Wanting to move to America.

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:35

Howzit guys.

Well, after a few years thinking about this. Myself and my partner want to live and work in America.

I'm busy Googling information in this regard to as how I can apply and what requirements are needed. I haven't, however come up with anything as yet. I'm unsure how to go about this and what to do.

I plan to do this only in a few years time, maybe when I am 24 or 25. So if I can get, 'the ball rolling' now, then that is what I'd like to do. I haven't as yet chosen a state in where I would like to live. Can people post their views on this too, please?

Any help, would be greatly appreciated, as always.

Robert.

HEADRAT · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:38

The easiest way is work for a large U.S. company in the U.K. and then get the company to "transfer" your job role to the U.S.

Getting a work VISA for the U.S. is pretty hard to be honest!

CliffyG · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:39

I looked into this and it is very difficult to get a green card in if you have no family out there or can move out through your existing work. If doesn't look too tricky to get a visa *if* you can find a job out there. The problem with a visa is that they can choose to not renew it meaning you have to move back here again. That wasn't something i could consider as i wanted to settle properly and not live in fear of moving back here and uproot the kids again.

Heliospherez · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:41

First thing I would have to ask is :

Are you based in the UK and what passports do you hold ? As both can affect your application to get in.

Secondly,

Have you ever visited America / Canada ? And if so what states.

If not, I would suggest you spend the maximum amount of time there on a holiday visa first. Try and visit as many states as possible.

And just don't stay in the mainstream states. I've stayed in New York, Minnesota and Arizona. Three totally different states in terms of People, terrain and weather. Suffuce to say, I hated New york, Minnesota was OK but any longer than 2 months would have turned me insane. Arizona was parradise and the people were unlike any other americans I have encountered - relaxed, non-aggresive and friendly (in general)

As was stated, try and get a rubbish job here for a US company, then ask them to transfer you if possible. It is easiest way to get a visa (the other ways are costly and unlikely) - unless of course you go the mexican route like most of the people in California and New Mexico.

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:42

You're based in SA, but what's your nationality?

If you are a Saffer then I've no idea what the visa status and likelyhood of getting one is.

deuse · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:49

1, pay the usa Gov £250,000 and your in fully loaded

2, Buy a business after 10 years your in.
But as people have said here go there a lot and see what state you like.
I would go for the out of the way places like Citrus county in FL

3, Marry a Yank. I did but i wished I never did

Vanilla · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:55

It's very difficult. I lived there for a year (New Hampshire).

I know you've made your mind up but somewhere like Australia or New Zealand would be better - don't exclude those countries. The way of life is much better.

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 09:57

Hi,

My apologies I should have giving a bit more information regarding my background. I hold a South African passport. I was in the UK for five years and completed schooling there. I then moved back to South Africa to see my Dad and other family members. I have never been to America, however isn't it just as hard and expensive to visit there?

Divosuk: Arizona is on the other side of America, so I'm sure the people and climate would be very different. It's also right next to California. What's it like there?

How would I go about getting a job there if I'm not in the country?

Thank you all.

Vanilla · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:00

It is easy to visit America, but as a tourist you wont get a sense of what it is like to live there. I found the work culture to be to imposing. Start at 8, finish at 5, work overtime without pay, 10 days holiday a year, etc.

It's too much of a corporate machine. Getting a job - you can start applying but your employer will have to sponsor you. This means a lot of forms and most of the time they just opt to employ an American. Do you have any sought after skills?

Other way is to get a job with a company in SA or UK and then get an internal transfer after a year.

The cost to visit - plane ticket and a hotel

Edit: I would say that I would never consider going to work in a country that i've never been to but then again that's what i'm trying to do with New Zealand

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:01

Vanilla: There's no way I would be able to reside in Australia, I have thought of that place and do like it. However after some digging, I quickly learnt just how hard it is to get in there. I do have an uncle there. But apparently, that doesn't make a difference.

You see guys, the thing is, I do not want to reside in South Africa for the rest of my life. I was in the UK for five years and tried to like the people and climate there, however I just couldn't. Next stop was going to be Australia but as above...it won't work.

Tunney · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:01

deuse said:
3, Marry a Yank. I did but i wished I never did

My friend married an American girl and even then it took a lot of time and effort to get permission to stay in the country. She moved back to Boston after they married and he had to stay in the UK for about a year.

