First Post! Advice wanted.
Oct 4th 2008, 9:19 am
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 2,068
Re: 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.
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.
http://www.campamerica.co.uk/
Oct 4th 2008, 11:11 am
#17
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Re: First Post! Advice wanted.
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.
Oct 4th 2008, 11:20 am
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
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.
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.
Oct 4th 2008, 11:21 am
#19
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
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.
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.
not sure about the college, maybe someone else can help you out on that score or even your friends that live here.
Oct 4th 2008, 12:09 pm
#20
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
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.
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.
Oct 4th 2008, 7:16 pm
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Buford, Georgia
Posts: 24
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
)
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.
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
)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.
Oct 4th 2008, 11:44 pm
#22
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,995
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 )
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.
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
)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.
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...
Oct 5th 2008, 4:41 am
#24
Lurk Lurk Lurk
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 689
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.
Then perhaps he could apply for uni courses that include a year of study/work abroad in the USA.
Oct 5th 2008, 7:27 am
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Buford, Georgia
Posts: 24
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!
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...
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...
, 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).
Oct 5th 2008, 10:35 am
#26
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
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/
Oct 5th 2008, 10:47 am
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Oct 6th 2008, 5:11 am
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Oct 8th 2008, 1:52 am
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Clay Center NE
Posts: 105
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
