How Can I work in the united states?

[DannySherbank 0]

Hi im 21 years old and I met a girl online who lives in the states and I want to move there to be with her but I have no degrees and I want to know how can I legally work in united states? Which visa is best for me to try and get? I am planning to marry my girlfriend within a few years but until then I was wondering if there's any options for me to be able to legally work in the states?? And feedback is much apreciated thank you!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

You can't.

You could try for a F1 student visa if you have the funds, or commute (depending where she lives, obviously), or bring wedding plans forward.

[canadian_wife 1,818]

Sorry, you cannot. Penguin is right

There are no boyfriend visas and with your lack of education and job with and employer willing to sponsor you, you cannot

F-1 is good, but expensive

Good luck

[sheeshkabelle 153]

As they said.

Either you get engaged and get a K-1 fiance visa and get married when you come to the US. Or get married now and file for a CR-1 spousal visa.

Trust me, there is no other way with out a professional degree. Even then work visas are non-immigrant visas. If you plan to come and stay, you have immigrant intent.

[DannySherbank 0]

Thank you for the feedback guys; if I get engaged and apply for the engagement visa then am I allowed to work in the states? And once I'm married do I automatically get a greencard??

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Thank you for the feedback guys; if I get engaged and apply for the engagement visa then am I allowed to work in the states? And once I'm married do I automatically get a greencard??

Once you enter on the K-1 visa, you have 90 days to get married in the US. After the marriage you apply to adjust status. Once all the paperwork has been received by USCIS, you are then able to work and you will get a green card.

The CR-1 You can marry in either the US or Canada, you apply for a spousal visa, if approved once you cross into the US to activate the Visa, you then have a green card. (The activated visa in your passport acts as a temporary green card.)

There are other steps involved in both. Read the guides here ----> US Immigration Overview

[Moomin 292]

Thank you for the feedback guys; if I get engaged and apply for the engagement visa then am I allowed to work in the states? And once I'm married do I automatically get a greencard??

Have you met your gf other than online? After you arrive in the US, you'll have to get married within 90 days, then file AOS paperwork. Getting a work permit that way will take a couple of months after filing the AOS paperwork. The process cost 350 for petition, 240 for visa interview, approx 350 for medical exam. Then 1070 for AOS. These fees are without the cost of anything else such as plane tickets, traveling to visit/to the embassy/medical and other factors. You'll have to have met one time or more(IRL) before filing the paperwork and provide proof thereof when filing the fiance petition.

You could always try the DV(greencard) lottery.

[DannySherbank 0]

Okay thank you and no have not met yet but were visiting eachother for two weeks this summer and what I'm wondering is if

I get my k-1 visa does that give me permission to work and live in USA? Or just enter? Because the costs are

Expensive and I will want to be working

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Okay thank you and no have not met yet but were visiting eachother for two weeks this summer and what I'm wondering is if

I get my k-1 visa does that give me permission to work and live in USA? Or just enter? Because the costs are

Expensive and I will want to be working

Read the link I gave you and compare them to the other visas. K-1 you will not be able to work right away. It will take a few months for the EAD and green card. K-1 is pretty expensive in the long run.

CR-1 is cheaper, results in an immediate green card but takes longer to complete.

A Diversity Visa (DV) takes years upon years.

The big rule for both K-1 and CR-1, is you have to have met in person with in the past two years before filing and prove you have a bona fide relationship when you file the first petition.

Since this sounds like a new relationship, if it's possible, spend a lot of time visiting. As a Canadian you can visit for up to 180 days with out a visa.

My husband and I met online also, we spent four years visiting back and forth before we filed for anything. At first we had short visits of 2 weeks at a time, trading who went where and who paid for what. (We lived, and still live 3000 miles apart, it can be done)

After we were married, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend three months at a time with him in Canada during the summers.

Take your time, do your research. I know as a Canadian it comes as quite a shock about everything that has to be done to immigrate to the US. A lot of people have the impression "Hey, It's Canada, how hard can it be?" Canadians go through the same processes as everyone else. The only difference is, it's easier to visit each other while it's making it's way through USCIS, and the interviews seem to not be as nerve wracking.

[Moomin 292]

Okay thank you and no have not met yet but were visiting eachother for two weeks this summer and what I'm wondering is if

I get my k-1 visa does that give me permission to work and live in USA? Or just enter? Because the costs are

Expensive and I will want to be working

Nope, the K1 visa gives you permission to move to the US to marry your fiancee. If you marry within 90 days, it gives you permission to adjust your status(apply for a greencard based on marriage through K1). When you apply to adjust your status, you may file the work authorization application at the same time and waive the fee of the EAD(work permit).

When you enter the country on a K1, you may apply for a work authorization right when you enter however it'll cost you to file it without the adjustment of status, it'll take around 3 months to get approved, and it's only valid until your K1 visa expires - which is 3 months so it's a bit waste of money even if you just have it for a week.

Yes, it is quite expensive and quite a responsibility. Looking into the different options is great to be prepared, however, it is quite a responsibility for your girlfriend. Make sure she understands what the affidavit of support is, and what is required of her(tax returns, income etc.) in the long run.

--

When visiting the US, it's legal for you to snoop around to see what's available when it comes to work. You may also have interviews, you're just can't work. I looked before meving(didn't want to get stuck staying at home forever). I had a few job applications out there, and had a job the day after receiving the work permit.

Edited April 18, 2012 by moomin

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

The big rule for both K-1 and CR-1, is you have to have met in person with in the past two years before filing and prove you have a bona fide relationship when you file the first petition.

Actually I don't remember "Meeting within the past 2 years" being a requirement for CR/IR-1 Visa, just having a Bona fide marriage to a US Citizen. You could argue that a married couple who has lived apart for 2 years don't have a bona fide marriage but in some cultures (Philippines for example) it's common for the provider to work in another country for extended times.

[Boiler 45,314]

Are you a naturalised Canadian Citizen?

[DannySherbank 0]

What does naturalized mean? I was born here and parents were too

[Boiler 45,314]

The way you posted English was not your first Language, French?

[DannySherbank 0]

Haha! No English is my first language