AOS and EAD on VWP

[ScottishFamily 0]

Hello,

This may be on the wrong place, if it is sorry.

I am looking for some information on a situation that I can't find anything on even though I doubt we are the only ones to have thought about this, first of all we have not overstayed any VWP. We are a family of UK citizens, husband, wife and 3 young kids.

We are over in California, we have been coming here for the past few years and would eventually like to live here. We have no family here, we don't have professional jobs and can't invest. We have enough funds to keep ourselves for a while and I have been able to make good contacts in high end construction over the years so getting employment isn't difficult, the jobs pay enough to keep us in the way of life we are accustomed to but they are not jobs that the employers would be able to sponsor me for.

Through research I don't see anyway to adjust our status but I don't think we can be the only ones who have ever been in this situation. We don't want any welfare benefits we only want to bring our kids up here as the way of life is pretty great. I have read a lot saying we can file to wait for an immigration amnesty and while the papers are being processed we would get a work permit to allow myself to work while we get an outcome. Like I said I've read a lot and don't really see a way but again, I can't see us being the only ones to be have been in this situation.

I may be way off but I'm sure there can be a way for a family to come here, work hard pay their way and set up a life here? Any information or a point in the direction would be great.

Thanks.

[Jawaree 718]

Employment would be the only possible way, do some more

researching, U have no family, married,not enough money to

invest, have U looked into student visa (Temp) U could maybe

apply, and don't your husband know technical parts of the construction biz

to qualify speaking to a construction firm...lots of building going

on in Illinois & Louisiana, but do not overstay the vwp or

U ruin your chances, I would check out the local Catholic, but please

do not let them encourage U to apply for asylum, U are from the UK.

that would not fly

[Boiler 45,960]

Ar you eligible to enter the Lottery, you seem to have exhausted the regular routes.

[Hypnos 6,578]

Only British citizens from Northern Ireland are eligible to enter the diversity visa lottery; if you're from England, Scotland or Wales then you're out of luck.

OP, the US concentrates primarily on employment and family-based immigration paths. You have no route to a green card right now.

[ScottishFamily 0]

Yeah no luck with being eligible for the lottery.

I thought there was no route but couldn't believe we were the only ones to ever be in this situation with these circumstances? I'm sure we are not but wondered if there were any stories of others in this situation and how they went about it. I'm planning on seeing a lawyer but I've kind of researched a good amount and don't know what a lawyer could tell me. I may go for a consultation and see if they have any other info that I may haven't heard of yet.

[kzielu 1,149]

Yeah no luck with being eligible for the lottery.

I thought there was no route but couldn't believe we were the only ones to ever be in this situation with these circumstances? I'm sure we are not but wondered if there were any stories of others in this situation and how they went about it. I'm planning on seeing a lawyer but I've kind of researched a good amount and don't know what a lawyer could tell me. I may go for a consultation and see if they have any other info that I may haven't heard of yet.

Of course you're not the only ones - there are miliions of people that want to come and live here as they think "life here is pretty great". Ever wondered why they don't ?

You either have to be relative (closer - better) of US citizen, be sponsored by employer or win a DV lottery. No other way - sorry. Don't know why do you think there should be one ?

Waiting for amnesty is really dumb. It may never happen or it may be applicable only to people who arrived before certain date (so you may not qualify).

[ScottishFamily 0]

Yeah I understand the comments saying that there is no way, I get that, my point is that from the millions of people in a situation similar, they don't all just go back to where they came originally, it's those stories I'd like to know about.

I'm sure they're are people in the US who are fit and able to work but just plain don't! They sponge off the system and make a living by doing so, is that acceptable and their right because they were born here? The country was built by hard working immigrants. I don't see the problem with people coming over and using none of the welfare benefits but working and make their own living. It happened in the UK, we had a huge amount of Polish immigrants that came over, they would work to make their own living, sure people complained of them stealing jobs that UK workers could take, I never lost any jobs to immigrants and I don't know anyone who genuinely did, they gave a great excuse for people who were too lazy and had no drive to get out and work.

It seems a tough set of laws when it could be made a lot easier for working people to come here and set up a life. The thing is that I would be making less money here than I would be in the UK, it's not a bad wage and we can live nicely off of it but it's less than I make in the UK, plus the healthcare in the UK is free so the move we are looking to do is nothing to do with financial motives or having the starry eyed view that the streets are paved with gold that I'm sure some do.

