I am a freelancer, how can I move to the USA?

[Stefania Muggianu 0]

Hello,

Please somebody help me, I just don't know what to do anymore! I have been trying to find any useful information for years now, but I just can't manage to find somebody to really tell me what I should do.

I am a freelance interpreter and translator from Italy. I have a lot of work and a good income. I would keep on working for my current clients (who are spread all over the world) because they don't care where I live. So work and income are guaranteed. How can I move to the USA? What are the practical steps that I should take?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

Stefania

www.italian-translation-services.com

[Krikit 1,165]

Hi Stefania. I just got back from Italy last week! I love it there. Let's trade places.

Unfortunately, you won't find much information here on VisaJourney because it's a family-based visa site. You need an employment-based visa. I suggest you start here:

US Department of State Employment-based Visas

Good luck!

[john_and_marlene 162]

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1322.html

[Cdn_Ali 11]

If you are unable to qualify for some sort of employment visa, you could look into the Diversity Visa lottery. If Italy is an eligible country, you would apply online - there is a 2 month window in Oct/Nov when you can apply. There is still a lot of waiting involved as the next lottery is for visas in 2010 but it's worth a try. I know a few people who have received 10 year green cards this way.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1322.html

[AlHayatZween 2]

You could try www.un.org.

They are always looking for translators for a lot of different languages in the NYC Headquarters. They would facilitate a visa for you.

[Stefania Muggianu 0]

Thanks to all of you who tried to help. I've tried them all, believe me, including the lottery. I have been participating for years but nothing so far. I actually did not try the UN solution because I would not want to move to NYC, nor would I be interested in working for the UN - I have plenty of work already and I don't think I could be able to keep offering a good service to my current clients if I had to work for the UN, too.

Why is it just not possible to "transfer" my current business over to the US? We make a good income and we would be able to keep our current client base, because they don't care where we live. Is it really impossible???

I am getting more and more desperate, all my sources are being so negative... I am even in touch with a few immigration attorneys from Philadelphia and even they keep telling me the same things, but nobody can suggest how we can move our already established business...

Stefania

[chnst 6]

why do you want to move over here so badly? Doesn't Italy have a much more established social security system for small businesses? If you have clients over here, couldn't you as well work based out of italy with them?

I think there's a visa for business people who are able to invest a lot of money over here, did you check that yet?

[HighwayStar 0]

I don't know about Stefania's situation, but things in Italy have not been going well for some time, and this is one of the reasons why my fiancé and I have decided to settle in the US. Anyway, there is indeed an investment-based visa, though I'm quite sure it's a temporary one. Details can be found on the website of the US Embassy in Rome.

[Stefania Muggianu 0]

Why do I want to move? You have to LIVE in this country to understand. Italy is NOT what the whole world thinks it is: nice weather, good food, joyful people, pizza, spaghetti and fashion. I have never loved it, whereas I have always felt at HOME in the USA.

Yes, there is an investment-based visa but you have to invest something like 500,000 dollars, which we don't have.

I feel so frustrated...

Stefania

[john_and_marlene 162]

If there was a way to do what you want, there would be a flood of applications. There are currently family based applications for which the wait is over 20 years. There is no category for someone who just wants to relocate other than DV.

[English Muffin 59]

If there was a way to do what you want, there would be a flood of applications. There are currently family based applications for which the wait is over 20 years. There is no category for someone who just wants to relocate other than DV.

Spot on.

Immigration to the USA is very difficult (impossible for the majority of people) and if you're not married to a USC or have a whole lot of money then it's unlikely to happen for you, OP. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but them's the facts.

[vanee 13]

If moving to the US doesn't work and Italy doesn't suit you, perhaps another country would work out for you.

[Stefania Muggianu 0]

Thank you all for the... discouragement.

So how did you all manage to immigrate? Did you all marry an American citizen? Or did you find an employer to sponsor you? We even tried that, but nobody was willing to do it...

How were you able to get the green card?

Stefania

[john_and_marlene 162]

These forums are for family based immigration.

[*julez* 124]

Thank you all for the... discouragement.

So how did you all manage to immigrate? Did you all marry an American citizen? Or did you find an employer to sponsor you? We even tried that, but nobody was willing to do it...

How were you able to get the green card?

Stefania

No one is trying to discourage you, bet rather trying to paint a realistic picture of how difficult it is to immigrate to the US just because you like it here better that your home country.

As John noted above, Visa Journey is a family-based immigration website. In other words, you need to have a familial relation already, or intend to marry a US citizen in order to benefit most from these forums. Those of us who frequent these forums are pretty well versed in immigration, but are by no means legal counsel. We've learned the process by going through it. And the vast majority are not in it for the green card, but for love. Its a long process that requires you to first make a petition to USCIS, then apply for a visa in the US Embassy in the foreign country. Once here, the adjustment of status for the green card occurs, in many cases - there are different variations to this process. This can take anywhere from several months, to years.

So, don't take it personally. You just need to understand that its not easy for anyone, and even less easy for someone in your situation. Good luck to you.