What process do I have to go through to emigrate to the USA permanently?|175976

I really want to move there and just wondered what I have to do, how long it will take etc. Another point, I live at home with my parents so haven_t got large amounts of furniture etc so would it be best to sell the furniture and buy new out there?

Immigrating to the U.S. takes years. If you do not have immediate family members in the U.S., or a huge amount of money to invest, or a very rare job skill...the only way is to apply through the Diversity Lottery Program. You must register for the lottery 2 years ahead of time...there is open registration each fall. Then about one of every 60 applicants is chosen to be interviewed for consideration. The process costs several thousand dollars and takes several years. Not every country qualifies for the diversity lottery program. Any country that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past few years, is off the list for at least 2 years.. What I am saying here is that it is a very difficult process and you need to be very sure it is what you want. If you are from the U.K ( eccept for Northern Ireland) you are not currently eligible to apply. See sites below to read more about the immigration process. It is equally difficult for an American citizen to immigrate to the U.K. If you are from the U.K., the entire E. U. is open to you, and you may explore that option.

Furniture will be the least of your issues.
1st you need to visit the US embassy or consulate closest to you and get all the requisite information.
It won_t be easy to LEGALLY immigrate.

Depending on where you are from and your circumstance look for 2 to 7 years to get a green card (makes you legal to get work), than another 5 to 10 years after that for citizenship.

If you have a special skill you may be able to work sooner with an H1-B or other type of VISA, but you need to be sponsored by an employer for one of them (basically have a job already before you come to the US).

You basically need a job in the US, and that means you need an employer who will sponsor a work visa for you (can_t get a work visa on your own).

Check with US companies with offices in the UK and UK companies that operate in the USA to apply for jobs. Big hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott hire international staff. Most government agencies in the USA have a citizenship requirement, but an exception is the City of New Orleans:


http://www.cityofno.com/


http://www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal50��


An option you might want to consider is going to university in the USA. Obtaining a student visa is much easier than getting a work visa, and you MAY be able to work on-campus while attending university. That will also give you a diploma that is more easily recognized by US employers, and the university will help you search for jobs as you get close to graduation. Going to school in the USA long-term will also help you decide if emigrating is really what you want to do.

As examples, some universities where I live with many international students are:


http://www.loyno.edu/


http://www.tulane.edu/


http://www.uno.edu/


UK citizens can visit the US without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program, which makes traveling for interviews much easier. You can_t work or go to school under the VWP, but job/school interviews, tests, and medical exams are OK.


Good luck!

Well first you have to give up on the real world - then you just have to accept that you don_t want to be part of the civilised world and go from there - enjoy!

Why don_t you go for a year to work there first, and see how you like it. It might not really suit you ....