Obtaining a work visa

[britconfused123 0]

Forgive my ignorance but I do not understand the immigration process at all. I'm 18 years old from the UK and I wish to immigrate to the United States. I have a friend which I intend to live with. I presume it would be illegal to work on US soil and I would be deported? I don't wish to tell my parents anything important unless I have too. Could I only stay for the 90 days permitted by a travel visa?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

You're not legally allowed to work on vwp. At 18 years old you likely don't qualify for a work visa either. Perhaps look into a j1 program or student visa?

[Georgia16 2,858]

If you ever want to immigrate to the US then you should definitely not do someting that is illegal in the country.

[mallafri76 1,012]

You're from the UK, which means you can most likely travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and stay as a tourist for up to 90 days. You cannot work or study for credit while in the US under the VWP or on a tourist visa.

Getting a work or immigration visa to the US is not easy. For work, you need to find an employer willing to sponsor you and that employer needs to show that no American can do what you do. Since you're only 18 and hardly have any work experience, that's not gonna happen.

If you're so eager to go to the US, a J1 (basically a trainee visa) is the best option. Many companies have them.

Since you're young, take Georgia's advice and be careful not to overstay. Overstaying now can have huge implications for you in the future.

[JFH 12,190]

Or marry your "friend".

[yuna628 9,676]

Forgive my ignorance but I do not understand the immigration process at all. I'm 18 years old from the UK and I wish to immigrate to the United States. I have a friend which I intend to live with. I presume it would be illegal to work on US soil and I would be deported? I don't wish to tell my parents anything important unless I have too. Could I only stay for the 90 days permitted by a travel visa?

You cannot at this time immigrate to the US. You can visit (and nothing else) and return home. But I will point out the following to you, and I say this kindly. You are very young, you don't wish to tell your parents what you're up to, you want to stay with a 'friend', you want to immigrate. All of these things are red flags, and will most likely be seen with suspicion get you sent back home as soon as you get off the plane. Even for a first time visit to the US, with the following in mind, you will be questioned and you better have good truthful answers for those questions and strong proof that you will return home at the end of your visit.

The VWP is not a travel visa, it allows a UK citizen to visit the US without needing a visa for a period of up to 90 days. It is also not a free pass into the US and you can lose those privileges very easily if they are abused. You are not allowed to work.

None of us here knows your situation, why you would want to immigrate to the US, why you would want to obtain a work visa, and further still why you don't wish to tell your parents, or the status of the relationship with your friend. That's up to you to say.

There are no avenues for you to legally immigrate unless by marriage/fiancé, obtaining a work visa (at your age and status highly unlikely), or obtaining a student visa (which would also likely take a lot of work on your part to be ready for that).