure, why not.

I'd suggest the American girl on the internet - heck, he's 18, he's going to be looking for a woman - why not an American one. Sounds a sensible plan really.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

great idea....maybe the OP could compare prices and if feasible come over and chat up the yankettes.....there you go OP all sorted, good luck :thumbup:

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

2 things immediately come to mind. Try getting a visa to study here (M1, J1 visas) or maybe work experience on the Camp America thing?

http://www.campamerica.co.uk/

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

How easy is it to be accepted onto an American college course? I mean from the point of being an international student so to speak.

That does seem to be one option i have looked at slightly before.

And as for what part of America, it would be Texas, namely Houston or San Antonio as i have friends in both places and really like the areas.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

American Uni is mega bucks, if you ahve friends in the area, guessing they are of the same age, they might be able to give pointers, what do you want to study?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

that's great you already have friends over here.....

not sure about the college, maybe someone else can help you out on that score or even your friends that live here.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Does the retail store you work at have shops over in the US? Virgin and HMV used to, don't know if they still do, but you could try and work your way into a really senior position for a company transfer, or move over to another company where that is more likely to happen.

Get you degree, even if you do nights to get it.

Consider a Bunac style summer thing in the US.

Realise a holiday is miles apart from living here, so really think about what you honestly think you'll be able to achieve that'll be different in the US that you can't in the UK, as well as what really is wrong with the UK. A lot of the problems stem from location, so consider moving around the country, it's easier and cheaper than moving around the world.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Hi there jsut wanted to offer my help,

Personally I was in a similar position as yourself, young and wanting a change, persoanlly im 25 I have friends here which I met while in the Royal Navy and visited here a couple of times since leaving and becoming a civvie.

Anyway the best thing for you to do is to do College here (marrage isnt easy and can take a while for paper work to process), you will need a equivalent highschool education which is basically GCSE's, you will need a US Sponsor (signs a form to say your a nice guy and wont run off), and at about 5-6k Pounds (if you have a friend they can co sign for you), thats pretty much it, goto a tech college as its cheaper and you can transfer after doing something called general studies.

Sorry if this is a wall of text but its what I had to do I have skills and qualifications but problem is the work visa is a lottery and on top of that you have to wait till April to apply and receive it in Oct and need a company who want to sponsor you.

Ive been messing with US Imigration for some time goin different routes and even spoke to a US Imigration Attourney, good luck with it, the US actually apreciate people who want to work hard and get on and especially brits we seem to get Browney Points (especially with teh ladies :eek: )

In Short find a college and apply as a International Student and get teh J-1 Visa becuase after a year you can apply to work part time to get soem more money which gets you work experience and after your course you file for a specially Visa so you can work for 1-2years as work experience then most companys will file for you to work for them and then you get your Imigrant Visa.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Fair play to you and ten out of ten for effort, but all that rigmarole sounds a lot more difficult than marrying an American! :lol:

Hmmm..... three years of study hell or chatting up Texan hotties until you find a real good'un - let me think....

Let's face it, all he needs to do is come over to visit his friends for an extended holiday using the VWP and remember to pack his shitty stick... :thumbup:

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

What forum has this lad been on FFS :confused:

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

I think his best bet would be to stay in his current job, save up some money, and re-take his A-levels. Maybe use a gap year to get in some travel.

Then perhaps he could apply for uni courses that include a year of study/work abroad in the USA.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Well tbh he would ''Have More Fun'' if he tried before he buy'd :rofl: , he could take his time picking a nice girl instead of gettin some nut case (something there not short of in the states), doin teh student thing isnt that big of a deal they give you a checklist and you get it together thats it, about 4 different things uptodate injections and the money (get a intl student loan for that his friends can co sign).

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

As Bob has already mentioned perhaps in the short term you could look at coming over with BUNAC. Here's the link: http://www.bunac.com/uk/

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

I can hear the spats now: "You only love me for my citizenship!" :curse:

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Yep ! ......... heard that during many an argument :rofl:

If thats so my dear ... why am I still here ?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Paperwork? :p

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

why does he need to retake his A-levels?? Plenty of people get into Uni both here and in the UK without straight A's

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

D's and E's ?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

obviously it depends on what you want to study but you can get into plenty of unis with D's and E's, sometimes the school system doesnt work for everyone but then they go on and excel at university, just speaking from my own personal experience thats all

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

I'm surprised many here would take D's and E's. Maybe a community college.

I am aware that those grades are slightly different from the UK to the US - E is a failure, no credit at all here. And I don't think they consider a class for credit, if it's a D. He'd have to explain the differences.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Your correct you dont need A levels to get into Uni or college here in states, I never really got much past GSCE's and NVQ from when i was in the Royal Navy, the college here in states told me you just need a high school level of education.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

No he wouldnt they make you send them off to a company who are experienced in translating them into a US level of education, and again you sjtu need GSCE's not A Levels.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

This is why im thinking of taking 1 or 2 open university degrees. I mean, I know i want to live in the states, i don't feel i really need to "test drive" it as i have spent half dozen months their over the last 7-8 years.

The Marridge option is open but i seriously would want to try and get over on my own credits, not someone else's citizenship.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Will they let anyone into uni who uses an apostrophe for pluralisation.....? :p

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

yeah, but you won't be going to anywhere decent...less importance if your planning on tooting to the US as the quality of the place won't have any importance anyway.

But better to have than not, because GCSEs are worth squat...even if translated to the US equivalent, they wouldn't be enough to get into uni unless you have a puck ton of the buggers with decent grades.

They're shit in the UK and even more shit in the US, just one step above the Not Very Qualified, which is shamefully a waste of time.

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Well they let me in :p

It does seem to be catching though - I do it correctly when writing formally, but seem to slip here...

"Ds and Es" doesn't look right though, when I type it that way... perhaps common usage?

Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
 

Just wondering how someone would go about starting the process of applying to an American college like described in the previous post. Are there any helpful websites people know of with college/course details on or is it more a case of searching and finding a college and just contacting them individually? Many thanks