Thanks for the replies, it's good to see opinions on all sides

[Boiler 45,960]

Poland is part of the EU, the comparison with the US is more akin to someone moving from Florida to California, well its a lot further.

If you are serious about such a move there are ways, maybe none in the short term, you need to decide which long term plan would be best, whether it be Education Work or Investment.

[ScottishFamily 0]

Yeah you're right,

it would have been in 2004 when we had the largest migration after they were added to the EU so I suppose they didn't actually need to do anything they just took a drive and a boat.

[kzielu 1,149]

Yeah I understand the comments saying that there is no way, I get that, my point is that from the millions of people in a situation similar, they don't all just go back to where they came originally, it's those stories I'd like to know about.

I'm sure they're are people in the US who are fit and able to work but just plain don't! They sponge off the system and make a living by doing so, is that acceptable and their right because they were born here? The country was built by hard working immigrants. I don't see the problem with people coming over and using none of the welfare benefits but working and make their own living. It happened in the UK, we had a huge amount of Polish immigrants that came over, they would work to make their own living, sure people complained of them stealing jobs that UK workers could take, I never lost any jobs to immigrants and I don't know anyone who genuinely did, they gave a great excuse for people who were too lazy and had no drive to get out and work.

It seems a tough set of laws when it could be made a lot easier for working people to come here and set up a life. The thing is that I would be making less money here than I would be in the UK, it's not a bad wage and we can live nicely off of it but it's less than I make in the UK, plus the healthcare in the UK is free so the move we are looking to do is nothing to do with financial motives or having the starry eyed view that the streets are paved with gold that I'm sure some do.

Thanks for the replies, it's good to see opinions on all sides

I don't quite get what exactly are you complaining about at this point... I don't like people in US living off my taxes, but it's the reality and need to accept it - not sure how that's relevant to your question. To summarize you essentialy say life's unfair - hardly a news for anybody.

And if you get over that, think about what can you do to make that happen - only solution is make yourself valuable for potential employers. Complaining on forums about unfairness is not going to get you there.

Situation with Polish immigrants isn't necessarily comparable but it's hard to deny it happened. So you know, I turned down two job offers from Rolls-Royce in Bristol, so haven't stolen any jobs from you guys but it seemed they hard hard time finding anybody qualified locally....

Again - doesn't change the answer to your question, also minute you overstay you take yourself out of potential work-based immigrant population. And think about you're one of the billions that would have like to come here, just happen to have privilege to come for 90 days on VWP which is totally irrelevant...

[Teddy B 17,252]

Yeah I understand the comments saying that there is no way, I get that, my point is that from the millions of people in a situation similar, they don't all just go back to where they came originally, it's those stories I'd like to know about.

I'm sure they're are people in the US who are fit and able to work but just plain don't! They sponge off the system and make a living by doing so, is that acceptable and their right because they were born here? The country was built by hard working immigrants. I don't see the problem with people coming over and using none of the welfare benefits but working and make their own living. It happened in the UK, we had a huge amount of Polish immigrants that came over, they would work to make their own living, sure people complained of them stealing jobs that UK workers could take, I never lost any jobs to immigrants and I don't know anyone who genuinely did, they gave a great excuse for people who were too lazy and had no drive to get out and work.

It seems a tough set of laws when it could be made a lot easier for working people to come here and set up a life. The thing is that I would be making less money here than I would be in the UK, it's not a bad wage and we can live nicely off of it but it's less than I make in the UK, plus the healthcare in the UK is free so the move we are looking to do is nothing to do with financial motives or having the starry eyed view that the streets are paved with gold that I'm sure some do.

Thanks for the replies, it's good to see opinions on all sides

Yes, there are plenty of US citizens who are fit & able to work but chose to sponge off the system. It's not right, but because they are citizens they are allowed to receive benefits from our welfare system if that system deems they should. Every country has it's share of deadbeats, I don't see what this has to do with your wanting to immigrate here.

The problem with people coming over and working is that they are taking jobs away from Americans. We still have plenty of people that are capable and WANT to work too. Why should you be allowed to come here and take a job away from an American citizen? What's so bad about the UK that you prefer to live in the US?

