Hi all !

[P. Kiernan 0]

Hello everyone,

I am new here. I am originally from Ireland and I would love to work and live in the US. My sister currently lives and works there. I also have family connections there (my aunt lives in America). I visited the US in the late 1990's and loved it so much. I'm 25 and would like to permanently settle in the USA, maybe meet someone and enjoy life thereafter. I have just completed my degree in Pharmaceutical Science.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Welcome to VJ

GOod luck on your journey

What is your sister's status in the US? Is she a resident? A citizen?

[Dan J 277]

Hello everyone,

I am new here. I am originally from Ireland and I would love to work and live in the US. My sister currently lives and works there. I also have family connections there (my aunt lives in America). I visited the US in the late 1990's and loved it so much. I'm 25 and would like to permanently settle in the USA, maybe meet someone and enjoy life thereafter. I have just completed my degree in Pharmaceutical Science.

I suppose you have few options. Starting with family visas:

If you were married or engaged, you would be able to get a visa within about 6 months to a year. Your green card would be conditional for the first two years.

With a family visa, only your sister can petition you if she is a citizen. As a sibling, you would be in 4th priority category and would be looking at nearly 10 years to get a priority date.

You make possibly qualify for an H1B visa. You would need to find an employer in the US willing to sponsor you, but that is one the only visas considered dual intent, which means you can also immigrate after a period of time.

[P. Kiernan 0]

I suppose you have few options. Starting with family visas:

If you were married or engaged, you would be able to get a visa within about 6 months to a year. Your green card would be conditional for the first two years.

With a family visa, only your sister can petition you if she is a citizen. As a sibling, you would be in 4th priority category and would be looking at nearly 10 years to get a priority date.

My sister is still on the J1 Visa for a second consecutive year. It may be 5 years more until she becomes a US citizen. Perhaps this route would be more efficient as opposed to the sibling category, assuming the latter takes up to 10 years to process…

You make possibly qualify for an H1B visa. You would need to find an employer in the US willing to sponsor you, but that is one the only visas considered dual intent, which means you can also immigrate after a period of time.

Yes, I was thinking about this route. Unfortunately, it seems extremely difficult to convince a prospective employer to sponsor me. To succeed, I would need a really good qualification with solid work experience. I’m actually starting my Masters this September; its 1 year course. I’m doing it here in Ireland. However, my sister did hers in Canada and I’m in a dilemma whether I should do it somewhere closer to the US. Would an employer sponsor me to enter/get a job if I have an MSc from a University closer to US soil?

Welcome to VJ

GOod luck on your journey

What is your sister's status in the US? Is she a resident? A citizen?

Thanks. She is currently a resident there.

[Dan J 277]

My sister is still on the J1 Visa for a second consecutive year. It may be 5 years more until she becomes a US citizen. Perhaps this route would be more efficient as opposed to the sibling category, assuming the latter takes up to 10 years to process…

J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa. Does she already have a green card through marriage?

Yes, I was thinking about this route. Unfortunately, it seems extremely difficult to convince a prospective employer to sponsor me. To succeed, I would need a really good qualification with solid work experience. I’m actually starting my Masters this September; its 1 year course. I’m doing it here in Ireland. However, my sister did hers in Canada and I’m in a dilemma whether I should do it somewhere closer to the US. Would an employer sponsor me to enter/get a job if I have an MSc from a University closer to US soil?

F-1 student visas have the option to convert to H1B once your education is complete and you find a sponsoring employer. However, to apply to a university in the US as an international student, you will need to show that you have enough money/assets to cover tuition and room and board. For a public university, this is around $25,000-$30,000 per year depending on the school.

[P. Kiernan 0]

J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa. Does she already have a green card through marriage?

No. She has no green cards through marriage.

She did her Masters in Canada and subsequently got sponsored by an employer to work in the US, upon graduation.

F-1 student visas have the option to convert to H1B once your education is complete and you find a sponsoring employer. However, to apply to a university in the US as an international student, you will need to show that you have enough money/assets to cover tuition and room and board. For a public university, this is around $25,000-$30,000 per year depending on the school.

Is it easier to get sponsored when someone completes their education in Canada? Is there an advantage?

Thanks so much.

Edited August 30, 2010 by P. Kiernan

[Dan J 277]

No. She has no green cards through marriage.

She did her Masters in Canada and subsequently got sponsored by an employer to work in the US, upon graduation.

Until she becomes a citizen, there is no way she can sponsor you directly. At this point, she can only get a green card through a marriage to a citizen. Only after 3 years with a green card would she be eligible for citizenship.

Is it easier to get sponsored when someone completes their education in Canada? Is there an advantage?

The only advantage is a practical one. You would be closer to the US which may make finding an employer to sponsor you somewhat easier. You would still need to qualify like everyone else.

[P. Kiernan 0]

Until she becomes a citizen, there is no way she can sponsor you directly. At this point, she can only get a green card through a marriage to a citizen. Only after 3 years with a green card would she be eligible for citizenship.

The only advantage is a practical one. You would be closer to the US which may make finding an employer to sponsor you somewhat easier. You would still need to qualify like everyone else.

I understand. I suspected it would be restrictive in those circumstances. I'm as well doing my Masters in my home country...? A taught Masters is 7,000 EUR over here. I think it would be more expensive in Canada? Is it likely I'd have any advantage with a Masters to enter the US?

[Dan J 277]

I understand. I suspected it would be restrictive in those circumstances. I'm as well doing my Masters in my home country...? A taught Masters is 7,000 EUR over here. I think it would be more expensive in Canada? Is it likely I'd have any advantage with a Masters to enter the US?

With the H1B route, holders of Masters and PhD degrees fall under a separate cap than those with bachelors degrees. Which also tends not to fill up as quickly.