In need of guidance on how to obtain a EB-3 work visa

[Spruu 1]

First post here

To give a bit of information, I'm from Portugal and I'm intending to move to the US and work there.

I have no specific skills since I had to drop college, and leave behind my graphic designer degree, due to financial issues, not only family-wise but country-wise as well.

I've been looking for a job for four years and not even in supermarkets/grocery stores I can get a job. I'm not the only one in this situation, according to the latest statistics, currently there's 58,000 people in the same situation who had to drop college and can't get a job either.

I want to change my life and I know I wont be able to do it in my own country. The reason why I chose the US is because I not only have friends there but also my partner.

I already have an approved VWP with a validation of two years, which means I already have a way to, at least temporarily, get out for a max period of time of 90 days.

According to what I've been reading, there's a specific type of visa that I can apply for but the websites are not fairly descriptive about it. This visa is called Employment-Based Immigration: Third Preference EB-3 and there's a specific type of visa for Unskilled Workers (other workers).

My question is, knowing that I didn't finish college nor I can't find a job in my country to support myself, can I still apply for this type of visa and work in the US and live there?

Can I still work on this Visa, as in, get things started paperwork-wise, under the VWP?

The websites tend to confuse me a lot and I would like to know, here, what I need to do, if possible step by step, so I can move from my bad situation and work for a better life.

All the help and knowledge would be much appreciated.

Edited December 2, 2013 by Spruu

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You will first need a job offer with an employer willing to sponsor you for the visa. This visa is to work a particular job, not a visa to come to look for work. The employer will need to attest that there is no one in the whole US that can do this job, so they need to hire you.

There are plenty of people that can do generic labor in the US.

You can try, but it is going to be very difficult if not impossible to work in the US with no specialized training. We have no visas for people to come to look for any job: all visas require a job beforehand and an employer willing to spend time and money to sponsor the person.

You have free mobility in the EU, I would look for a new opportunity there. Best of luck.

[lost_at_sea 995]

You can't work on VWP, btw.

Also, you said "The reason why I chose the US is because I not only have friends there but also my partner."

You have an American partner? Spouse? Girlfriend/boyfriend?

Edited December 2, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Spruu 1]

You can't work on VWP, btw.

Also, you said "The reason why I chose the US is because I not only have friends there but also my partner."

You have an American partner? Spouse? Girlfriend/boyfriend?

I'm aware I can't work under the VWP nor even volunteer for any sort of campaign because it goes against the law of such temporary visa.

I have a boyfriend there yes.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I'm aware I can't work under the VWP nor even volunteer for any sort of campaign because it goes against the law of such temporary visa.

I have a boyfriend there yes.

Are you thinking about marriage? If so, then that'll be your way to relocate permanently to the USA (see I-129f for K1 for fiancé(e)s, or I-130 for IR/CR-1 for spouses).

[Spruu 1]

Are you thinking about marriage? If so, then that'll be your way to relocate permanently to the USA (see I-129f for K1 for fiancé(e)s, or I-130 for IR/CR-1 for spouses).

We considered it yes but it seems that it is a really long process and my partner doesn't know if he's qualified to support me.

Would you be able to guide me on how this process works, maybe through private message to avoid drastic change of topics in my Original Post?

[lost_at_sea 995]

We considered it yes but it seems that it is a really long process and my partner doesn't know if he's qualified to support me.

Would you be able to guide me on how this process works, maybe through private message to avoid drastic change of topics in my Original Post?

If you mean for the K1, this is the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide Eligibilities are covered at the top.

There's also a flowchart here covering the major steps through to green card: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

If it's financial support he's concerned about - as in, If he does not have means to support you on the I-134 (and later, the I-864 for adjustment of status) - then he'd find a joint sponsor (someone over 18, USC/LPR and living in the USA and making enough money for their own household plus the intending immigrant).

If you want to go down that route, it's probably totally doable - have a think about it, and maybe start a fresh thread in the appropriate section if you have questions.

There's also a comparison sheet of K1 versus other marriage-based visas here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

[Spruu 1]

If you mean for the K1, this is the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide Eligibilities are covered at the top.

