I’ve JFGI but right now I just need an absolute ‘for dummies’ guide, the easiest ways seem to be to have a job there waiting for you…which I don’t, have family over there…which I don’t, or marry a US citizen…which I haven’t.
If someone from the Old Country (or one of 'em at least) wants to go live the American Dream how many roadblocks are there in the way and how substantial are they? Put this in MPSIMS since there are no doubt many mundane details to disclose that I haven’t thought of that wouldn’t really fit in GQ as well as opinions. Replies much appreciated for the Englander who ponders the possibility of a new start across the ocean.
IANAL but it appears you would need a diversity visa. These are the immigration visas issued to people who don’t fall under a specified category like being related to an American or having a job waiting in America.
There are 55,000 of these issued each year. But they’re issued on the basis of what country you’re coming from and people from countries which have had more than 50,000 people immigrate to the US in the last five years are ineligible. And unfortunately for you, the United Kingdom is one of these countries.
For the Diversity Visa, Northern Ireland is classed separately from England / Scotland / Wales. So if you move to Belfast, your situation is different.
Eng-Scot-Wales is never on the Diversity Visa list. (At least, it never was in the years we were looking.) We were ultimately able to string together loopholes and get a US visa for a few years, but we wound up in Canada permanently.
I have a supplementary question, I hope it’s ok to put in this thread. I am eligible to apply for the Green Card and I see there are 55,000 issued, does anyone know how many people apply each year? In other words, what are your odds of getting one?
in 2013, there were 7.9 million lottery entrants. The visas are apportioned by geographic region, not by nation. So you’re competing with all of Europe.
You must re-enter every year you wish to be considered, but its free. You do not receive any priority from having previously applied.
*Enlistment into the U.S. Air Force, or any branch of the U.S. military, by citizens of countries other than the United States is limited to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States and possess an Immigrations and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card (INS Form I-151/551 – Commonly known as a “Green Card”).
Applicants must be between 17 and 35; meet the mental, moral, and physical standards for enlistment; and must speak, read and write English fluently. Note: The U.S. military branches cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States. Questions concerning immigration to the United States should be asked of the U.S. Embassy.
Only after immigration procedures are completed and an applicant is legally residing in the United States may an application for enlistment be accepted. Furthermore, in order to be commissioned an officer in the U.S. Air Force, one must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen.*
The roadblocks are substantial. There isn’t really any legal benefit to being from England, so you’re competing with everyone in the world who wants to come to the United States. The USCIS link posted above is likely going to be the best advice that can be provided: you would need to meet one of those employment or family criteria. Some categories are easier than others (assuming you’re eligible). For example, if you were married to a US citizen or the parent of an adult US citizen there are no quotas to delay you and the process can be relatively quick (i.e. measured in months). Other categories have quota backlogs that mean waits measured in decades.
On the employment side there are a variety of options, and how easy they are really depends on your personal situation. If you have $500,000 lying around an investment in a targeted employment area may be the way to go. The employer sponsored work visas can be a path to an adjustment of status to permanent residence, but there are a variety of ways of doing that and I wouldn’t consider any of them easy. I think you can even self-sponsor, assuming you’re say a nobel prize winner, or George Clooney.
I went through the employment based immigration route some years ago through an H1-B visa. I started the adjustment of status process but it dragged on forever due to quotas. In the end I never finished it, instead getting a green card through my subsequent marriage to a US citizen.
Your chances are pretty slim. This cartoon flow chart is was made for political immigration debate but it lays out the current immigration process quite nicely: Getting into America legally
Nope, no double meaning, just pondering the difficulty.
Thanks all for the very informative replies and useful links…looks like I’m shit outta luck! I love your country and want to enter her, but she’s having none of it. Maybe I could try your slutty sister, Canada.
Well, from what I hear, Canada is much easier to get into. Plus, imo I think it’s a better country in certain aspects. But that’s just coming from a bitter liberal XD
I’m curious, too. I think it’s residence rather than birth, but I don’t know how they establish it. I also don’t know if that’s just for the diversity visa or the entire application process is separate.
