Welcome!

Go to this thread and look at the questions. If you answer yes to any of them, give details here.

 

Thanks for that Fatbrit.
We did answer yes to a few questions. Which are:

*Are you interested in menial seasonal work? Yes
*Do you have at least $200,000 in cash and an entrepreneurial spirit? Yes
*Are you an Australian citizen? Yes
*Were you or your parents born in any country other than Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, or Vietnam? Yes
Thanks

 

H2b visa is for non-agricultural workers -- hotel staff and tourist industry are a common employer. Use Google, but avoid scam agencies with a fee up front. This visa is short-term and there's no opportunity to convert to anything permanent. There's also the H2a agricultural variant......but this is for the very hardy only.

Look at the E2 visa whereby you buy/start and run a business in the US. You can stay as long as the business keeps running and employing others. A Google of E2 visa and FAQ brings up a lot of articles. I'm not a great fan as I've read many misery stories with this one, but if you have no children and an entrepreneurial spirit, it's worth considering.

Enter the DV lottery at Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery. You can both put applications in to double your chances, and this gives you a green card should you enter, be drawn, and get the visa. In fact, it's the best and easiest visa money can't buy!

Those are you current options that I know of. Shout if you need more help.

 

????????



Are you serious? You actually want to live there? WHY??

JRR

 

Are you serious? You actually want to live there? WHY??

JRR

i can see why someone would want to live in the states we have traveled all over the states and met many many good honest people who were friendly

dont judge a book by its cover just like any country there are good and bad there glad to say we found mainly good in the states

 

Thanks for all your help Fatbrit.

 

Not a Brit, definitely not fat. I've lived there, in the 90s during the drive by shootings in Washington when I had a new baby. Have comtemplated the leaders of the free world, have found them seriously wanting, you done the same?

JRR

 

Hi Aleyse

I'm wondering how your plans to move to the USA are going.
My partner and i are thinking about a move to USA, But every visa i have looked at, we can't apply under, our only option seems to be the E2 visa.
Hope everthink worked out for your family
debbie

 

Hi Debsean,

I am very sorry I did not get back to you. Well everything went fine. We have got our visa's and are moving over in December. Let me tell you it has been a long haul, but well worth it.
We won the green card lottery. That is how we are moving over. Take care and follow your dreams.

 

You are probably assuming you'll get similar benefits as Australian Medicare , Centrelink and other fancy rebates? Nope not really. US Medicare covers nothing, not even the GP. Forget free hospitals, medication, PBS and bulk billed doctors. There is no Centrelink , FICA is not enough for nothing. And list goes on....
Got too used to Max $32 out of pocket medication? Wait till you get to the US. Oh hoping to get Private health insurance rebate from Federal Government? Nope not in US, only in Australia.
Dreaming of getting tax deductions for your computer and Internet ? The fed will kick your backside, not allowed in the US.
Of cause you want your family or education rebate, nah again not in the US.

 

fortunately you are misinformed about healthcare and insurance in the us.

 

fortunately you are misinformed about healthcare and insurance in the us.

Thanks two step. I guess I didnt fully understand it while I was in the US. Please enlighten me! What the free medical services will I receive if I don't have health cover? (charities excluded)

 

There is no such thing as free medical care in the US. There are a few places that will see children I believe however otherwise nothing.
Its been a huge shock as an Australian living here as to how much better our health system in Australia is.
I would hate to be sick or elderly here without health insurance

 

That what I was saying . However it seems some people as twostep love putting forward claims that are absolutely untrue

 

well it most certainly does not exist here in NYC.

I am still amazed that you have to give insurance details,id etc before anyone is willing to take an appointment.
Also have never seen so many people sick with preventable diseases like diabetes etc. You just dont see that in Australia.
On the other hand I am very impress my the attention and service you do get when you are fully covered.That is far superior to what we receive in Australia in my opinion.That also could be a NY thing?? Lucky for us we do have very good insurance provided my my husbands company.

 

well it most certainly does not exist here in NYC.

On the other hand I am very impress my the attention and service you do get when you are fully covered.That is far superior to what we receive in Australia in my opinion.That also could be a NY thing?? Lucky for us we do have very good insurance provided my my husbands company.

That is NOT a New York thing. We have received excellent service and care wherever we have lived in several states.

 

OMG I can not beleive it is nearly 2 years since I posted my first post about wanting to move to the States. Well our dream has come true and we are moving over in December.

 

Congratulations!!! Please keep us posted about your journey!

 

Will do Twostep.

 

My wife and I have applied for the DV2014 Lottery so we are hoping we get lucky with this and can make the move over. Its scary when you think about the whole move but I think it will be worth it in the long run.

Aleyse where abouts you looking at moving to over there?

 

Why do you guys want to leave Australia? I'm only curious.

 

I can only give you my 5 cents and those I see from working working with candidates on a US wide and sometimes world wide basis.

Our personal needs vary with location and income as well as with family status and age.

I have seen folks coming from Europe and being enthralled by a 1200 sqf home and enough yard to use a lawn mower. It is a big step up from a walk up with view on a four-lane road. Then there are the "Aldi" immigrants, especially spouses with limited language skills, often no option to work and constantly comparing things.

Most expats are tied to employers or other factors which keep them in certain geographic locations.

Personally I would love to return to Alabama - expensive, friendly, humid, green, traffic, good food.

 

In the United States, the norm is to have the big back yard, a home with 3 bedrooms or more and your own garden or farm with a swimming pool. What's abnormal in the US is living in an apartment, walkup, duplex or housing project.

City living is good for people who want to jump start their careers, but for nothing else.

What's "aldi"?

 

Can you teach snow skiing? There are lots of low-paying jobs in that industry during our winter. I don't mean to sound condescending. From my experience, once you're here you have a much better chance of staying.

 

all the best

 

Well here in the states. It has been 4 months and loving it. Getting use to a lot of things but I am so glad that we are here.

 

thank you for the great news. can you give us a bit more about the ups and downs. of your move. what worked. what did not. ...

 

Congrats! Where did you guys end up settling in the US?

 

There are people who want to live in many, many countries. In some cases it's just a matter of 'grass is greener'. Sometimes career prospects are better. Or study. In the case of my wife and me, most of our work comes from the northern hemisphere, so we're moving - to the US (Washington DC) and part of the year to France (Annecy). We've both lived in other countries before, as needs dictated. Each country in which I've lived, including my own (Australia) has positive and negative aspects. One just adapts. Learns the language, adapts, and gets on with enjoying work and life.