Princess.Aurora

Hi,

I'm a 24yr old girl who's just been made redundant from my job as a PA to a CEO of a charity/Office Manager. I've been looking to move to the USA since I was a little girl and I feel like now could be the right time seeing as I have no ties whatsoever here.

As far as I can tell from too many Google searches the ONLY option I have to get over there (I have no family there) is to get employment.

I've got over 4yrs of Admin experience and have worked in various fields such as legal and not-for-profit charities. I've got experience in superivising and managing as well as excellent IT skills. I'm also trying to get a modelling career going with some minor success.

I've been applying for some vacancies that I've found on some job websites but so far haven't even had a rejection!

I've got some contacts in Los Angeles but they can't help me sponsor-wise at the moment.

I've visited a couple of different states in the US and I know they all completely differ. I visited LA recently and felt at home there.

I would ideally love to relocate to LA but am willing to go ANYWHERE in the US!

I know America's having the same problems we are with the recession and people fighting for jobs so I know I potentially may never get a job just by applying online.

I don't know whether to directly contact US companies, or British companies who have offices over there or to come out for a few weeks armed with a pile of CV's and hand them out to every office I pass?! OR do I just keep applying for jobs online and hope for the best?

If this modelling career does happen to pan out the way I hope will that help me get a Visa or is that totally irrelevant?

I just need some helpful advice on what to do next.

Thanks

christmasoompa

Sorry to say but I can't see you managing to get a work based visa. The US is notorious as the hardest country to get in to and you usually need pretty specialist skills.

Have a read of this and then see if any of the visas described would be suitable. If you do think you're eligible for any, then you can come back and ask questions about it. http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

You could possibly work your way up in a multinational company in the UK to a management or specialist position, and then try and get a transfer. Or wait and see if your modelling takes off. Either way you're probably looking at a long term plan.

If not, then how about another country? Oz or NZ maybe?

Edit: you haven't mentioned your education, but do you have a degree? If not, that could be something else to do whilst you're working your way up in the UK, as you'll almost certainly need one for any employment based visa.

Best of luck.

penguinsix

Sorry but absent a degree is a specialized field (think engineering, medicine, computers, etc) it's going to be pretty tough. Even with those degrees it's pretty tough. Getting transferred to a US office of a UK company is an option, but you will need more to offer than general office work skills.

Generally ("generally") the idea behind worked based visas is that you are coming to the US to fill a gap--a role that an American cannot perform, or you are so qualified that you will start a new and successful business that will hire Americans. They aren't interested in bringing people over who will just take jobs that other Americans are currently seeking.

Have you considered coming to the US to go to Uni or for an advanced degree? Come over to study, and...ummm...well....meet Mr. tall dark and handome? Something like that is how MOST people legally enter the US (seriously). Wedding rings break down many immigration barriers.

Follow the link above and see if you can find some options and let us know and we can steer you to some more information on those types of visas.

Good luck.

Duncan Roberts

At 24 with 4 years of admin experience, I would say no degree.

To the OP, getting a job offer is the easy part. The US government has to deem that job worthy and approve a visa for you and a basic admin/PA position won't cut it.

Bob

Slim to none.

Work on getting a degree, most PA's over here probably have MBA's so you'd have no chance of needing a sponsor on top.

The link above is the first thing to read over, and then figure out how best to align your future to fit in with one of those routes.