Imigrating a friend from Cyprus

[fenles 0]

I have a friend who has lived in Cyprus all his life and is 23 years old with no college education. He has interest in moving to the US and being able to work here.

But first he would like to visit on a Tourism visa for a while and then decide if he wants to take the next step in attending school here and possibly working part time.

He is an EU citizen and has never been to the US before except once as an 8yr old child when he came over with a parent on a business trip for a week.

So my question is... Once he gets here on his tourism visa, and decides he wants to stay, what options does he have to change the status of his visa so he can work and attend school?

[Inky 1,111]

Try looking at the embassy website first.

It explains everything for student visas. http://cyprus.usembassy.gov/student-visas.html

[Boiler 46,016]

Students are very limited to the hours they can work and it has to be on campus.

[fenles 0]

Try looking at the embassy website first.

It explains everything for student visas. http://cyprus.usembassy.gov/student-visas.html

We have already investigated what it takes to get the student visa. The problem is, he hasn't decided yet what his intent is. He wants to simply visit first. Then while he is here on a tourism visa, he will make up his mind if he is going back or wants to stay to attend school and/or work.

Can the tourism visa be upgraded to something else more long term while he is here in the US if he decides to stay?

I am very discouraged after searching the net on this topic as it seems that if he isn't related to someone here in the US, there are no options for long term stay. Am I jumping to incorrect conclusions or is it actually possible for someone to come here, stay long term, then eventually obtain citizenship even if they aren't related to or married to anyone here?

[Inky 1,111]

We have already investigated what it takes to get the student visa. The problem is, he hasn't decided yet what his intent is. He wants to simply visit first. Then while he is here on a tourism visa, he will make up his mind if he is going back or wants to stay to attend school and/or work.

Can the tourism visa be upgraded to something else more long term while he is here in the US if he decides to stay?

I am very discouraged after searching the net on this topic as it seems that if he isn't related to someone here in the US, there are no options for long term stay. Am I jumping to incorrect conclusions or is it actually possible for someone to come here, stay long term, then eventually obtain citizenship even if they aren't related to or married to anyone here?

There are no upgrades or exchanging visas for another visa.

Student visa is really his only bet unless he is to get married to a USC.

[Boiler 46,016]

There is a whole Alphabet of Visa's.

Depends which are of interest and which he qualifies for.

[fenles 0]

There is a whole Alphabet of Visa's.

Depends which are of interest and which he qualifies for.

Maybe i can tell you what he DOESN'T qualify for and you can tell me if there is any other options.

He has no relatives or family here in the US. He has no extraordinary abilities or special training so I think that means no work visa.

As for his interest.. He is just an average 23 year old guy in Cyprus that would like a chance to come live in the USA. He is also a good friend of mine which I am willing to sponsor financially to bring him over here. He would like to be able to work, as well as go to school.

Maybe the school visa is the best way but, is that correct that he can't work anywhere but at the school?

It seems to me, that with the huge mix of nationalities we have living in this country, whatever worked for all those people, must be available for him. I am just not enough of a legal expert to have a clue where to begin.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There are billions of people that want to come and stay for a bit in the US. To keep from being overcome by a rush of people immigration is set up to mske sure that those that want to visit do that. They want to be sure that the visitor has something that will cause them to leave. This means it is very difficult for young uneducsted men/woman of limited means. Visas to work here are limited and many wait years. Visiting visas don't allow work or study. Yes the US has a very diverse population but the easier way is family based petitions.

[Darnell 8,479]

Hi - have you priced the international student tuition rates at yer fav uni, recently? IMO, that sticker shock should make the two of you get serious about 'choosing a path', and soon.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Aside from the about $100,000 it would cost your friend to get even a Bachelor's degree in the US, the student visa is--just like the visitor's visa-- a non-immigrant visa, meaning once school's out or he has run out of money, he has to return home. There is no path from a non-immigrant visa to an immigrant visa or permanent residence.

Without at least 5 years of lawful permanent residence, there is no path to US citizenship.

Unless he is the immediate relative of a US citizen, a multi-millionaire investor, or a top notch professional in a field of high demand, there is no way for him to immigrate to the US short of the DV Lottery. To the best of my knowledge, Cypress is a qualifying country and the chance to win is about 1.75%.

[rika60607 215]

He may be able to get a tourist visa to US if he can show to the embassy that he has enough ties to Cyprus... if he finds a school he likes, he can apply and if he is accepted, he will have to go back to Cyprus and apply for a student visa.

Schools can cost a lot, unless he gets a scholarship (may be from Cyprus?).

