Am I qualified enough to even think about a work visa

[DeclanW 33]

So my girlfriend lives in Ohio and me and her want to close the distance but her parents are iffy with marriage due to us being quite young. They have suggested I apply for a work visa and find a job there. I'm wondering if I actually have any chance with this. I'm 20, I have a year's experience answering phones and filing vast amounts of paperwork, I didn't go to university but I did do further education in IT but it's nothing like a degree or anything. I really don't like my chances as any job I would apply for could be filled by anybody. I don't really have any special skills or education. Thank you to anyone who replies

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Sorry, you do not qualify for a work visa.

[Hypnos 6,576]

No.

[Boiler 45,488]

Go to Uni and then perhaps a J1 visa?

[A'n'L 735]

Try a student visa?

[ILikeBread 43]

It's not as much about how qualified you are but more about is there not a US person able to do that job already there? You may have a shot if your specialty is rare and in demand in the U.S.

Disclaimer: it's my understanding on how U.S. work visa work.

[millefleur 5,046]

You can try to enroll in a cheaper, local community college there as long as they're accepting foreign students. It'll probably be your best bet in terms of cost. Work visas are fairly difficult to get in the US. You usually need connections to people who will help you get one plus a relatively well-honed skill that would justify them pursuing one for you.

If you end up being really good in IT, especially in a more in-demand area like developer where there are already a lot of foreigners being hired, you might have a shot at a work visa down the road but it would probably be really hard to do without a degree to prove your qualifications. You might also have to move to a bigger city in that case where there are more opportunities/jobs. So, yeah, since you're young the student visa is the best bet for now in terms of a longer stay in the US.

[JFH 12,190]

If it's about being together with your girlfriend she would probably have more luck coming to the UK on a partner visa.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

So my girlfriend lives in Ohio and me and her want to close the distance but her parents are iffy with marriage due to us being quite young.

Unsolicited advice here, but she at least is too young if she is letting her parents dictate how a relationship will pan out.

Maybe time to move on?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

All you could do is try to go through some sort of placement agency; but trying to dictate where you want to go, as in state and city really limits your likelihood of getting anything. Plus it is a costly venture for you and any employer to do a work/internship type visa. Also as others have said, is there anyone in that area that can already do the work that you could? Without any specialized skills/training in a field it is unlikely.

And why is her parents dictating what she should do in her love life?

[DrEllaNJ 288]

Unsolicited advice here, but she at least is too young if she is letting her parents dictate how a relationship will pan out.

Maybe time to move on?

20 is quite young to commit to marriage to a foreigner, I can totally see the parents' reservations. Besides, they would probably need to co-sponsor as it's unlikely the girlfriend has enough income to sponsor a potential fiance.

As others have suggested, try a student visa (which requires acceptance from a school). You'd have to be careful though not to volunteer that you will be studying there to be close to your girlfriend as this can make interviewing officers suspicious. Of course, you should never lie when asked whether you know anyone in the US.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

20 is quite young to commit to marriage to a foreigner, I can totally see the parents' reservations. Besides, they would probably need to co-sponsor as it's unlikely the girlfriend has enough income to sponsor a potential fiance.

I don't see why not. I think it is a little north of $10/hour that one would need to make in order to sponsor in that situation. If that isn't even possible and mommy and daddy are still controlling her life and finances, there is some growing up yet to do. At 20 I was married and living in my own apartment, it is doable.

Edited November 3, 2016 by N-o-l-a

[Cathi 5,748]

No