Immigrating to USA
Dec 17th 2007, 4:12 pm
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2004
Location: Amherst Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,935
Re: Immigrating to USA
As far as I'm concerned investing $0.5M in a business in US is out of the question for me. While my father could probably raise that capital, I couldn't.
No, the best alternative, as I've already worked in the same company as my father about 7 years ago, would be to look into a position in the same company as him. Difficulty is that I moved away from that nature of technology and I'm pursuing a different career now and have done for the last 8 years. While with some effort, maybe, I could work in US on a L1 visa. In my opinion a L1 visa would be extremely difficult to obtain without serious help from the company.
I think one conclusion is that if we go we both go, and if we go, we both work for the company and come on L1 visa's. In my opinion, possibilities of this are slim to none. I'm just being a realist.
No, the best alternative, as I've already worked in the same company as my father about 7 years ago, would be to look into a position in the same company as him. Difficulty is that I moved away from that nature of technology and I'm pursuing a different career now and have done for the last 8 years. While with some effort, maybe, I could work in US on a L1 visa. In my opinion a L1 visa would be extremely difficult to obtain without serious help from the company.
I think one conclusion is that if we go we both go, and if we go, we both work for the company and come on L1 visa's. In my opinion, possibilities of this are slim to none. I'm just being a realist.
http://www.workpermit.com/us/us_l1.htm
Dec 17th 2007, 4:27 pm
#18
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Immigrating to USA
None of that's going to work.
Read this and come back to us when you know more about how he intends to come over here.
Assuming it's on a work visa (L1 or H1) then only his wife can come over.
He won't be a citizen in 2 years. He won't have a Green Card in 2 years, most likely. He can apply to become a citizen FIVE YEARS after he gets his Green Card. He can then sponsor you and your family for Green Cards, at the current time, I believe the waiting time to sponsor an adult child is around 10 years.
Read this and come back to us when you know more about how he intends to come over here.
Assuming it's on a work visa (L1 or H1) then only his wife can come over.
He won't be a citizen in 2 years. He won't have a Green Card in 2 years, most likely. He can apply to become a citizen FIVE YEARS after he gets his Green Card. He can then sponsor you and your family for Green Cards, at the current time, I believe the waiting time to sponsor an adult child is around 10 years.
Dec 18th 2007, 5:11 am
#19
Just Joined
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 15
Re: Immigrating to USA
I like the idea of living in US and I like the idea of living in California in a good area. My family has a fair amount of capital to start a mortgage on a property and both me and my wife are skilled professionals and would not be dependant in any way. We'd be the kind of people US should be looking for in terms of immigration. It just seems that the immigration laws in US are very strict and very obtuse.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
Last edited by Dan_UK; Dec 18th 2007 at 5:13 am.
Dec 18th 2007, 8:48 am
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,999
Re: Immigrating to USA
The US immigration system is an anachronism, yet attempts to reform it earlier this year deflated like an old balloon. Whether Uncle Sam decides to join the rest of the new world and initiate a points-based system is still undecided, although I suspect certain political "factions" would favour this system, as it might allow them to control the demographics of the future US population more than they currently can.
Dec 18th 2007, 12:38 pm
#21
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Immigrating to USA
I like the idea of living in US and I like the idea of living in California in a good area. My family has a fair amount of capital to start a mortgage on a property and both me and my wife are skilled professionals and would not be dependant in any way. We'd be the kind of people US should be looking for in terms of immigration. It just seems that the immigration laws in US are very strict and very obtuse.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
So far, the only thing that doesn't work is your family following him over. It's that part of the story that won't work in any kind of sensible timescale.
Dec 18th 2007, 1:40 pm
#22
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Immigrating to USA
Many thanks to you all for your replies.
To answer a few questions:
My father working in US for a few years would not work because he wants to be close to his son and granddaughter. We were discussing it, and it would be very difficult to visit each other even 3 times a year. This would be due to commitments and distance. Going to this from seeing each other twice weekly and my granddaughter spending time with my parents every other weekend would be a painful experience.
Holidays are not expensive in US, with the £ to the $ rate. Since the flight would be the expensive part, that point is not valid. I prefer Florida anyway, or plenty other warm European countries with less flight time and far cheaper flights.
It's difficult to give advice to someone to move thousands of miles away when you love them and would miss them dearly.
To answer a few questions:
My father working in US for a few years would not work because he wants to be close to his son and granddaughter. We were discussing it, and it would be very difficult to visit each other even 3 times a year. This would be due to commitments and distance. Going to this from seeing each other twice weekly and my granddaughter spending time with my parents every other weekend would be a painful experience.
Holidays are not expensive in US, with the £ to the $ rate. Since the flight would be the expensive part, that point is not valid. I prefer Florida anyway, or plenty other warm European countries with less flight time and far cheaper flights.
It's difficult to give advice to someone to move thousands of miles away when you love them and would miss them dearly.
