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

We have Wyoming Tech here in the states where you can learn any and all branches of auto tech. The have a hot rod construction course, a high performance engine building course. You might check in with them, they place a lot of techs with the BMW, VW and mercedes dealers. That might be a way in.

 

I've done it, 15 years ago. While being on tour with my band, I decided California was for me. Got a 6 month visa, in Switzerland. Moved to L.A., with plenty of $$$, mind you, I did not intend, taking anybodys job, away (even thou that's real easy to do).
6 month passed, renewed my visa, got another 6 month.
I met my wife Gloria, we got married, got a work permit, 5 years later a green card, and about 5 years after that, I became a citizen.
At no point, was I here illegally.
We are still married.
A friend of mine came here, with a bachelors degree, he got sponsored by a company, this process took forever, but it's a possibility.

Good luck, yeah come visit first, and see if you even like it.

 

Everyone, unless they're of American Indian decent, is of immigrant decent here in the US. I'm first generation Italian. Good for you for wanting to come here legally. America really is a wonderful place, not too many other countries have immigration problems in the sense that millions of people are beating the door down to get it.

 

I started in 1988 with a work related Visa Application in California...There is a huge backlog for any Visa or Green Card. I was almost ready for Interviews in `94, but my employer had moved his business out of State. I married a Green Card Holder, coached her on her citizenship exam, and then she sponsored me. Our daughter was 2years old by the time I had my final Interview in 2000. Eleven years, about 5,000 to an Immigration Attorney, and lots of determination later, I was a legal Green Card Holder.And in spite of what some doom and gloom merchants on here say, it was a good outcome for me. Save your cash and take a vacation here...it isn`t the same as living and working here but will give you a start at life in a country where hard work can still get you some success and a better life...especially if you are a Hot Rodder!!....

 

I did all my paperwork myself, actually fairly easy, there are books available, that give you all the information and forms, you need, to make it happen.

Mind you, I did all this before 9/11, things might be a little different now.

 

Don't come to my country illegally. I have a huge amount of respect for those who come here and are willing to pay the price to become a citizen. I have several friends here in Texas who have gone through the naturalization process. They value their citizenship far above their opportunity to make a buck. Otherwise, you're just a criminal. Period. Sounds like you'll make a great American. Do it right or go somewhere else.

 

no dreadman your right you can still do it, with out those money grubbing beiootches..thats why it cost him 5K..
1K approx to get it done..4K to the jerkoff Immigration Attorney..your results may vary..but you know how the words attorney and money go togeather like stink on shit.
his biggest hurtle will be getting a sponsor

and belair..I agree with you 100%..do it right or stay where your at we dont need any more weight on our already broken system.

 

You would be surprised how much a real Immigration Attorney can help you. I agree about a post 9/11 world, though. I have no experience with that...just as I had no experience with Immigration in any way before I started the process. A misspelled rant against all lawyers doesn`t help. If you make it further up the coast from California, stop in and say Hi...

 

wasnt against all lawyers(but they are not out to help you, their job is to extract your money)..and sorry i didnt type this on my spell checker before i posted it, so it wouldnt bum you out!

 

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

Hey! This makes you sound Greek. Just sayin'...

 

Sounds like you're doing for the right reasons. Come for a visit and see if you even like it, get the student visa and get the education (so many do and eventually end up living here). Sounds like you'd fit right in. Who cares if no one understands you. At least you speak English. I'm not too keen on all that come to the USA and can't speak a lick of it.

My mom and dad met while she was here on holiday and they got married and have been together for 40 years. Just don't marry only to get a visa.

When I visited Australia I seriously thought about staying and just getting a job to make some cash to live off of. Was told I'd be found out in a year or two and probably never allowed back. Didn't want to take that chance.

Good luck with all of it. Let us know how it turns out.

 

^^^great point Corncobcoupe

 

Hey - the nicer the weather, the more expensive it is!

The Midwest is the USA's best kept secret!

~Jason

 

Lone Wolf ,

sorry to say but normal body and paint work is done here by the Mexician union , not many gringos are in the union , and these guys are good and fast ,

If you want to learn a usefull skill go find the oldtimer panel beaters in Malta who can make a fender/wing from a flat sheet of metal,
even if you have to pay the oldtimer to work for him , you will have a skill that is needed here ,

learn to make a fender ,
learn to fix a crashed fender without bondo
learn to mig weld sheet metal panels and finish without bondo,

this will put you above most of the bondo slingers in the world....

Beaulieu

 

Absolutely perfect answer, and very much why I stated above that this country is going down hill fast. I love it here, but I'm old enough that I'll probably be dead before it gets too bad. But at your age, I don't think you're gonna like it here when you reach my age. The world is your oyster right now, choose wisely.
If you do choose to come here legally though, we'll welcome you with open arms. Language will be a barrier, but you can still find some who speak English here, and as long as you're working for a living, English should suit you fine.

 

Can't blame ya for wanting to come here. We love your crosses ...



But you won't find anybody speaking Maltese, although we love your dogs and are fascinated by your birds.


Good luck.

 

I did it on the legit I had the right qualifications 25 years experiance and a company to sponser me and it still took 10 years for me to get my green card, and the govenment made the company advertise my job and try and replace me for a year.

