I'm wondering if there's anyone here who's experienced immigration to the US - specifically from the UK. I don't really have any specialist skills and I only have fairly standard qualifications. If I were to save up enough to be able to afford moving there and buying a house, how easy would it be to get citizenship? I remember looking into it years ago and reading that you need more than just money to emigrate; either get married to a US resident or get employed there etc. Is it not possible to emigrate without being sponsored or anything? How hard is the process? My reasons for wanting to emigrate are due to my preference of the climate and culture. I've always wanted to move to the US for some reason, even more so since I visited a few years ago.
[quote name='"BP to the DP"']I've heard the citizenship test is a bitch, there's stuff on there most us born people don't know.[/quote] It is kind of hard from what my dad told me, he's from Germany. So at least OP has English skills, honestly it's not that bad. We have pretty lenient legal immigration laws, and no offense but you're white..so you already have that going for you.
It costs like 10 grand and to get citizenship. But for real just find some bitch to marry thats is cheapest and easiest way. Or get a student visa and go to some community college and take like2 classes so you can stay in us
Alright sweet. How much do you think I'd need to save to be able to get started? A couple of grand? 10 grand? Edit: Thanks Lucas3
[quote name='"thezool"'] You just sit a test and boom you get your green card?[/quote] Nah. There's more. Gotta show you are sufficient in making money and are beneficial to society if I remember correctly.
For a work visa, you need to find a company to employ and sponsor you. Could you go the education route? Those visas are easier to come by, but you would be a student and not making money.
[quote name='"thezool"'] Alright sweet. How much do you think I'd need to save to be able to get started? A couple of grand? 10 grand?[/quote] Hm, well do you have an idea of what state and/or what area, like northeast, southeast, west coast? Because places like California, and Oregon are a little bit expensive than the east coast I've found, in apartment wise and cost of living. So it all depends on region.
When I visited I went to the east coast and totally loved it. I've never been anywhere else apart from the New England area. So I'd look around there most likely.
[quote name='"twitchydude420"']Why america?[/quote] This. I mean OP, you live in Europe. I'm jealous, Europe has some of the finest places to live, some of the best education, and some lovely women(not a big deal, but hey it's important haha) . America right now is in a shit hole, not that I don't love it, but we can't decide what we want right now, although its not like we have a big choice between Obama or Romney.. I'd give it a year or so.
I'm really not too familiar with the different programs, but I would start at one of your local colleges and see what types of exchange programs they have. I know my local community college has foreign students, and you can study different trades. Maybe look at the area you want to move to and contact local US colleges for information.
The American dream and all that stuff. Just one of those things I've always wanted to do, I love the idea of it. It is most probably a case of "the grass is greener" but I think we all have a right to choose where we spend our lives and I'd definitely choose the US - at least until I became jaded.
Sounds like a darn good idea. I have some college qualifications (college is between high school and university here in the UK if you don't know) which could get me a place studying Games Design here in England; so maybe it could be used to study it in the US. I'm sure there are renowned Games Design colleges in the US.
Coming here to study or having work set up here in advance is pretty much the only way I know of outside of marriage. I would think a student visa is probably the path of least resistance. But that's a guess. I do have a few friends who came here from Canada. Both started here working (as au pairs) and then eventually met guys and got married.