Options for non student/non graduate

[Johnmitch38 4]

I am a British citizen, I have lived in the UK all my life. I absolutely love the US. I have visited 32 of the 50 states, can recite each state capital and have a vast knowledge of US history.

 

Anyway, I am 32 years old and want to move to the US to work and live. I am not a student and my highest level of education is A levels.

 

I am not involved in any service industry such as catering or child care. I have worked in the logistics industry for the last 12 years.

 

I am at the point where I am willing for a complete lifestyle/work change if it means I can live and work in the US. I have looked at the J1 visa but it looks as though you need to be either a student or recent graduate.

 

I realise that I'm not a stand out candidate in terms of education levels etc but I was wondering if anyone has any advice or suggestions to put my dream into reality.

[Roel 7,192]

Nope. No way for you to immigrate unless you can find an employer willing to sponsor you and of course you pass requirements. But that's also a temporary working visa. Unless later employer will be willing to sponsor your green cars. 

 

That's it. I believe UK residents aren't eligible for diversity lottery. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

I’m not trying to be rude but this is like that other post here the other day. This isn’t a site to help you find that. This is a site to help with the paperwork. You have to find the way to immigrate on your own. When you have that you come here with questions about the application process. 

[Johnmitch38 4]

I appreciate your response but given the wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum, I see it as a valuable information resource that could potentially help me. 

 

I suppose I should have elaborated a little bit more. I know that the only potentially possible way to immigrate is to find a sponsor. With that being said, I was wondering if anyone on here knows of any programs/internships/companies that focus on or are open minded to UK citizens applying for positions.

[Roel 7,192]

Are you ok with it being temporary visa though? You made it sound like you want to live in the USA pernamently. 

[Johnmitch38 4]

If at first the only way was for a temporary visa then I would be open to it. I suppose the way I see it, you never know what might happen whilst I was over there on a temporary visa.

 

Just being geographically over there would put me in a better position to network and communicate with potential permanent sponsors. I could also potentially find a US citizen spouse.

 

Unless a temporary visa is damaging to a permanent visa, I am open to any ideas.

Edited March 15, 2018 by Johnmitch38

[Boiler 45,525]

the obvious way is to get your Employer to transfer you to their US operation.

[Roel 7,192]

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

the obvious way is to get your Employer to transfer you to their US operation.

I wonder why this advise always appear.

 

Great  majority of foreign employers do not have any US operations. And if OP would work for a huge international company I assume they'd talk to someone about transfers. 

[Hypnos 6,576]

To permanently live in the US you have two choices: 

 

1) Marry an American. 

 

2) Get sponsored by an employer. 

 

3) If you're from NI, enter and win the diversity lottery. 

 

For temporarily being able to live in the US, you can consider an F-1 (student) or J-1 (cultural exchange) visa too, but neither provides a direct path to a green card. 

Edited March 15, 2018 by Hypnos

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

7 hours ago, Johnmitch38 said:

I appreciate your response but given the wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum, I see it as a valuable information resource that could potentially help me. 

 

I suppose I should have elaborated a little bit more. I know that the only potentially possible way to immigrate is to find a sponsor. With that being said, I was wondering if anyone on here knows of any programs/internships/companies that focus on or are open minded to UK citizens applying for positions.

To be blunt about it, if you only have A levels, you’re already disadvantaged. The vast majority - not all but the majority - of work visas go to uni graduates. If you have some amazing work experience that might help. You can try look online to see if the kind of jobs you qualify for offer work visa sponsorship, but jist based on what you’ve said I’d say unfortunately your chances don’t look that good. By the way no one is going to focus on UK citizens exclusively, even British government related offices here... you need to rely on your work experience. Employers prepared to sponsor work visas will hire the person who can do the job regardless of where they come from.

Edited March 15, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[Johnmitch38 4]

2 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

To be blunt about it, if you only have A levels, you’re already disadvantaged. The vast majority - not all but the majority - of work visas go to uni graduates. If you have some amazing work experience that might help. You can try look online to see if the kind of jobs you qualify for offer work visa sponsorship, but jist based on what you’ve said I’d say unfortunately your chances don’t look that good. By the way no one is going to focus on UK citizens exclusively, even British government related offices here... you need to rely on your work experience. Employers prepared to sponsor work visas will hire the person who can do the job regardless of where they come from.

Hi Susie, thanks for your bluntness, I do appreciate your response. I'm potentially looking at Canada as a stepping stone as it's easier to move there and I have multiple people close to me who have used that route who are now residing in the US. Such is my passion for America, I truly believe that given the chance I could make the right connections to be given an opportunity over there.

 

Both of my siblings are living in the US albeit on different Visas but I believe they can apply for a Visa for me in around three years time (they have been living in the US for two years already).

 

Hindsight is a fine thing, I should have looked at options years ago but unfortunately I was young and dumb. The reason for my original post was that I was hoping there may be some kind of program or businesses looking to diversify and offer UK citizens opportunities in the US. 

[Boiler 45,525]

Your siblings are Permanent Residents?

[Johnmitch38 4]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Your siblings are Permanent Residents?

Yes. My brother has been sponsored by a US company and he understands that after five years of residency, he can apply for parents/siblings for a Visa. My sister is married to a Visa holder  (UK citizen who has been sponsored by a US company) so again, she/I believes that she can apply for parents/siblings after five year of residency. (as long as they don't commit any felonies!)

 

I was hoping that there would be an opportunity that I could explore before then though.

[Boiler 45,525]

They would have to naturalise and then under current laws they could petition siblings, but that is more a retirement solution.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

2 hours ago, Johnmitch38 said:

Hi Susie, thanks for your bluntness, I do appreciate your response. I'm potentially looking at Canada as a stepping stone as it's easier to move there and I have multiple people close to me who have used that route who are now residing in the US. Such is my passion for America, I truly believe that given the chance I could make the right connections to be given an opportunity over there.

 

Both of my siblings are living in the US albeit on different Visas but I believe they can apply for a Visa for me in around three years time (they have been living in the US for two years already).

 

Hindsight is a fine thing, I should have looked at options years ago but unfortunately I was young and dumb. The reason for my original post was that I was hoping there may be some kind of program or businesses looking to diversify and offer UK citizens opportunities in the US. 

Yup, Canada (and Australia) are much easier to get into. There are a number of people I know too who used candada as a stepping stone to the US. It’s a long term thing, but not as long as a sibling visa would take...

 

So yes, citizens can sponsor siblings, for now (this and married children will probably be the first categories to go when/if the much-touted immigration reform gets passed), but even if the category still exists you’ll have a very long wait ahead of you. The current wait is around 14 years (those getting sibling visas now had petitions approved in 2004) and it’s only getting longer (there is a maximum per year of these visas, which stays constant, but an ever-increasing number of petitions).  So 3+14 is minimum 17 years from now...and as I said that 14 is getting longer. Realistically, you’re looking at a 20-year wait from now if this is the route you go.

 

Incidentally not everyone is able to become a citizen right on their 5 year anniversary even if they’ve met all the requirements, some field offices have a backlog as bad as around a year’s wait after filing (which you can’t do earlier than 90 days before your 5-year date). So it could be longer before they can file for you, too.

 

Again, the US does not (apart from NAFTA) show preferential treatment to citizens of other countries. You may find a company that specifically places value on your experience in the UK, but as far as I know you’re not going to find anyone giving you anything preferential just for being British. Work visas are complicated and expensive and companies focus on job skills/training etc rather than nationality of the applicant.

Edited March 16, 2018 by SusieQQQ