youngmale

Hi guys,

I’m 22 years old. It looks like I’m going through a split with my girlfriend at the moment. I have no ties here. I’m just paying off my loans at the moment so I will soon not be owing a penny with a nice, pretty looking credit rating. I don’t know if that would be useful to have abroad/in the US at all.

I’ve always said to myself I want to live in America. Not sure what area but English speaking, very diverse country with many different parts – from the deserts of Texas to the snowy mountains of the Rockies.

Can anyone throw some advice my way?

I’ve got good grades from school, a college certification in ICT and 3 ½ years experience in meat trading although I would prefer not to get a sales job.

I’ve applied for an IT job in Kent (SE England) which is a global corporation – so there would be opportunity hopefully in the job to get a placement in the States anyway, but I can’t bank on this as firstly I don’t have the job yet and secondly there may not be any placements abroad during the 2 year contract.

I’ve had enough of where I am and I want a break away from this all. Initially I’d be looking at 1-2 years temp but option for permanent.

Any advice or a point in the right direction would be really grateful.

Thanks in advance.

britvic

dont think it will happen Hon, I'll leave it up to the expert's to put you right but you might not like what you want to hear.

youngmale

Ho hum. What procedures need to be in place? This is of course a shot in the dark, it’s just an avenue that I would like to take. Obviously I know it won’t be easy, but where there’s a will there’s a way. Even if it’s working over there temporarily? Maybe getting a job with a big corp over here could be a good way as you’re being placed abroad for work so I assume it falls under different legislation.

I also have the opportunity of working for Lloyds TSB bank which could give me banking experience if it would help obtaining work in the US.

Ray

There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:
(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.

(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience.

(3) 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 (2) above.

(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries
The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $400k would be a nearer minimum

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt.

(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years?

(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation

(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.
The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime


Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent
? Originator.. Pulaski
Updater.. Ray 7/23/05
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visas available for number 2 have all gone for this year ...
next avaible application time April 2008 for an Oct 2008 start ..

Celsius

If you don't have a bachelors degree, at your age it would be pretty much impossible to move to the US via the employment route.

dunroving

You might try working temporarily on a summer camp such as BUNAC to get a feel for the place before you put too much time and effort into pursuing the dream of a more long-term stay. Who knows, you might find romance, which will give you one option ...

penguinsix

Or come over for school (get a degree somewhere) and spend that time looking for love.

Jerseygirl

LOL...but makes sure you've got a ton of $$'s first.

fatbrit

OZ is nice. Or NZ.

Ray

Spain is good ...

fatbrit

Long as you don't bump into Big Pete!

Manc

you need match.com mate.

Sally

Your reasons for wanting to live here sound rather nebulous. Have you visited to see if it lives up to your dreams?

BUNAC has been suggested, something along those lines would be good to give you a taste of life here.

Good luck anyway.

NC Penguin

Speaking from experience, are you?

Yorkieabroad

Are you sporty at all? I met a 21 year old Irish guy that came here with Challenger Sports 3 years ago doing soccer coaching for the summer. Challenger recruit coaches in the UK, bring them over for the summer for 2-3 months and have them run soccer camps all over the US. This guy I met had been doing a camp in Austin, TX his first year, and was "spotted" by someone at UT. They offered him a one academic year contract coaching one of the teams there, sorted out his visa, and he came out the next year to do his contract. Then went back to Challenger for the summer, and then back to Austin for another 1 year contract.

Not trying to say that positions like that are ten-a-penny - you're probably more likely to get struck by lightning - but even if temporary work like this or Bunac or whatever isn't quite what you had in mind, it could be good experience, give you a taste for the country and whether its worth trying to get here more permanently. And who knows, you may end up with something good out of it at the end like this guy did, however slim the chances - or you may find out that the US isn't what you expected and look to move on elsewhere...