O/T. Emigrating to the U.S. of A

Hey fellas.
First.A bit of old history.
I was born in Scotland UK and lived there till I was 5,when I was,without my prior consent,brought over to Malta.
I've been back to Scotland quite frequently and I really really love the place.
I just turned 18 last July and my parents are getting divorced,requiring me to choose which one to live with,which is not my style and something I hate to do.
I therefore started thinking seriously about emigrating.
Scotland is the first natural choice,but since I've been there already I thought I'd try something different.
I was thinking America.More specifically California.( I hate bad weather on a cellular level)

Money will of course be a problem,though I might be able to borrow some off my rich uncle.
Finding a job and somewhere to stay is my main concern.

How hard is it to get a visa? How are property prices over there and where are they likely to be heading in a couple of years? What about work permits and things like that?
And although I hate to ask,what are peoples attitude to foreigners?
Anything else you guys think I should know?
And lastly what do you guys think of the idea?
I will be emigrating for two main reasons.To fulfill a childhood dream and for a better quality of life.
As well as to do something new and see some new places and get in some big time hot rodding.


Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

Good luck, it's hard to do it legally.......illegally? No problem.

 

Google U.S. Immigration for information.

Charlie

 

Looked into it a few years ago.

Legally its hard work.

But illegally, sounds like a breeze.

Not too sure where you ned up in the end though. As i never got that far.

Good luck if you go for it.

keep us informed.

Roland

 

I hope you make it here....you're not a foreigner, you're an American-In-Waiting in my eyes...My family is Swiss, Italian, English, Spanish etc...so 100% of me was once a 'foreigner'...So I for one hope you make it here and add to the American Tapestry.

I've lived on the east coast (Maryland/Conn), the west coast (LA) and now I live in the middle coast (great lakes region) and if you move to California I think you will find yourself welcomed with very open arms. I loved my time there and I think you would too.

Now...with that said...let me make a suggestion for you to consider. You will find this whole process a lot easier if you can find work with a company willing to sponsor your visa...If you are 18, I imagine you do not have a degree...You will find it to be INFINITELY easier to get a work visa if you have a degree, a U.S. job offer in hand and again, a company willing to sponsor your visa....much like any country, you kind-of have to 'prove' that you will be gainfully employed before they issue you a visa.

So I might suggest you either A: get your education in Malta or Scotland first and then search for work here or B: get yourself accepted to a U.S. school and come over here on a student visa...work hard and lobby hard to try and get an internship, maybe even work for free for the summer with a company that is open to doing the work required for your visa and try and earn yourself a position when you graduate.

Again, I'm no expert; all I know comes from three friends I've worked with who went through the same process you hope to...it's not easy...One got his visa and residency, one is still trying, and one gave up and moved back to Europe. In my eyes, the big key is getting a company to sponsor your employment and your visa...You might start by searching for companies in Scotland or Malta that have U.S. branches and seeing if they have a position you like, or would like to do once you graduate.

Best of luck to you and to your family.

 

Hmm.
How do you mean illegally guys?
I just turn up in Cal start working and living there without telling anyone?

 

Weaver thanks for the reply.
I'm done with school,just need to take my final exam in 2 weeks and I will hopefully have a Journeyman's Certificate in Panel Beating and Spray Painting to my name.
Does this have any significance over there?

If I decide to go over on a student visa for some more schooling,what sort of courses would I be able to take? Is there anything related to machining,engineering or cars in general available?

Thanks again

 

Possibly one of the funniest things I've ever read on the HAMB!

Lone Wolf it's funny because as of 2006 it's estimated that as much as 25% of California's population are illegally living there. Of that 25%, 99.9% are Mexicans that have crossed the border to find better working conditions and higher pay. Anyone in that situation would do it. The problem, and I'm going to be honest and look at this from a logistics standpoint, is that even though they're here illegally, they have a huge community to support them where they can live, shop, etc... Basically disappear if need be. Something tells me you wouldn't really fit in in Little Mexico. So I would have to believe that living here Illegally would be quite a bit harder for you. My suggestion- Try to get here on a student visa, get a job and apply later, Get a degree beforehand and get a company to sponser you, or "visit" here and get married to some chick. The last one is by far the easiest. The whole process in infinitely easier if you can combine any of those two...