Your only option and I know 2 people that have done this is to come over on a 90 day visa for a vacation and find an American to marry you, sorry to say its your only choice.

 

Again thanks for the input.
To put all your minds at rest.
I am not coming in illegally.
Never.

Have started looking at booking my ass a holiday sometime next year to see if I'll like the place and the prices for flights are making my eyes water,let alone accommodation for 90 days.

I'll run all this past my dad to see what he says,as he lived in Cali for a couple of years in the 70s, but I think I'll probably have to either borrow a lot of money (which I don't wanna do) or wait a couple of years and save like crazy,so I can finance a good long vacation over there and look up some colleges and job opportunities.

Thanks again for all your help and I'll be sure to let you know how this pans out.

 

I just worked for a british owned company and it's executives were becoming citizens left and right after working here a few years. Cost of living and the ability to own an acre without having old money seemed to be the motivating factors. Dunno how they did it, but if there's only 55k issued a year these folks were hogging more than their share.

Consider offering international services to a company in your home country. It's hard to find employees willing to move across an ocean on a long term basis. Allows you to get a taste of what you're in for, and is probably the best bet for legal emigration. Suddenly you offer a skill that the average american lacks, the ability to translate between cultures within that business category. good luck wherever you land!

(PS there's a LOT of america, don't let TV and the HAMB define what you're in for. Socal is just a tiny, expensive, & competitive slice of the vast offering)

 

Get an immigration attorney to help you, money well spent. No surprises and your emigration will be much smoother. BTDT.

 

Hmmmm... Student Visa?

You could always come in as a student, hell, maybe even stay with a family here as part of an exchange student program, all while applying for a regular 'ol Visa. Then go native.

~Jason

 

do yourself a favor and get as high a qualification and skill level as you can get. It makes you more employable any place in the world. You are only18 and maybe in a shit situation with your parents but hang it out and get a skill, whatever that may be....Big qualifications makes bigger bucks. 5 years down the line you could feasiblely have a Masters Degree in Automotive Engineering and have US employers (or any country for that matter) calling on you .....even better learn a language to go with it...Chineese or Indian based on current economic forecasts

 

We came in on a tourist visa 19 years ago to the day we were here illegally for 2 years and spent about $20K on lawyers etc before we got green cards. My Brother just got his a couple of months ago His Priority date was 1992. It was definitely easier to do from inside the USA. Just curious How many immigrants are on the HAMB?

 

Malta.

Malta.

Where is Malta? (for the geographically challenged)

As others have said, do it legal and enjoy it! Illegal and watch your back forever.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta

 

It looks nice to live in Malta. Why not stay there?

 

I know someone who actually did this...

Consult with an imigration attorney to fine tune your "plan"
Make a [good] friend here in America
Come over here on a 90 day tourist visa.
Once here, start a partnership business with your American friend.
Convert your tourist visa to a student visa/work visa
Enroll in a truck driving school.
Lease a truck thru your business.
Employ yourself to drive your truck thru your business.
Have your partner/business sponsor you [basically, you sponsor yourself]

As a [legal] foreigner who owns a business in America, suddenly the rules change. You are now viewed as an economic resource who [has the potential] to employ others and boost the economy. The imigration process becomes much more friendly to you.

Independent truck drivers earn [on average] about $70,000 a year... Save every dollar you can! Lease a second truck and employ an American citizen. This makes you look VERY good to the government.

Drive a truck for a couple years making good money while your attorney sorts out the details and gets you your citizenship, or resident alien [permanent] visa.

Stay out of trouble!!!!!

Once you have what you want, you can do whatever you want... Tho you just might want to continue driving a truck! I used to do it and I loved it, and miss it very much. From sunny so-cal to downtown NYC. From Canada to Mexico... Like being paid to be on vacation!

The best part is that if it goes wrong or you decide not to stay, you can go home with lots of money saved up and a lifetime of expirences and memmories!

***Disclaimer*** The guy I know who did this did it before 9-11, so the rules might have changed. Just work with a good attorney and be paitent.

America is a wonderfull place. If your willing to work for it, you can have or be anything you want to be. You dont need political connections or rich parents to have a good life. All you need is a "go for it" attitude and you will be rewarded!

 

Definitley do it legally. Theres no pride in it any other way. A lot of illegals come over have kids and bleed our country dry. You sound like you have a head on your shoulders and want to be a productive member of the AMERICAN society. I wish we could trade a few of our country bashing illegals for you. They are a parasite.This is still the land of opportunity still the land of the brave ,still the home of the free, and remember we got a lot of guns. Best of luck to you. I hope to one day call you my American brother.

 

I emmigrated 15 years ago from England don't regret it at all. I didn't use a lawyer I just made sure when I filled out a form I photo copied it and kept my responses to questions consistant. I used a book called How to get into the USA. People who have used a lawyer said that their paperwork too longer to process as you had to fill out papers send them to laywer to get checked then he sent papers on so alot of double handling. I would definately make plans for an extended vacation this will show you alittle of what you are getting into emphasis on alittle. Things are quite different once you have to earn coin here. If you claim British Citizenship keep it or if you don't get a british passport because you were born in UK. British citizens has special priviledges other countries don't have. But most of all hang on to that dream of living here because it takes a long time and people will tell you that you'll never do it. Took me 3 years. Most of all best of Luck