Who is moving to the US now anyway?

[madala 32]

I am maybe clueless and I understand that people move for love but with unprecedented unemployment level, almost lowest quality of education (unless you can send your kid to some elite private school), mass shooting every other day (...that maybe a bit exaggerated ) and on top of all that the misunderstanding of immigrants from some countries?

My other issue is when 20-30 years old person moves to another country, she/he is pretty much forgoing all contribution made to retirement plans in originating country. Maybe countries have different rules in that sense but how people decide on such things?

[DeWayne&CeCy 6]

Maybe life is just a little more complex than you think, so different from one person to next. this country not so bad it have it problems for sure but compared to most would much rather live here. or....you could just ask someone who lives in the city of juarez , mexico where there is close to 4000 murders a year if they would like to migrate to us. But I understand what your saying

[Xanax 349]

Australia and the US have reciprocal social security type benefits for retirement. I moved here for love, it was definitely not for anything else. We will hopefully move back to Australia with the next 5 years.

[kzielu 1,149]

I am maybe clueless and I understand that people move for love but with unprecedented unemployment level, almost lowest quality of education (unless you can send your kid to some elite private school), mass shooting every other day (...that maybe a bit exaggerated ) and on top of all that the misunderstanding of immigrants from some countries?

My other issue is when 20-30 years old person moves to another country, she/he is pretty much forgoing all contribution made to retirement plans in originating country. Maybe countries have different rules in that sense but how people decide on such things?

So actually contribution to retirement plan was one of my major concerns when I was moving (at the age of 36) - not necessarily the contributions I already made (not worth a lot and likely be worth even less) but contribution I will have to make to save some decent amount of money for retirement (at the time had little clue what 401k is). Anyway, decided to move, don't regret (yet ;-) ), try to save as much as I can even on the expense of my bi-weekly paycheck.

[Pinball1921 4]

You're right, you are clueless.

[madala 32]

You're right, you are clueless.

Definitely! I always like to doubt my thinking. How about you? Unless you are from Juarez as one comment said above, why did you move here?

[Pinball1921 4]

I was born in the US...

[christeen 966]

I was born in the US...

Oh, so either you actually have limited experience living in another country or our you speaking from your much better situation that you lived in elsewhere? Otherwise, you might look at some statistics before generalizing. Are there issues here in the USA? Yes... However, youth unemployment across much of Europe tops 27%, murders in Mexico, poverty in Asia, political unrest in Middle East combined with employment issues, poverty and crime in Africa and South America, human rights issues in. China.... USA doesn't look so bad of a choice for many...

There are pros and cons for everywhere in the world, but comparatively speaking, there is still great opportunity for many here. Perhaps from your point of view, you cannot see why anyone would want come here (which IMO is sad) but perhaps your view is distorted by a lack of experience or perspective gained from spending time elsewhere?

[NikLR 13,227]

*** moved to off topic from general immigration as topic is not asking questions about the immigration process ***

I moved for love. I live in a state that was not hit as hard by the economy crash as other states. I work in retail and well, retail is always there. I also do not plan on having any children with my husband. I have one from a previous relationship and she chose to stay in Canada with her father. Because of that I'll don't have to worry about paying for her health care either unless she chooses to move here. But my husband has a great job with the government so it's not an issue either.

For other people, as poor as the US may seem to some, it's miles higher than where they are. Hopefully, they're moving for love though, not for the promise of the USA in its grandeur.

[SAT 9,609]

My wife moved here because its better than Somalia. (Where she is from)

[Caryh 5,206]

My wife moved here for love. She had a job in less than a month after getting her EAD. She now makes more than her entire family back home combined. She has more clothing, more bags, more shoes than she ever thought she'd ever have. She has a new car we bought for her so she could drive back and forth to work. The best her family had was a second hand car they haven't been able to afford to replace since it went bad. She'd still move back in a heartbeat if I would move there with her. But I can't see myself surviving on rice and dried fish all that long.

As to the OP's points

USA's unprecedented unemployment levels are still better than most countries unemployment levels.

USA is 13th in education as reported by the UN

My wife is an immigrant and gets treated great by people around here. Just because there are some anti immigrant attitudes of some, doesn't mean the country is anti immigrant.

Even you know the mass shooting line was not correct, but there's a lot worse places for violence in the world. Most the USA is pretty darn safe.

As to a pension, investing the higher earnings the average immigrant makes will go a long way if they return to their home country and retire. Plus get into SS and they'd have a decent pension to.

To add to this, my wife still contributes to SS in her home country to keep her pension there available one day.

My wife moved here because its better than Somalia. (Where she is from)

[SAT 9,609]

That's why we call Cary "the professor"

[Pinball1921 4]

Christeen I think you replied to the wrong person

[christeen 966]

Christeen I think you replied to the wrong person

Oops sorry, hit quote instead of reply... But my point stays the same for the OP

[madala 32]

Well people, your points are noted and I understand those who left extreme hardship to move here. People have different measure of happiness in life and I still think some poor immigrants will try to cross the ocean heading to Spain tomorrow, chasing their "Spanish Dream".

People who live in well off countries such Australia, Canada, some Asians countries, even south Americans countries probably think twice before packing.

To christeen:

I understand your points but US is a giant ball of poverty ( half of US household earn less than $55000 a year), crime (almost 15,000 homicide in 2011 alone). In New York city, high school students have to go through metal detector every morning causing so many kids to drop out.

The world is not perfect people, and I guess I should be grateful of where I am. But thanks for your participation.