AOS and EAD on VWP

[dwheels76 5,468]

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

If you read the stories of the friend of a froend of a friend it always results with either someone doing something illegal (marrying someone just to get green card) or people just overstaying and going on with their lives.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

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?

Harpa Timsah,

Good point!

[David & Diana R 1,005]

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.

You are right. This is the wrong place to pose this question. There is no path for you at this point. Sorry but that is the reality. Imagine if everyone that wanted to come to the USA could just come on in. What a mess that would be. God Bless you and your family.

[JayJayH 546]

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

Unfortunately, as others have stated, there is currently no way for you to immigrate legally. Without immediate relatives, a bachelor's degree in a specialized field, or DV lottery eligibility, the sole option would be asylum (impossible for Brits) or a private congressional bill (virtually impossible). A proposed amnesty bill is still just that - a proposed bill which will be fought long and hard over in congress, and it will be stripped of what it currently is before ever enacted into law. If enacted. Even if today's proposed bill were to slide, you'd have had to be physically present, illegally, in the US since before Jan 1st, 2011 for there to be a path.

However: A likely outcome of the proposed immigration reform bill is the shutdown of the DV lottery and a replacement merit based system, much like what Canada has. The merit based system will be a point based system, where language skills, education, work experience etc will be taken into account.

As for now, you might want to consider going to school in the US. It would allow you to study (though not work off-campus), and it would allow your wife and kids to live in the US while you're going to school (though not work). A degree from a US university will qualify you for OPT, a one year work permit to work in a field related to your major. OPT is often a gateway to H1b, which again can open a path to permanent residence.

[JayJayH 546]

I too, have heard stories of people who came to the US with no special skills, $300 to their name, set up shop and gave their family a new life. These stores are either 1. Not true, 2. Involve people who won the DV lottery, 3. A sibling/parent/child/spouse petitioned for them, 4. They happened 'back in the day.' or 5. They lived/worked here illegally.

The only "I want to live in America" visa available is the Diversity Visa aka lottery.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Yang-Ja

[Boiler 45,657]

I can see some confusion here. I understand where the OP is coming from.

The UK media has long run TV programmes, Place in the Sun etc covering people who have migrated, I do not remember any involving the US, a few Canada, mostly Australia/New Zealand where there was and may still be possibilities.

Also there has been a massive influx of migrants to the UK, mostly unskilled. With a more generous benefit system in the UK that explains the comment about not claiming on the State.

Certainly my impression that whilst there are a lot of migrants in Construction, in CA often seen waiting in Home Depot car parks, most of them are not here legally.

Most UKC's are not eligible for the DV.

[MmmBlondie 8]

As others have said, you have hardly any options, but have you thought about getting a new job??

I dont know where you live or what you or your spouse does for a living now but have you thought about joining an American company in the UK, then transferring to the US on a work visa?? If your family and you are so desperate to move here then this may be your only option. It might take a few years but how badly do you want it?? I came here as I married an American but one of my best friends works for American Airlines at London Heathrow. Shes going through the process of being transferred to the US through work.

Oracle Corporation (its American) is international. Its based around IT, software, hardware etc but I used to work for them in the UK and I know they do transfers. Or how about companies like TK MAXX?? TK MAXX is actually American but over here its TJ MAXX? If you got a job within an American company, worked hard, got to head office or a good position then asked for a transfer I think you might be able to do it.

[AmyWrites 593]

There is no way for you to move to the US right now. Get special skills, a great job, or invest.

Yes, I know people who moved to the US without family here. They started or expanded their companies to the US.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Of course what you want to hear is possible, etc but it is illegal (even though you said you are not interested in illegal immigration) and equally important is that it is against the TOS of this site so no one here will share any stories.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Of course what you want to hear is possible, etc but it is illegal (even though you said you are not interested in illegal immigration) and equally important is that it is against the TOS of this site so no one here will share any stories.

You go, Gowan!!

Aloha Ke Akua