There's also a flowchart here covering the major steps through to green card: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

If it's financial support he's concerned about - as in, If he does not have means to support you on the I-134 (and later, the I-864 for adjustment of status) - then he'd find a joint sponsor (someone over 18, USC/LPR and living in the USA and making enough money for their own household plus the intending immigrant).

If you want to go down that route, it's probably totally doable - have a think about it, and maybe start a fresh thread in the appropriate section if you have questions.

There's also a comparison sheet of K1 versus other marriage-based visas here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

I truly appreciate your help in trying to understand a bit better what are my options.

I've also seen the link you provided to compare different marriage-based visas since both me and my partner considered it.

What else would you suggest me to do/search for?

[kzielu 1,154]

We considered it yes but it seems that it is a really long process and my partner doesn't know if he's qualified to support me.

Would you be able to guide me on how this process works, maybe through private message to avoid drastic change of topics in my Original Post?

K-1 / CR-1 is about 100 times easier than getting sponsored for a green card, especially with (sorry) "no specific skills". There are biliions of people that want to come work in US, so this should give you an idea on the difficulty.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I truly appreciate your help in trying to understand a bit better what are my options.

I've also seen the link you provided to compare different marriage-based visas since both me and my partner considered it.

What else would you suggest me to do/search for?

I'm unsure - but check if Portugal qualifies for the diversity lottery (just search for that term and USA). If so, that could be an option.

[Spruu 1]

I'm unsure - but check if Portugal qualifies for the diversity lottery (just search for that term and USA). If so, that could be an option.

From what I've read about the diversity lottery, the entry registration period for the 2015 Diversity Visa program (DV-2015) was between October 1, 2013 and November 2, 2013. All submission processing at this web site has finished. I don't quite understand this specific paragraph though. I'm fluent in English but I still have some flaws in understanding some of it.

About Portugal being qualified for the diversity lottery, I just checked it here , and it is. In that link it shows all countries qualified and not qualified for diversity lottery.

According to your help, so far i only have two options, either marriage though a K-1 visa and then adjust status or Diversity Lottery.

Any idea how the D.L. works?

I apologize for so many questions but I'm trying to gather as much information as possible and not get confused.

[lost_at_sea 995]

From what I've read about the diversity lottery, the entry registration period for the 2015 Diversity Visa program (DV-2015) was between October 1, 2013 and November 2, 2013. All submission processing at this web site has finished. I don't quite understand this specific paragraph though. I'm fluent in English but I still have some flaws in understanding some of it.

About Portugal being qualified for the diversity lottery, I just checked it here , and it is. In that link it shows all countries qualified and not qualified for diversity lottery.

According to your help, so far i only have two options, either marriage though a K-1 visa and then adjust status or Diversity Lottery.

Any idea how the D.L. works?

;

I apologize for so many questions but I'm trying to gather as much information as possible and not get confused.

I'm not very versed on DV, but you'll have to wait for the 2014 application window to open now, anyway. Also, it is a rather literal lottery - so no guarantees.

Do you have any feelings about how soon you want to move? That may influence your opinion on paths.

Edited December 2, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Spruu 1]

I'm not very versed on DV, but you'll have to wait for the 2014 application window to open now, anyway. Also, it is a rather literal lottery - so no guarantees.

Do you have any feelings about how soon you want to move? That may influence your opinion on paths.

Quite honestly my situation in my country is so out of control and my own health is already compromised due to a lot of stress, frustration and worry over things that are out of my reach to control or even help. I'm being dragged to problems I can't help to solve and I need to get out of this cage that I'm in.

I would have moved yesterday if I could.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Don't rush into a marriage just to get out of Portugal. You do have free movement in the EU, check things out, visit your bf some more, make a good decision when the time is right.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Quite honestly my situation in my country is so out of control and my own health is already compromised due to a lot of stress, frustration and worry over things that are out of my reach to control or even help. I'm being dragged to problems I can't help to solve and I need to get out of this cage that I'm in.

I would have moved yesterday if I could.

Well, you'll more quickly be able to move around the EU than you'll be able to move to the US.