 

Well you don't have a language barrier, but most people with think you are from England, Australia or Ireland, so don't get bent out of shape if someone guess the wrong country. Don't know what level your bodyshop skills are but look into finding a shop that might help bring you over. Good luck.

 

You guys have got to be kidding, poor sod with an british accent wouldn't stand a chance as an illegal.....stick out like a sore thumb. Go to Canada first. then move to north of where you want to be in the US and then one day take a walk south.

Good jobs are hard to find, property values are coming down, many folks are defaulting on their payments and loosing thier homes. Taxes are high, the government sucks, everybody in the world hates us. The weather is turning to crap, stupid, rude, and inconsiderate seem to be the popular character values. Other than that, as Yackoff Schmirnoff used to say "Whadda Country!" Come on over......

 

Dreddy,do you have a sister?
Seriously,thanks for clearing that up.
Looking into the school end of things as we speak.

37Kid,What with 13 years of living in Malta my English has taken a beating,so I won't blame them!!

Plym.Thanks for the encouragement
Seriously, doesn't sound all that different from this country.
And I don't to die without at least having tried to get out of here.

Hardest thing will be leaving all my buddies behind. But as they say,Impossible is nothing.

 

I wouild not consider the illegal route if I was you.I know of two seperate incidents of guys who met American girls while on shore leave from the merchant ships...they stayed on and got bits of jobs and basically just kept their heads down and got on with living.Both cases involved early morning raids,arrest,taken to the airport and thrown out in virtually the cloths they were wearing and banned from ever setting foot back in the US.I feel sorry for the fellas, but i wish this country would do the same thing here.

I looked into emigrating to America, but I was told if i found a job before I got there(Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Engineer) that an unemployed American could fill, then I could not have it.There used to be another way..the green card lottery, where 55,000 green cards were issued to anyone who basically met the basic criteria ,but Britains were not even allowed to take part in it.
http://www.usa-green-card.com/GC_FormShell.asp?Action=Requirements

The other ways are get married, open a business that employs so many American people,or just basically have a lot of money, that always seems to help lol.

good luck anyhow.

 

Much easier to get into the states than most other countries, Skill labourers also have an easier time of it. and yes what he said about jobs thats the same for most countries
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

 

If he comes to Canada, He won't be able to emigrate to U.S. legally unless he gets a greencard via a company relocation or the marry a US girl routine. All the cross border emigration quota here is used up company transfers. Our ecomony is still pumping along ( for how long not sure) so somehow I don't think there will be a huge need for transfers to the US from what I hear about the US economy so far.

As for weather, lower BC is our "California" but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

As a Scot he'd fit right in around here ( I'm an ex pat Geordie) but if you don't like winter don't come here!

 

Just fly into Mexico they have shuttles to the U.S.

 

I'm from England, I married my wife (American) and it took almost a year to even get a work permit following our wedding, and nearly 3 years to get my green card...and lots of $$$

Well worth it tho, on my opinion.

Do it legally dude. Look into getting a school scholarship

 

If I were you, I wouldn't do California. High property costs, lots of taxes, etc. Go for Texas if you want the western part of the country.

 

legallt is the only way, but you could go the mexico and come in that way, thats how everyone else does it.

 

HOLY SHIT,
I want to see where this is going...........

 

if you come here as a tourist make sure you leave before your visa expires, if you overstay they may not let you back in,
My German friend got here thru the immigration lottery , every year the US has a lottery and allows so many qualified people in,

its not easy to legally come here at your age , US immigration knows there is a big chance you will not want to go home ,

I would say to save up some money and come for a visit , see if you even like it living here ,
visiting on holiday is not the same as living here with the daily bullshit and traffic of everyday California....