After he graduates with bachelors degree, he may be able to get into graduate school and depending on a field of study, some grad students get stipends (and don't have to pay tuition). After he gets his doctorate, he could find an employer to sponsor a green card for him. This path to citizenship would take a minimum of 4(BS)+ 5(PhD)+ 3(GC)+ 5 (wait for citizenship) = 17 years. AND he would have to be outstanding!

He could meet and marry a US citizen. Minimum 4 years to citizenship (path #2).

He could claim asylum if something happens in Cyprus to cause immediate danger to his life. (unlikely path #3)

If he has no special skills/education, but is good with children, he could work in the US as an au pair. That will not put him on the way to citizenship, but will allow him to experience life in the US.

Maybe i can tell you what he DOESN'T qualify for and you can tell me if there is any other options.

He has no relatives or family here in the US. He has no extraordinary abilities or special training so I think that means no work visa.

As for his interest.. He is just an average 23 year old guy in Cyprus that would like a chance to come live in the USA. He is also a good friend of mine which I am willing to sponsor financially to bring him over here. He would like to be able to work, as well as go to school.

Maybe the school visa is the best way but, is that correct that he can't work anywhere but at the school?

It seems to me, that with the huge mix of nationalities we have living in this country, whatever worked for all those people, must be available for him. I am just not enough of a legal expert to have a clue where to begin.

[milimelo 4,548]

Play diversity visa lottery? I think Cyprus qualifies.

[Boiler 46,016]

The Lottery is the obvious one.

If he is most interested in setting up or buying a business an E2 maybe?

[Gosia & Tito 199]

We have already investigated what it takes to get the student visa. The problem is, he hasn't decided yet what his intent is. He wants to simply visit first. Then while he is here on a tourism visa, he will make up his mind if he is going back or wants to stay to attend school and/or work.

Can the tourism visa be upgraded to something else more long term while he is here in the US if he decides to stay?

I am very discouraged after searching the net on this topic as it seems that if he isn't related to someone here in the US, there are no options for long term stay. Am I jumping to incorrect conclusions or is it actually possible for someone to come here, stay long term, then eventually obtain citizenship even if they aren't related to or married to anyone here?

Not quite, but not to say is not easy.

I don't believe it is possible to change visas (types I mean), however, it is possible to already have a F-1 to say study English, then switch learning institution to a university or college; it is still a F-1, just to a different institution.

And yes, it is actually possible to come to the US, stay and eventually become a citizen, having no relatives here: I did it (through employment sponsorship). Now, this was 20 years ago, and things are more strict and cumbersome, take more time, cost more; but not impossible, I know people who have just done/achieve same in the past few months (but took them longer)

Depending on what his interest it, he could take a first trip just to explore colleges, meet people and perhaps even arrange for financial aid; I actually did something similar, took a first trip to just visit colleges, meet with Dept Chairs and professors and explore and pose the possibilities for financial aid from the colleges I was thinking of applying to. All this before I had applied to those colleges. I did get 2 firm offers of financial aid to 2 colleges, if I were to apply there. SO I did. End result, my education cost me nothing. THe financial aid was teaching/research assistant-ships, that is, I worked for the college; who in turn paid my tuition and a salary. Now, I was a graduate student. Undergrad are more difficult in terms of aid; but not impossible, that is why the field of study cold make a difference. For example, studying history probably won't cut it; but computer science might. (I did Computer Science by the way)

Hope this helps

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Aside from the about $100,000 it would cost your friend to get even a Bachelor's degree in the US, the student visa is--just like the visitor's visa-- a non-immigrant visa, meaning once school's out or he has run out of money, he has to return home. There is no path from a non-immigrant visa to an immigrant visa or permanent residence.

Without at least 5 years of lawful permanent residence, there is no path to US citizenship.

Unless he is the immediate relative of a US citizen, a multi-millionaire investor, or a top notch professional in a field of high demand, there is no way for him to immigrate to the US short of the DV Lottery. To the best of my knowledge, Cypress is a qualifying country and the chance to win is about 1.75%.

Tuition depends on a number of factors, among others: the college ranking and whether or not the student can be considered in-state resident for tuition purposes. As well, many colleges compensate work students (if on a teaching or research assistant ship), with tuition paid and a salary. Schools budget this things, so there is no money running out, it's all a matter of how many students are enrolled, the ratio they target to keep between professors-students and how many professors are available.

It is possible (I know, I did it) that your education cost you nothing (not meaning free, you worked for it).

Once degreed, it is not impossible to find and get a job (again, I did), it is possible to switch your student visa to a work type. If you plan things well, you will find a company that is willing to sponsor you for a green card (again, I did). Once you have a green card, just wait your 5 years and file for USC. Not impossible, not served in a silver plate either. I did study Computer Science, which was in high demand by the time I was done, I got a job in the first interview; I worked hard and made sure they understood they did not want to lose me, so they sponsor me.