Dec 18th 2007, 1:44 pm
#23
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Immigrating to USA
I like the idea of living in US and I like the idea of living in California in a good area. My family has a fair amount of capital to start a mortgage on a property and both me and my wife are skilled professionals and would not be dependant in any way. We'd be the kind of people US should be looking for in terms of immigration. It just seems that the immigration laws in US are very strict and very obtuse.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
In all honesty, I strongly believe that my father is day-dreaming. I could be wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, to be honest.
If you think you're the right kind of immigrant the US could do with, please read this article:
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA
Dec 18th 2007, 2:18 pm
#24
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Immigrating to USA
It's my opinion that the US (read: business interests) only want immigrants who are desperate and who will be good work slaves. We'll take the odd glitterati like Beckham, or a Nobel Prize winner, but those are O visas. The conservatives certainly don't want any educated liberals, they might actually change some minds. Pisses me off no end. 
I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.
I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.
Dec 18th 2007, 2:43 pm
#25
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Immigrating to USA
It's my opinion that the US (read: business interests) only want immigrants who are desperate and who will be good work slaves. We'll take the odd glitterati like Beckham, or a Nobel Prize winner, but those are O visas. The conservatives certainly don't want any educated liberals, they might actually change some minds. Pisses me off no end. I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.
I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.Do you think that describes many of the folks here on BE?
Dec 18th 2007, 2:45 pm
#26
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Immigrating to USA
It's my opinion that the US (read: business interests) only want immigrants who are desperate and who will be good work slaves. We'll take the odd glitterati like Beckham, or a Nobel Prize winner, but those are O visas. The conservatives certainly don't want any educated liberals, they might actually change some minds. Pisses me off no end. I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.
I'm all for upping the DV quota to match the family preference numbers.
Dec 18th 2007, 2:51 pm
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Dec 18th 2007, 3:00 pm
#28
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Immigrating to USA
Family preference of the first degree, and since OP is already married, that's ruled out. Also as you well know, marrying in simply to get in is against the law. What I'm referring to is the vast majority of immigrants -- those who either EWI with no visa, or come in on H visas.
And while Toon likes it here, he's definitely noticed that companies treat workers like sh ite compared to companies in the Netherlands. And so does the government treat its citizens. I don't really think the US government/corporate machine WANTS immigrants who have experienced a progressive liberal culture. They have to take them if they marry in, yeah, but look at who's doing the EWI and H-visas and by far and away it is not people from Western Europe.
And while Toon likes it here, he's definitely noticed that companies treat workers like sh ite compared to companies in the Netherlands. And so does the government treat its citizens. I don't really think the US government/corporate machine WANTS immigrants who have experienced a progressive liberal culture. They have to take them if they marry in, yeah, but look at who's doing the EWI and H-visas and by far and away it is not people from Western Europe.
Dec 18th 2007, 3:18 pm
#29
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 15
Re: Immigrating to USA
You misunderstood what I was trying to say. My father, even after reading this thread, is under the impression that he can arrange so that me and my family can join him and his wife in a maximum of 3 years. According to my research and some of the information received on this thread I just can't see what he's basing his assumptions on. That's why I said he was daydreaming.
As to everything else, we already did our research a few years back into all aspects of living in the US, well at least we tried to cover most of them. We also, at that time, realised that it would not be an option for us to immigrate to US. We were debating on whether to leave UK, and at the time our best option and indeed an offer was Canada, were we also have family. But we got cold feet because we did not want to put an ocean between us and my parents. I was then I talked to my father and we agreed that unless it was a joint immigration decision we'd stay in UK...
As to everything else, we already did our research a few years back into all aspects of living in the US, well at least we tried to cover most of them. We also, at that time, realised that it would not be an option for us to immigrate to US. We were debating on whether to leave UK, and at the time our best option and indeed an offer was Canada, were we also have family. But we got cold feet because we did not want to put an ocean between us and my parents. I was then I talked to my father and we agreed that unless it was a joint immigration decision we'd stay in UK...
Last edited by Dan_UK; Dec 18th 2007 at 3:28 pm.
Dec 18th 2007, 3:35 pm
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Immigrating to USA
You misunderstood what I was trying to say. My father, even after reading this thread, is under the impression that he can arrange so that me and my family can join him and his wife in a maximum of 3 years. According to my research and some of the information received on this thread I just can't see what he's basing his assumptions on. That's why I said he was daydreaming.
As to everything else, we already did our research a few years back into all aspects of living in the US, well at least we tried to cover most of them. We also, at that time, realised that it would not be an option for us to immigrate to US. We were debating on whether to leave UK, and at the time our best option and indeed an offer was Canada, were we also have family. But we got cold feet because we did not want to put an ocean between us and my parents. I was then I talked to my father and we agreed that unless it was a joint immigration decision we'd stay in UK...
As to everything else, we already did our research a few years back into all aspects of living in the US, well at least we tried to cover most of them. We also, at that time, realised that it would not be an option for us to immigrate to US. We were debating on whether to leave UK, and at the time our best option and indeed an offer was Canada, were we also have family. But we got cold feet because we did not want to put an ocean between us and my parents. I was then I talked to my father and we agreed that unless it was a joint immigration decision we'd stay in UK...