There are certain jobs in the US that need to be filled by immigrant workers because the US does not have enough people trained in those areas to the fill the amount of job openings. You may want to concentrate on those jobs to see if your eligible for a work visa.

[ScottishFamily 0]

Yeah you don't get what I'm saying, I'm not saying life's unfair or complaining, I'm asking if there are any stories of people in a similar situation because all I read on forums are people who have stories of a friend of a friend of a friend or they heard a story sometime. Nothing of any real foundation or reliable source.

You can be as valuable as possible to an employer but look at it this way, if you are a craftsmen/tradesmen and have the skills to work for most companies that is all good and well but no employer will go through the visa application for you, it costs too much. There's always the argument of saying you could get to a managerial position but what if you don't want to, what if you only want to be a craftsmen with no thoughts of being off the tools so to speak.

Again I'm not complaining I'm just looking for stories of this sort of situation because I'm sure it's not a special circumstance. Kzielu I have took on board your comments even though they are not anything to do with what I had asked for but thanks anyway for your input

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hello,

This may be on the wrong place, if it is sorry.

I am looking for some information on a situation that I can't find anything on even though I doubt we are the only ones to have thought about this, first of all we have not overstayed any VWP. We are a family of UK citizens, husband, wife and 3 young kids.

We are over in California, we have been coming here for the past few years and would eventually like to live here. We have no family here, we don't have professional jobs and can't invest. We have enough funds to keep ourselves for a while and I have been able to make good contacts in high end construction over the years so getting employment isn't difficult, the jobs pay enough to keep us in the way of life we are accustomed to but they are not jobs that the employers would be able to sponsor me for.

Through research I don't see anyway to adjust our status but I don't think we can be the only ones who have ever been in this situation. We don't want any welfare benefits we only want to bring our kids up here as the way of life is pretty great. I have read a lot saying we can file to wait for an immigration amnesty and while the papers are being processed we would get a work permit to allow myself to work while we get an outcome. Like I said I've read a lot and don't really see a way but again, I can't see us being the only ones to be have been in this situation.

I may be way off but I'm sure there can be a way for a family to come here, work hard pay their way and set up a life here? Any information or a point in the direction would be great.

Thanks.

Have you considered exploring your options in Canada? You can enjoy the same way of life, and Canada is far more receptive and has immigration programs that are now long gone in the US.

I only mention Canada because you seem to have no legal path for residence in the US, which would make immigration a far fetched notion for you and your family.

I hope this helps you expand on your considerations. Good luck!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yeah you don't get what I'm saying, I'm not saying life's unfair or complaining, I'm asking if there are any stories of people in a similar situation because all I read on forums are people who have stories of a friend of a friend of a friend or they heard a story sometime. Nothing of any real foundation or reliable source.

You can be as valuable as possible to an employer but look at it this way, if you are a craftsmen/tradesmen and have the skills to work for most companies that is all good and well but no employer will go through the visa application for you, it costs too much. There's always the argument of saying you could get to a managerial position but what if you don't want to, what if you only want to be a craftsmen with no thoughts of being off the tools so to speak.

Again I'm not complaining I'm just looking for stories of this sort of situation because I'm sure it's not a special circumstance. Kzielu I have took on board your comments even though they are not anything to do with what I had asked for but thanks anyway for your input

You are a person with no special skill who wants to live and work in the US. Fair enough, but you are not special or different from the bazillions of other people that want to do so. The fact of the matter is that there is no visa path for you. What you are proposing is living as in illegal immigrant, and why? Because of some entitlement argument about moochers?

There are no stories because it is impossible. There are no secret loopholes. If you stay as an illegal immigrant then you can be deported at any time. Your children will be barred from certain things. You will be able to only get illegal work, and you will have no protections in your job because the work is illegal. You would have to constantly hide.

You have free movement in the EU, don't you?

[ScottishFamily 0]

I'm not proposing any form of illegal immigration, I also didn't say it was a special or I was special in anyway. Seems as though you scanned over the post and replied but why would I want to be here as an illegal, as I've said I can work in high end construction, there's no way they are employing an illegal or the ones I know don't anyway.

I understand that there is no path available but I find it hard to believe that other people with no path just leave the country, I thought there would be someone who had an experience similar, obviously I'm wrong and there isn't.

Yeah I can go anywhere in the EU