Beaulieu

 

VERY, VERY wise words.

 

Think about Australia, the US is going down hill fast.

 

Come over on a tourist visa. When you say panel beater are you saying basic auto body or a higher skill level. I say this because all of the top shops in the country, the ones that build and restore the best classic cars, hot rods, customs, etc are always looking for highly skilled metal men. Many are owned by immigrants from Europe and most also employ European craftsmen. Visit some shops, show them what you can do, and if they want you they will sponsor you.

Good luck.

 

"And although I hate to ask,what are peoples attitude to foreigners?"

we love legals!!!! its the other 12-20 million here that some of us have a problem with!!!!
i really hope this works out for ya!! alot of whiners on this post, but i bet if we dropped them in Russia for a couple weeks, they would do "anything" to get back here!!!
best of luck to ya!

 

Again, I'm no expert on these matters...A32Flathead is much more of an expert than me, but I am pretty sure that a Bachelor's, Masters and Phd will get you a lot more consideration for citizenship/visas etc than a Journeyman's Certificate...However with that said, if you could get yourself a U.S. Journeyman's License that may help you a lot more than the certificate. But again, I'm no expert...I'm sure some shop owners on here will have a good answer for you.

The legals costs incurred in pursuit if a work visa can be very expensive and the odds are, small shops simply will not spend the money nor the time, but perhaps you can utilize your panel-beater or paint experiences to pursue a career in the defense industries which A: have the money to chase down a visa B: usually have governmental contacts that can make that all go smoother...and C: usually are quite adept at the whole visa hiring process and have lot's of experience hiring expatriates and such.

You're right to ask...keep asking questions, I'm sure in time you will find the right path. Again I wish you and your family happier days ahead.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.
Looked a bit into the school end of thing.Seems to be lots of courses in Body and Paint,Engines even Street Rods believe it or not!!
However most colleges require a high school graduation certificate.

Someone asked what sort of skill level I have. I'd say probably just the basics.Not very high at all.

I'll try to book my self a holiday for next year to see what its like and maybe meet a few of you guys and in the mean time I'll keep checking all possible avenues.


BTW I am going to do this legally or not at all.Don't want to have to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.

 

Student visa may be the way to go, meet some ladies, and get married.

Also, like kids?> www.culturalcare.com

 

THE LONE WOLF.........

Thanks for the replies guys.
Looked a bit into the school end of thing.Seems to be lots of courses in Body and Paint,Engines even Street Rods believe it or not!!
However most colleges require a high school graduation certificate.

Someone asked what sort of skill level I have. I'd say probably just the basics.Not very high at all.

I'll try to book my self a holiday for next year to see what its like and maybe meet a few of you guys and in the mean time I'll keep checking all possible avenues.


BTW I am going to do this legally or not at all.Don't want to have to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks for saying that last sentence,

It makes a big difference in how you start out ........
You will be a lot happier in the long run and will help the problem instead of being part of the problem...............

 

I came over here after meeting my wife(American) 8 years ago.I've been living over here 4 years now. Even after getting married it still took 6 months to get a work permit. I now have my ten year green card and next year can apply for citizenship. Its hard to do it legally. Do a search for exbritpats.com. A wealth of information, also I know recently all the processing fees for US immigration went up, I think its now a couple of K in processing fees.

 

im not 100% sure of this..but i think you have to get someone to apply for a visa for you..in other words an american citizen has to petition, for you to get a visa.
a company wanting your tallent can petition for a work visa, a woman wanting to marry you can apply for a fiance visa. My wife is from peru..thats how I did it, legally. It takes money, and time. Not sure of your laws there, but here 18 is an adult, you dont need to make a choice who to live with, your on your own if you want to be, and can show that you have the ability to care for yourself.
california? well good luck