Wanting to move to US

[Dragon]

I was wondering, what is the legal process to move to the United States to stay, forever? I can't find anything on ANY site I visit..and this is just giving me a headache. =(
I 'am planning on moving to Texas, near Houston. I'm coming from the UK (London). I would be living with a very good friend of mine who will be my guardian, so a new house won't be an issue. At the moment, I 'am 17 years old, though I'm planning on moving when I'm 18 in 2009 (basically treat me as 18. I don't wanna see anything like "ur 17, ur too baby to move" etc..).

So yeah I don't know exactly what I have to do to move in with her. She can't find anything either on this subject, besides a $40 tourist visa...which I'm not looking forward to, because I want to work as a firefighter (note she's 39 if that helps, and married). She's married to an assistant cheif of a fire department who is going to teach me everything I know to be a firefighter. That is the job I want to do. Though work Visas cost ways too much where ever I check..(somewhat £900-£1200 which is AKA around $2000 >.<) I don't think I'll be making enough to cover that..since I'd have training to pass BEFORE work.

After looking everywhere, and coming up emtpy handed for a good 3 months now, I signed up here and made this post in hopes of someone with knowledge in this area to provide few simple and easy to understand steps to achieve my goal.

I have close to no knowledge on visas too however...do you think maybe I can go for an ultra cheap tourist visa to settle in, and do training for my job as a firefighter, then get the work visa as soon as I start working? It makes sense to me, but this is so so soooooooooo complicated and might not be allowed...can someone please explain what I need to do to move? I won't be taking much with me, just clothes, my laptop and maybe a couple games (like halo 3 for an example) to keep me occupied. My real family is staying behind in England, and I'm currently saving up for my passport renewal (£75) and the flight ticket to Houston (£620), and any addition fees for the move which I have yet to find out.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate any help on this subject.

Daniel

[EVHB]

Originally Posted by Dragon

I can't find anything on ANY site I visit..

Daniel, maybe you can start by reading the information from the American Embassy in London?
Visa Services U.S. Embassy London

And also these can give you some insight:L
USCIS Home Page
UnitedStatesVisas.gov -- What is a Visa?

[Rachel_Heath]

Hola Daniel,

Sadly I think your chances for coming out here to live are currently extremely slim to virtually non-existent.

A tourist visa is just that - for doing touristy things. The moment you stop being a tourist the US has the right to kick you out and potentially bar you from ever returning.

The US has very tightly defined rules as to who can come to the country, and they usually revolve around highly skilled workers with advanced degrees or 10-15 appropriate work experience, business investors, intracompany transferee's or via very close familial relationships.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's best to find these things out sooner rather than later.

[Dragon]

=(

someone told me about a permanent green card, can't I renew passport, apply for that, then book flight? I 'am dead set on moving...T_T

And I got this from a friend:

"Naturalization is the process by which an immigrant can
attain U.S. citizenship. In general, any lawful permanent
resident who has maintained a period of continuous resi-
dence and presence in the United States can apply for
naturalization. Applicants for naturalization must have
good moral character, knowledge of U.S. history and gov-
ernment and the English language, and a willingness to
support and defend the United States and its Constitu-
tion. Most immigrants may apply for naturalization after
three to five years of permanent residency. For certain
groups of immigrants, including those who have served
in the U.S. military, the requirements for permanent resi-
dency may be shortened or waived. The requirements for
U.S. residency and local residency also vary according to
the circumstances of the immigrant"

Can using work visas for 5 years allow me to stay according to that?
I want out of UK..seriously...

[Rachel_Heath]

Yes, but you have to be a LAWFUL legal resident for 5 years based off one of the VISA routes I gave earlier.

I'm not sure who your friend is but you need to face up to the grim realities of life here!

Unless there is some weird and wacky exemption for 'firefighters' that I've not heard of, your only routes here are via the ones I described. In addition if you even do any training whilst here on a tourist visa that too would be potentially be enough to have you deported.