Vanilla · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:03

Ice On Fire said:
Vanilla: There's no way I would be able to reside in Australia, I have thought of that place and do like it. However after some digging, I quickly learnt just how hard it is to get in there. I do have an uncle there. But apparently, that doesn't make a difference.

You see guys, the thing is, I do not want to reside in South Africa for the rest of my life. I was in the UK for five years and tried to like the people and climate there, however I just couldn't. Next stop was going to be Australia but as above...it won't work.

Really? Have you tried the online point scheme to see if you'd be eligable?

I thought Australia was relatively easy.....

HEADRAT · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:04

Australia would be much much easier than the U.S.

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:05

Tunney said:
My friend married an American girl and even then it took a lot of time and effort to get permission to stay in the country. She moved back to Boston after they married and he had to stay in the UK for about a year.

Yup, I've got a mate in a simlar position. They are planning to move to Boston this year and he's had to jump though way more hoops than they expected.

The think that she might have to go over 6 months before he can.

Even getting a US passport for their son took forever.

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:11

I was under the impression that Australia is a very difficult country to get into. You see I really don't mind if it takes me 5 years to get into the US. I'm not in any real rush. I think Miami would be nice to stay in as their climate is close to South Africa's climate. Except their wet seasons, which is fine by me.

I haven't done any online tests to Australia. However when I was reading about the country, they were on about needing degree's and all sorts...

deuse · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:11

Tunney said:
My friend married an American girl and even then it took a lot of time and effort to get permission to stay in the country. She moved back to Boston after they married and he had to stay in the UK for about a year.

The way around that is to marry him/her there then the yank puts in for
a I-130 Petition For Alien relative.
And a I-485 App to Reg a Permanent Residence or Ajust status

and a I-765 for a work permit.

Sorted.

D.P. · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:14

Australia will be much easier than the US to in though.

For a south African maybe things are different, for a British person it is more or less impossible. I have looked into and tried.

My approach to get into the US is to do a PhD, which I am currently doing in CH. When I am a Doctor then I can hopefully get post doc work over there or preferably work for a start up or a big research lab . In my field (robotics, MAVs, and artificial intelligence) I could probably get military DARPA funded research projects.

$
I suggest you try and go on as many holidays as possible fore as long as possible to uss it all out and find where you want to be. Contact copanies that you may want to work for and ask to get shown around or if possible hang out for the day and chat to peopel to see what their work and lifestyle is.

As had been said, the yanks tend to work harder and longer than Brits. Initially I was put off by this when I started my 1 year internship there. But things have changes. Working 8-5 seems so easy to me now. I usually work 9am-9pm and work weekends as well. YOu see the 10 days vacation, but you nornally get another 3-5 days for 4th July, 3-5 days Christmas, 2-3 days Thanks giving, and in general they have more public holidays (MLK day, cinquo de mayo, Presidents day, etc), than the UK.
>I currently have 24 day vacation here, but 5 of them are forced vacation at christmas. Take into account the difference in vacation periods and it is pretty equal.

D.P. · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:17

Ice On Fire said:
I was under the impression that Australia is a very difficult country to get into. You see I really don't mind if it takes me 5 years to get into the US. I'm not in any real rush. I think Miami would be nice to stay in as their climate is close to South Africa's climate. Except their wet seasons, which is fine by me.

I haven't done any online tests to Australia. However when I was reading about the country, they were on about needing degree's and all sorts...

If you don't have a degree then your chances for the US are minuscule, unless you are rich. The work visas are issued when a company can prove that it is too difficult to find a US citizen to take the job because of a skilled labour shortage. Being well educated helps the application process no end, otherwise they could get eny old texan to do the job...

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:18

Well I don't see how it would be any different for a South African then a British person. I think taking out holidays there would be a start to see how it is, first of all.

Priapus · 13 Feb 2008 at 10:19

D.P. said:
If you don't have a degree then your chances for the US are minuscule, unless you are rich. The work visas are issued when a company can prove that it is too difficult to find a US citizen to take the job because of a skilled labour shortage. Being well educated helps the application process no end, otherwise they could get eny old texan to do the job...

That's the problem there. I don't think it would be possible for me to get a degree now though? Then again I am only 20 this year. And what do I get a degree in? I would go for computers, which is what I'd be interested in.