Foreigners living in the USA
Nov 16th, 2002, 11:52 AM
#1
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Foreigners living in the USA
We often have programmes in the UK about families going off to live in the US. They don't seem to have anything special to offer - they're not brain surgeons or similar - so what is it that makes it possible for them to be accepted as potential citizens of the US?
Nov 16th, 2002, 12:13 PM
#2
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Beyond situations wherein an employer pulls strings to obtain citizenship for foreign workers, it's not easy these days to obtain US citizenship.
You can acess US Gov't websites which explain the legal channels one must go thru, but it's not a simple process and relatively few people succeed compared to the number who attempt it.
You can acess US Gov't websites which explain the legal channels one must go thru, but it's not a simple process and relatively few people succeed compared to the number who attempt it.
Nov 16th, 2002, 12:31 PM
#6
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They don't necessarily become, or intend to become, citizens of the US - it's possible to live and work for up to 6 years in the US on a temporary visa. Someone from the UK can usually get a temp visa if they are really determined and have a University education and 5-10 years' experience in some skilled field.
The real watershed, for someone who wants to stay, is whether or not one can get a green card (equivalent of the UK's indefinite leave to remain). Once that's done, going the extra step and obtaining US citizenship is optional - even if you leave your job, you still have the right to find another one and keep on living/working in the US. For a long time, most British people in the US had green cards at most - now it's possible to obtain US citizenship and keep British citizenship, so more people probably go through the process of obtaining citizenship so that they can (1) vote (2) leave the country for long periods of time and (3) avoid the huge estate taxes the US levies on foreigners.
As for how they get into the US in the first place - unless they have relatives in the US or marry an American, it's usually via an employer who's committed to hiring them personally or someone with their skills, or by transferring to the US office of a UK company, or working for a US company in the UK and being transferred to a US office. My father came to the US (granted, this was about 15 years ago) by being transferred to the Toronto office of his London-based company, switching jobs to work for an American competitor's Toronto office, and then being transferred a few years later to his new company's main office in New York. He's a skilled engineer, but doesn't have any extraordinary skills or training.
The real watershed, for someone who wants to stay, is whether or not one can get a green card (equivalent of the UK's indefinite leave to remain). Once that's done, going the extra step and obtaining US citizenship is optional - even if you leave your job, you still have the right to find another one and keep on living/working in the US. For a long time, most British people in the US had green cards at most - now it's possible to obtain US citizenship and keep British citizenship, so more people probably go through the process of obtaining citizenship so that they can (1) vote (2) leave the country for long periods of time and (3) avoid the huge estate taxes the US levies on foreigners.
As for how they get into the US in the first place - unless they have relatives in the US or marry an American, it's usually via an employer who's committed to hiring them personally or someone with their skills, or by transferring to the US office of a UK company, or working for a US company in the UK and being transferred to a US office. My father came to the US (granted, this was about 15 years ago) by being transferred to the Toronto office of his London-based company, switching jobs to work for an American competitor's Toronto office, and then being transferred a few years later to his new company's main office in New York. He's a skilled engineer, but doesn't have any extraordinary skills or training.
Nov 16th, 2002, 12:33 PM
#7
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You have to check with immigration to obtain a list of professions that are considered in high demand.
There are many categories and there are minimum requirements...ie. you need min of 2 yr college education just to get in.
Citizenship is NOT an initial stated goal, in fact you can be barred by uttering those words to an immigration officer.
You must fist obtain an entry VISA for the type of work. OF course you must have a job offer FIRST.
Right now it is very difficult to obtain an HB1 visa for work. Some fields ie. nursing are still in high demand, but most others are not because of the recession.
Nearly all employers are passing on VISA sponsorship right now, becasue it is lots of work for them and the market is such that it can be filled with citizens.
That will change again in the future when things pick up.
This wonderful country IS composed of many cultures and people, and it makes the US richer for that. ANy negative things you hear are usually the extreme point of view that you get anywhere in this world.
Hope this helps.
There are many categories and there are minimum requirements...ie. you need min of 2 yr college education just to get in.
Citizenship is NOT an initial stated goal, in fact you can be barred by uttering those words to an immigration officer.
You must fist obtain an entry VISA for the type of work. OF course you must have a job offer FIRST.
Right now it is very difficult to obtain an HB1 visa for work. Some fields ie. nursing are still in high demand, but most others are not because of the recession.
Nearly all employers are passing on VISA sponsorship right now, becasue it is lots of work for them and the market is such that it can be filled with citizens.
That will change again in the future when things pick up.
This wonderful country IS composed of many cultures and people, and it makes the US richer for that. ANy negative things you hear are usually the extreme point of view that you get anywhere in this world.
Hope this helps.
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Nov 16th, 2002, 12:44 PM
#10
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I find that hard to believe...you have to check with immigration to obtain a list of professions that are considered in high demand.
