reevsie

After over a year of no luck with trying to get a job over in New Zealand (and hence obtain residency), I started looking into going over to the usa, my second choice.

So to cut a long story short can anyone supply me here with some decent job agencies links, official government websites etc for going the green card way.

I'm now itching to get out of England, cant stand it here anymore!.

Cheers
Tony

jaytee

Southampton is that bad? I thought it was supposed to be a decent place.

BTW the OFFICIAL government website is http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

Please do yourself a favor and watch out for a host of sucker sites that make promises they don't deliver. Some people have fallen into the trap of paying money for the lottery in which they are ineligible, filing forms they could have done for free, etc. on websites that only look official.

reevsie

thanks for that. southampton is a very nice (if not a little boring) city with lots of history.
its the country in general i want to escape from!.

Pulaski

How are you going to get a visa?

If you are seriously considering the USA then you need to be aware that there are basically only six ways (seven if you have a close relative who is a USC and is willing to sponsor you) that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:

(i) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.
(ii) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. IT, scientific or medical training. (The list of qualifying occupations is actually quite long, but visas are very limited for 2004 going forward, making it a difficult route to follow, and you have to have the backing of an employer, which isn't easy as employers are likely to take a local employee before going to the trouble and not inconsiderable expense of helping an immigrant obtain a visa.)
(iii) You have an employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (ii), above, and these visas, too, are now severely restricted in number.
(iv) get a green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland are not eligible)
(v) You own a business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card, likely minimum investment $100,000)
(vi) You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US$1m in assets to bring with you.

If you want to come to live in the US then, as a British citizen, your only realistic options are likely to be (ii) or (iii) in my list above.

reevsie

Thanks for that. I'm a professional electronics engineer, so hopefully will find a way in that way. still not up to scratch as it was a plan 'b' option for me. Thats why I posted this, so I could pick someone brains who is more knowledgable than I at this stage.
Cheers

Jabba1

Sadly, you may have to go to plan "c", whatever that is.

Manc

The best thing going in your favour is your trade.
Although I don't know how specialised it is deemed here in the USA.
One presumes you must also have letters after your name.........which will obviously help.

Look towards Canada too, they have an immigration points system which might be a liitle easier as I think all the H1B visa's will be exhausted by March here in the USA

Franklin

Take a close look at settling in Canada. They have a points system and you would stand a VERY GOOD chance of getting in and doing well there. Also, by settling in Canada you meet your "prime objective".

Manc

Beat you to it PA

Franklin

Great minds think alike.

mcjimbo

If your under 27, then you can apply for a 2 year work visa to Canada. This is also availabe for other countrys in the Commonwealth such as Australia and New Zealand.

Just thought i'd let you know.

James

Patrick

I really don't like to agree with Polaris about anything but in this case he is 100% correct. I have a BEng in Electronic Engineering, worked for 4 years with Nokia before I moved here and have had very little positive response in a year, and I live here.

There are 2 options you can really do, find a job in the UK with a company that has offices in the USA, then transfer in a year or two or marry an american.

Patrick

Patrick

Gosh, I never thought of looking outside North Carolina! Seriously, I have had interviews in Fl and Minnesota and applied for jobs in all points west. There are very jobs about.

I like living where I am but would move if the right job came up, but no jobs are coming up (the one in Minnesotta was less money than Ellen is on here so there seemed no point moving from the warmth and the beach to that ). I have accepted there are no jobs in my industry and am happy with that at the moment.

Patrick

reevsie

Thanks for all replies.

Can I ask then, if it's so difficult to get into the usa, how did 'you lot' get in?.

Cheers
Tony

Jabba1

I'm afraid I took the easy road, I was born here.

The others are illegals who snuck across the border from Mexico LOL!!!