# Pros and Cons of Immigrating to the US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091 "2015-07-13T22:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/1 "2015-07-13T22:01:37Z")
I’ve been pondering it for a while, and I’m thinking about emigrating to the US however I’m apprehensive because you guys have no free healthcare or public transport, and I really don’t have a clear idea of what the quality of life is like there compared to Europe. So what would be the good things about emigrating or the bad things? How do you establish yourself in a foreign land, English emigre advice would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/2 "2015-07-13T22:11:16Z")
From what I understand, as an immigrant you would have access to all the welfare you would like, plus plenty of opportunity to rape people. Seriously though, from having worked with a fair number of immigrants (mostly in tech in NYC and Boston), my impression is that there is a significant economic advantage. Even in those expensive cities. But it also depends on where in Europe you come from. The disadvantage is that our immigration system can be very bureaucratic and tedious. Also we tend to not have as much vacation time, maternity leave or other worker protections that they have in Europe and other places. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/3 "2015-07-13T22:13:57Z")
We have public transportation in many cities. You just have to choose a place where that’s a good option, and you may have to pay extra for that choice. (Of course, immigrants don’t necessarily have much choice into which city they move to. If the job that gets you into the country is in Abilene you can’t just move to Chicago.) ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/4 "2015-07-13T22:19:34Z")
I was thinking the NYC area. I’ll be brutally honest though, I have low skills, so it’s not like I would be emigrating and getting a nice middle class job. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/5 "2015-07-13T22:19:36Z")
The US is a huge place, so it depends on where you’re thinking about living. Of course, once you’re a permanent resident, you can move anywhere, as long as you’ve got employment. If you’re in technology, it’s hard to beat being in the US, especially CA. Best to make an extended visit, travel around a bit and decide for yourself. If you work for any large company as a salaried employee, you’re going to have good health insurance, so I would’t worry about that unless you’re unskilled. Lots of cities have decent public transit, but once you’re hear, you’ll learn the freedom of the open road!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/6 "2015-07-13T22:28:19Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > I’ll be brutally honest though, I have low skills, so it’s not like I would be emigrating and getting a nice middle class job. Have you done much research into the US immigration system? I think you might be thinking it’s easier than it is. You should get a realistic look at your chances of being allowed to move here before you start shopping for health insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/7 "2015-07-13T22:31:03Z")
I think it’s pretty hard to just go over there and work without a company offering you a job ahead of time, the visa will be broadly based on you offering skills that are not available in the local American workforce. I wouldn’t take that as meaning you have to be a nuclear physicist - there are all types of jobs and companies - but if you’re not high skilled you’d prob need a personal connection of some sort to get your foot in the door and build a case. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/8 "2015-07-13T22:32:28Z")
I’ve heard it’s harder for English people to emigrate there because so many are there already. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/9 "2015-07-14T00:53:18Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > I’ve heard it’s harder for English people to emigrate there because so many are there already. One way you might check into is seeing if you can get a job working for the United States government. There’s a special category of visas for them. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/10 "2015-07-14T01:00:37Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > I’ve heard it’s harder for English people to emigrate there because so many are there already. Its almost impossible unless you’re on the list of needed professions or are sponsored by an employer. UK citizens aren’t even eligible to enter the Diversity Lottery. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/11 "2015-07-14T01:16:34Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Its almost impossible unless you’re on the list of needed professions or are sponsored by an employer. > > UK citizens aren’t even eligible to enter the Diversity Lottery. Not quite true: Northern Ireland is considered separate, so all he has to do is move to Northern Ireland and establish residency there first. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/12 "2015-07-14T01:41:23Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Not quite true: Northern Ireland is considered separate, so all he has to do is move to Northern Ireland and establish residency there first. Nope, nationality for purposes of green cards, including the DV lottery, is by [country of birth,](http://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/foreign-state-chargeability) not country of current citizenship or residence. (There’s an exception in cases where one spouse has a different country of birth than the other - then they get to pick which country is more advantageous.) Eva Luna, Immigration Paralegal ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/13 "2015-07-14T02:19:05Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Nope, nationality for purposes of green cards, including the DV lottery, is by [country of birth,](http://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/foreign-state-chargeability) not country of current citizenship or residence. (There’s an exception in cases where one spouse has a different country of birth than the other - then they get to pick which country is more advantageous.) > > Eva Luna, Immigration Paralegal Thanks: ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/14 "2015-07-14T02:26:12Z")
People still immigrate here legally? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/15 "2015-07-14T04:39:58Z")
I would suggest having a large established network of people who can help you find a job, a place to stay, and all that before you come over. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/16 "2015-07-14T06:41:59Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > I was thinking the NYC area. I’ll be brutally honest though, I have low skills, so it’s not like I would be emigrating and getting a nice middle class job. How do you intend on living in the NYC area on the salary you will more than likely make? It’s rather expensive. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/17 "2015-07-14T11:49:08Z")
Maybe consider first coming on a one year working holiday type visa. You could work, try the life for a bit, see if it’s a good fit. Of course, you’ll have to return to the UK, if at the end you’re still keen. But it’s a long, long challenging process, better to be sure it’ll be what you want first, I think. Have you visited the US? For how long? New York? Any other US cities? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/18 "2015-07-14T12:07:39Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > How do you intend on living in the NYC area on the salary you will more than likely make? It’s rather expensive. OTOH New York is practically a UN of different nationalities so a foreigner will almost certainly find people of their country. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/19 "2015-07-14T12:28:15Z")
Yes, that is true. But that doesn’t mean anything in terms of finances, especially when you first arrive. I’m sure ex-pats will help out in jobs, roommates, but you have to meet them first. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091/20 "2015-07-14T12:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve been pondering it for a while, and I’m thinking about emigrating to the US however I’m apprehensive because you guys have no free healthcare or public transport, and I really don’t have a clear idea of what the quality of life is like there compared to Europe. the first thing to realize is that “The US” is almost as diverse and varying as “Europe.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-immigrating-to-the-us/725091.md?page=2)