Immigrating to the US

Priapus

Priapus

Priapus

Soldato
Joined
30 Jul 2004
Posts
10,573
Location
East Sussex, UK
Howzit guys,

Just quickly...

I would like to move to the US in around, 7 to 10 years time.

Just trying to find out the basics at the moment on exactly what is required and what do I need in order to take the steps on going to the US.

I have looked on offical websites etc - but cannot find a list of requirements etc on ways to get into the country.

Also, is it as difficult as Australia? (I hear it is almost impossible to get in there, these days)

Last, please no remarks about the yanks and the country etc..:p

Appreciate the help guys.
 
Ice On Fire said:
Also, is it as difficult as Australia? (I hear it is almost impossible to get in there, these days)
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It is 10 times more difficult than Australia. Australia has a skills visa where you can move there if you have the required skills. America does not.

To move to the US, you must either:

a) Have family there - close family
b) Marry an American
c) Be sponsored by an employer in the USA, who must prove there are no Americans who can do your job
d) Invest a large quantity of cash in an American business employing 10 or more Americans.

There are a few other ways, but none are easier than these.

Effectively forget it. Though being South African the green card lottery might be open to you.

Try Canada instead - they have a skills Visa program
 
7-10 years? That's impressive forward planning, I barely know what I'm doing for the next week.

What sort of marketable skills do you have for there? I believe that generally the requirement is that you either have a relative/other permanent resident or a business sponsor you to go there. If it's the employment visa then you need to have a labour certification done (or rather the potential employer does) which is broadly to the effect that you are bringing a skill to the US that they can't fill with current US citizens - it's not necessarily as hard as that may sound but nor is it particularly easy to get a visa. You could also invest in the US and create a set number of jobs but you'd be kicking the back end off about $1m I believe so that's not a realistic option for most.
 
It would seem that South Africans are eligible for the green card lottery.

Might have more luck this way if I apply every year, lol. (Doubt it, but can't hurt right?)

Will look into Canada as well, thanks. :)
 
Are you planning to live here permanently?

The three major ways in are: education, work or marriage, I used the latter.
The difficulty is variable, depending on; your money, your history, your reason for moving into the country and previous visits to the US (if any).
The USCIS is the official immigration service for the US, it's the best place to get information from.

edit: Ah yes, green card lottery, you are eligible for that. The best thing is to get a decent book on the green card lottery and read up as much as you can about it before applying. :)
 
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I've never understood why the UK is excluded from the green card lottery. Surely of all the people they wouldnt mind moving over, people from the UK have to be high on the list? I appreciate its a diversity visa but surely an educated person from, say, Scotland is probably going to be more use to the United States Economy than somebody from Ghana, the highest winning country in last years lottery!
 
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[TW]Fox;17462656 said:
It is 10 times more difficult than Australia. Australia has a skills visa where you can move there if you have the required skills. America does not.

To move to the US, you must either:

a) Have family there - close family
b) Marry an American
c) Be sponsored by an employer in the USA, who must prove there are no Americans who can do your job
d) Invest a large quantity of cash in an American business employing 10 or more Americans.

There are a few other ways, but none are easier than these.

Effectively forget it. Though being South African the green card lottery might be open to you.

Try Canada instead - they have a skills Visa program
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

My mother is American, she is resident there and many moons ago I had to jump through hoops to get an American passport as I was born here with a British Father.

It's a nightmare, besides Canada is a far nicer place to live.
 
Gaining entry to Australia is a walk in the park compared to the US. Fox has already stated the most common ways and a few have mentioned that Canada is easier due to the skills requirement program they have.

Why the US, out of interest? Or is it just 'anywhere that isn't SA'?
 
[TW]Fox;17462729 said:
I've never understood why the UK is excluded from the green card lottery. Surely of all the people they wouldnt mind moving over, people from the UK have to be high on the list?
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The reason is because in the last five years, over 50,000 green cards have been issued to UK. So US has now said enough, I believe?

knowledge123: yes, I want to live there, permanently. I have never been to the USA (I wish!).

I will take a look on the linky you posted, many thanks!
 
[FnG]magnolia;17462746 said:
Why the US, out of interest? Or is it just 'anywhere that isn't SA'?
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Well, I love South Africa. However, for some reason, US is where I have always wanted to be. :)
 
Ice On Fire said:
The reason is because in the last five years, over 50,000 green cards have been issued to UK. So US has now said enough, I believe?

knowledge123: yes, I want to live there, permanently. I have never been to the USA (I wish!).

I will take a look on the linky you posted, many thanks!
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Do you understand what emigrating means? It's not a holiday where if you don't like the place you've only got a week or two before you go home. It's kind of permanent.

That sounds trite and I don't mean it like that but have you seriously thought this through?
 
I'm hoping to work there for a year after I get back from working in HK after I graduate, I didn't know visas were so hard to come by. :(
 
[TW]Fox;17462763 said:
With all due respect how can you possibly know for sure you wish to live somewhere permanently without having even visited?
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You have a very good point there. I actually plan to travel there first, before just upping and moving. Hence the 7 to 10 year plan.

But the more I look into this - the more it seems just a pipe dream.

I have no desire to go to the Canada though.
 
Ice On Fire said:
Well, I love South Africa. However, for some reason, US is where I have always wanted to be. :)
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Even though you've never been there? How odd. It strikes me that perhaps you've chosen where you want to live through what you see in movies and on the television. This is a huge mistake.

There are many negative aspects to living in America. I'd go so far as to say that unless you are absolutely certain that you will be succesful and reasonably wealthy before you go (To give you a bigger chance of acheiving this once you are there) it is one of the worst countries to live in.

The gap between rich and poor is huge, and unlike many countries, the support offered to the poor is... very low.

I have no desire to go to the Canada though.
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How different do you think Southern Canada and Northern USA are - they are of course at some points seperate by a few feet ;)
 
Ice On Fire said:
knowledge123: yes, I want to live there, permanently. I have never been to the USA (I wish!).

I will take a look on the linky you posted, many thanks!
Click to expand...

It may be worth visiting here for two reasons; to make sure you will like it and to show the immigration people that you can be trusted with a temporary visa.
Immigrating here is a stressful, tedious and drawn out process; months can go by without hearing a peep from the fellows at the USCIS. Contacting them during the process is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. But it is not all bleak :p :)
Immigrating here is not a joke, and it is not taken lightly if you mess them about. Just be 100% sure that you want to before you start it.
[TW]Fox's words are bang on.
 
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Fox, you raise more good points. No, it is not the crap I have seen on TV that makes me want to go there, to be honest.

It is just such a huge place and I believe that it would be a great place to live. Obviously, this is my own belief and therefore, may be incorrect. After more research, and maybe a visit to the place in a few years time, then I will make 100% sure I want to stay.

But, the plan was to get 'accepted' now/soon and go see, if I like stay there - if I don't - come back home.
 
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