# what are my chances for surviving in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753 "2006-07-16T16:34:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/41 "2006-07-18T21:38:20Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Ask yourself this. How many Americans emmigrate to Sweden each year? If we spoke Swedish as well as most Swedes speak English (and if the Swedish government made it even slightly easier to immigrate there!) I bet a lot more would. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/42 "2006-07-18T21:46:03Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > If we spoke Swedish as well as most Swedes speak English (and if the Swedish government made it even slightly easier to immigrate there!) I bet a lot more would. If moving you family to a different country, continent even, were only limited by language, I bet a lot more people would be taking Swedish courses. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/43 "2006-07-18T21:57:54Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > 1. Applying for a Diversity visa for 2008, and keep applying till he gets one. > 2. Fall in love with an American and get married. > 3. Find an employer willing to sponser him. > > Not many other options, really. 1. Will do. 2. I have a girlfriend and she’s for keeps. 😉 3. Might be hard without an established social network. I guess it comes down to luck, unless I’m feeling bold and trying the \*\*duffer \*\*route. But I think I can handle that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/44 "2006-07-19T01:05:16Z")
> [@cactus waltz](#): > > 1. Might be hard without an established social network. > > . Well, maybe some Doper here has a job for a Swede? If he promises to leave the lutefisck at home? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/45 "2006-07-19T02:08:45Z")
How about graduate school? Go into debt, but have a couple of years to check things out and then have a better of chance of landing one of those “we can’t _wink_ find a local with the right qualifications. . .” jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753/46 "2006-07-19T04:23:46Z")
> [@cactus waltz](#): > > 1. Will do. > 2. I have a girlfriend and she’s for keeps. 😉 > 3. Might be hard without an established social network. I can’t advise you on finding an American employer (maybe someone more knowledgeable can). Re: the Diversity visa, even though the odds are stacked against you, keep applying every year (but don’t submit multiple applications in one year, or you’ll be disqualified!). Does your girlfriend want to be a US citizen? (if she’s for keeps, and you want to go to the USA to live, I hope she’s willing to go with you). If so, and you get married, she can apply on her own behalf, and if she’s selected you can get derivative status. I _think_ you can also get derivative status if your parents apply and are selected, and you’re unmarried and under 21. Immigration experts, is this correct? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-chances-for-surviving-in-the-us/364753.md?page=2)