There are many categories and there are minimum requirements...ie. you need min of 2 yr college education just to get in.
Citizenship is NOT an initial stated goal, in fact you can be barred by uttering those words to an immigration officer.
You must fist obtain an entry VISA for the type of work. OF course you must have a job offer FIRST. THis is commonly an HB1 visa, but there are all kinds of categories reserved for different types of people ie. celebrities, professionals, special knowledge etc. and there are only so many a year available in total for each type of VISA and they are usually exhausted well before year end.
If you are lucky enough to get a work visa, then the next step is to appy for Permanent Residency, which is itself a difficult process and can take 2-5 years, and requires the cooperation of your employer to sponsor you.
If you are lucky enough to get through that process which can cost 5 - 10 thousand dollars, then you have to wait 5 years, and then you can apply to gaet your citizenship which is a simple innexpensive process.
If you have, or during the process commit any felony (theft, DUI etc) or a ethical crime (soliciting a prostitute etc.) then you will not be allowed into the country period. If you commit any of the above even as a Permanent Resident, you could very well be sent back to your home country.
Right now it is very difficult to obtain an HB1 visa for work. Some fields ie. nursing are still in high demand, but most others are not because of the recession.
Nearly all employers are passing on VISA sponsorship right now, becasue it is lots of work for them and the market is such that it can be filled with citizens.
That will change again in the future when things pick up.
In the end, anyone who tells you it is an easy process or just comes over is lying to you or they are here illegally.
Or perhaps they one the Visa lottery which runs each year and they literally make a random drawing out of submitted applications. Each country has a window for this draw on a yearly basis, its free, and you gain immediate (after you have been processed) Permanent Residence status! Hard to believe but true!
This wonderful country IS composed of many cultures and people, and it makes the US richer for that. ANy negative things you hear are usually the extreme point of view that you get anywhere in this world.
Hope this helps.
There are many categories and there are minimum requirements...ie. you need min of 2 yr college education just to get in.
Citizenship is NOT an initial stated goal, in fact you can be barred by uttering those words to an immigration officer.
You must fist obtain an entry VISA for the type of work. OF course you must have a job offer FIRST. THis is commonly an HB1 visa, but there are all kinds of categories reserved for different types of people ie. celebrities, professionals, special knowledge etc. and there are only so many a year available in total for each type of VISA and they are usually exhausted well before year end.
If you are lucky enough to get a work visa, then the next step is to appy for Permanent Residency, which is itself a difficult process and can take 2-5 years, and requires the cooperation of your employer to sponsor you.
If you are lucky enough to get through that process which can cost 5 - 10 thousand dollars, then you have to wait 5 years, and then you can apply to gaet your citizenship which is a simple innexpensive process.
If you have, or during the process commit any felony (theft, DUI etc) or a ethical crime (soliciting a prostitute etc.) then you will not be allowed into the country period. If you commit any of the above even as a Permanent Resident, you could very well be sent back to your home country.
Right now it is very difficult to obtain an HB1 visa for work. Some fields ie. nursing are still in high demand, but most others are not because of the recession.
Nearly all employers are passing on VISA sponsorship right now, becasue it is lots of work for them and the market is such that it can be filled with citizens.
That will change again in the future when things pick up.
In the end, anyone who tells you it is an easy process or just comes over is lying to you or they are here illegally.
Or perhaps they one the Visa lottery which runs each year and they literally make a random drawing out of submitted applications. Each country has a window for this draw on a yearly basis, its free, and you gain immediate (after you have been processed) Permanent Residence status! Hard to believe but true!
This wonderful country IS composed of many cultures and people, and it makes the US richer for that. ANy negative things you hear are usually the extreme point of view that you get anywhere in this world.
Hope this helps.
Nov 16th, 2002, 12:50 PM
#11
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Saw the coment on nursing, the wages here are among the best available.
Better yet is the American cost of living and tax rate.
Unlike most of our socialist style neighbors (Canada, UK etc.) the tax rate here is very progressive, and you could literally make half of what a nurse does in Canada or UK and still have a better life
And that is why the US is the land of opportunity and so many want to come here.
God Bless America!
Better yet is the American cost of living and tax rate.
Unlike most of our socialist style neighbors (Canada, UK etc.) the tax rate here is very progressive, and you could literally make half of what a nurse does in Canada or UK and still have a better life
And that is why the US is the land of opportunity and so many want to come here.
God Bless America!
Nov 16th, 2002, 01:31 PM
#12
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Oh dear - you obviously have never been out of your tiny little patch of nothingness - get around - get a life.
I have met people from the US all over the world and the vast majority of them are educated, informed and just generally great folks - you need to get out a bit more.
I have met people from the US all over the world and the vast majority of them are educated, informed and just generally great folks - you need to get out a bit more.
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