[Dragon]

Okay so tourist visa is stricken from the idea list. =[

I just want a simple solution for what I wish to happen really..even if I end up having to pay incredible amounts of money, so be it.

I'm told that people are moving into the country like everyday, just like me..I even quoted your post to someone and they said maybe you jus' don't like immigrants telling me that there's close to no chance I'll ever be allowed to stay. =O

If there is someone out there that can explain simply, what I need to do, then thank you so very much for your time...gawd this is giving me the biggest headache ever. All I want to do is move..if it does turn out to be impossible then I'll see yous on the other side. =\

[Rachel_Heath]

I'm someone who's been through the process and found things out the hard way.

I was like you at an early age - wanting to come over here but with no qualifications I had no idea on how to proceed. Eventually I used my years of working (15) in lieu of a degree to enable me to get an H-1B visa which was still pretty painful to obtain.

So I speak AS an immigrant. Please understand I'm saying this not to just burst your bubble or anything else, but you have to understand the US is very very tough on immigration and the hoops and loops that one has to go though is pretty annoying.

Take a look at this page. It shows the various VISA classifications available for anyone to enter the country as a legal alien (Except for the E-3 which is specifically for Australians) and let me know which one you think is applicable to your position.

The only other option as I see it is to come out here to study - however that will require expense to pay for college and you'll need to ensure you have enough qualifications to do that here. However you'll not be able to work on a study visa. It's slightly possible you could get an internship somewhere whilst studying but that still won't really allow you to achieve your dream of being a firefighter.

[Rachel_Heath]

Sadly, it is simply not enough to want to move here - the US (in common with pretty much anywhere these days) has to have a reason to accept you here.

Take a look around other threads on the forum here from folk who have posed all manner of questions wanting to know if their particular circumstance gives them residency in the US. You'll see that for most eligible most people the answers fit into one of four broad categories:

• H visa for workers skilled or otherwise (unskilled invariably equals seasonal & short term, e.g. amusement park workers)
• L Visa for investment or intracompany transferees
• K Visa for a fiancé/fiancée (and eventual marriage)
• F/M Visa for studying on

Money can get you in, but only if you're willing (and have available) to spend something like a million dollars in a new business here.

Having family already here who can sponsor a petition is another route but I somehow don't think that applies to your position.

[synthia]

Also, your friend can't be your guardian, because at 18 in the US, you no longer require a guardian. If you meant sponsor, you can only be sponsored by a close relative: mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, and maybe grandparents.

I agree with everyone else. Your only real option is to apply to a university or junior college in the US, and come in on a student visa. You will be allowed to work a few hours per week, and if you obtain a degree, you probably can get a one-year work visa if you find a job in your field. It is regarded as an internship and part of your studies. If, after that, your employer is willing to sponsor you (an expensive and time-consuming proposition), and you are in a field that is in demand, you might then get a work visa. I believe that is when your legal residency will start. I don't think the student years count. After that, you could apply for citizenship.

[Dragon]

I'll look around on that site, I think..maybe..I could use a tourist Visa, spend some time over there like for vacation, look for a partner..and infact, someone else that I really like lives over there too, but doubt she likes me the same way..lol I really really doubt it. But maybe she'll change her mind, who knows.=)

Thank your for your advice, and yes you're right..it is better to find these things out. I wonder though, is 2 and a half months enough time to be adopted before my 18th birthday? The friend who I'm staying with, I like to think of her as my guardian, I sometimes even call her mom. And maybe..is there like an education visa for taking firefighter lessons over there? considering my 'guardian's' husband is assistant chief of the local fire department there, could he have a say in anything? Or is it possible to join a fire department here and get transfered?

Sorry for asking so many questions..but I would appreciate someone with a confirmed sure answer tell me, than me looking for the answer myself and giving up coz I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, or can't find what I'm looking for coz what I'm looking for doesn't exist.