Living in the US • Non-Gaming • Travel • Eurogamer.net

M83J01P97 20 May 2013 15:22:46 7,552 posts
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Couldn't see a topic about this already, so sorry if it's been asked before, but does anyone have any first hand advice or tips on immigrating to America?

I've spent most of the weekend reading up about it on the net but it all seems to be the same information outlined in varying degrees of jargon. So would be nice is anyone on here has done it themselves or know anyone who has and can shed some light on the process.

Basically, I have a group of friends out in the states who I'd dearly love to live closer to and the frequent trips of a week or two out there are a constant expense I could do without and in all honesty, I'm kind of bored of England which doesn't really offer me much anymore other than a few friends and family who I see too much of anyway.

So yeah, is it as hard as it seems to be? I don't have any 'special skills', a million dollars to invest, and the company I work for don't have US offices. It's also highly unlikely the marrying to get a green card method would work out for me...

Alastair 20 May 2013 15:28:22 21,933 posts
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Only people I know who did it have done it through their job...

nickthegun 20 May 2013 15:30:41 73,331 posts
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Or done an, on the surface, insane dash over there to marry an internet girlfriend only for it to work out better than anyone could have possibly imagined.

nickthegun 20 May 2013 15:31:33 73,331 posts
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Also, its 'emigrating'. Thats the kind of thing they check on the citizenship test.

Load_2.0 20 May 2013 15:32:52 26,412 posts
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Green card lottery.

Other than that you have no chance.

Alastair 20 May 2013 15:33:03 21,933 posts
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nickthegun wrote:
Or done an, on the surface, insane dash over there to marry an internet girlfriend only for it to work out better than anyone could have possibly imagined.

Ha ha, I forgot about that.

Ziz0u 20 May 2013 15:34:58 11,006 posts
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You'll need a job sponsor.

Blotto 20 May 2013 15:36:19 2,778 posts
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Could one of your friends not find you a job out there? Not really sure if that would be possible/realistic, would be interested to find out myself too.

Deleted user 20 May 2013 15:58:59

nickthegun wrote:
Or done an, on the surface, insane dash over there to marry an internet girlfriend only for it to work out better than anyone could have possibly imagined.

Yeah, just to reiterate as others have said, you need to do it via employment or family. You can just apply for a "let me in the country, I'm great" visa, but unless you have a very specific skillset that's highly in demand in the US, you'll almost certainly be turned down.

The other way is to just turn up and not leave, but then you'd have to find work by hiding out behind the US version of B&Q and jumping in the first truck that comes along looking for labour.

But whichever route you go for, it takes months and costs thousands.

Edited by meme at 15:59:46 20-05-2013

neilka 20 May 2013 16:01:43 21,205 posts
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Hope this helps

StarchildHypocrethes 20 May 2013 16:05:11 31,273 posts
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meme wrote:
The other way is to just turn up and not leave, but then you'd have to find work by hiding out behind the US version of B&Q and jumping in the first truck that comes along looking for labour.

Otherwise known as The Irish Way.

Had to laugh at the outrage amongst my family when my cousin was turned away at customs two weeks ago and sent home. Unsurprising considering 95% of his close family had already vanished into the ether after entering, and he had every intention of doing the same. Still, OUTRAGE.

elstoof 20 May 2013 16:25:27 19,821 posts
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What line of work are you in?

M83J01P97 20 May 2013 16:38:01 7,552 posts
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Retail management

Deleted user 20 May 2013 16:38:38

Save your money. Everyone goes through the America phase. I think it's so engraved in our upbringing it resurfaces once you leave the nest.

So many other nicer (and easier!) parts of the world to move to.

Deleted user 20 May 2013 16:43:20

graysonavich wrote:
Save your money. Everyone goes through the America phase. I think it's so engraved in our upbringing it resurfaces once you leave the nest.

So many other nicer (and easier!) parts of the world to move to.

Valgarde?

(Totally just googled WoW place names)

Khanivor 20 May 2013 16:59:03 43,676 posts
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Where about are you thinking of moving to?

nickthegun 20 May 2013 17:04:52 73,331 posts
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America

kosigan 20 May 2013 17:10:41 633 posts
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I once worked in America for a couple of months some years ago. It cured me of any desire to make the situation permanent.

Toonster 20 May 2013 17:12:28 6,903 posts
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I moved here as a teenager with my family, due to my dad's job. Through him, we were eventually able to get our green cards. Don't know the exact process all that well, unfortunately. My parents were really the ones who handled the paperwork.

Also, I'm assuming you're European. Just talk to any woman there and you're bound to be married within the year. Bam! Permanent residence!

Grunk 20 May 2013 17:16:21 4,717 posts
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nickthegun wrote:
Also, its 'emigrating'. Thats the kind of thing they check on the citizenship test.

That's only if you're going the other way.

M83J01P97 20 May 2013 17:17:48 7,552 posts
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Getting married wouldn't really be an option for me unless by some miracle the world suddenly acknowledged gay marriage as a legal right to residency.

And I'd be looking to move to Florida, but no where near all the touristy nonsense.

Deleted user 20 May 2013 17:21:49

What did the lad out of gta 4 do?

StarchildHypocrethes 20 May 2013 17:24:28 31,273 posts
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I can't help but feel you might have a better time of things somewhere other than the Deep South.

Toonster 20 May 2013 17:27:51 6,903 posts
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@M83J01P97

Well, since gay marriage is legal in a few of the American states, that shouldn't be a problem

M83J01P97 20 May 2013 17:30:04 7,552 posts
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Toonster wrote:
@M83J01P97

Well, since gay marriage is legal in a few of the American states, that shouldn't be a problem

Gay marriage doesn't get you a green card though. Will be a few years before we get to that stage in social evolution me thinks. The Federal law in America only recognises marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Toonster 20 May 2013 17:34:25 6,903 posts
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Hmm, yeah, it's a federally legislated card. Oh well, there's a always a loophole somewhere.

Ziz0u 20 May 2013 17:40:44 11,006 posts
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If it's fun in the sun in a place like Florida you're after, there are other countries that fit the bill, and are easier to get into as someone else said.

Salaman 20 May 2013 18:51:53 23,036 posts
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Also worth keeping in mind that getting rejected for a green card means you can't reapply for 5 years or so.
Friend of mine decided she was going to move there. She had a friend trying to help her out who managed to line up a job. The job fell through though and her application got rejected which also meant she was not allowed to reapply. I think it was five years.