Imigration advice

[Juspar Emvan]

Can anyone give me some starting points (legal, anecdotal, or opinions) on imigrating to the USA? There are lots of services that I can find on-line, but the amount of information is a bit overwhelming, just looking for some conversation to help it make more sense.

I'm a citizen of both Canada and New Zealand. Don't hold a degree, but do have a diploma in Quality Assurance. No job lined up (yet), no family or marriage connections. I have three years as a Quality Consultant, and two years managing a Post Office branch - so I suppose I have some work skills.

 

[April]

I know next to nothing about this, but I do know that you will have to renounce at least one of your citizenships to become a yank. Probably your NZ one. I think you can be a dual Canadian and American cit. But don't quote me on that.

 

[StrawberryPez]

I am just as curious about the Canadian/American thing. I'd also like to know about a Canadian moving to America and what is involved.

 

[OUTSIDER]

I've often thought of emigration but to tell the truth I'm not sure I have anything to offer a new country that would make them want to take me in, my sister is still thinking about it also but I think she may have ruled it out now.

I'd love to come to the US but I have no idea what I'd do for work once I got there as I don't have a trade to speak of and have spent all my life either in offices or in the service industries sector.

So I guess I'm stuck here..........time to make lemonade I guess.

 

[April]

Outsider, too bad you can't get paid for finding the most obnoxious pics in the world.

 

[Juspar Emvan]

I know next to nothing about this, but I do know that you will have to renounce at least one of your citizenships to become a yank. Probably your NZ one. I think you can be a dual Canadian and American cit. But don't quote me on that.

Green cards (as I understand it) mean you don't have to renounce anything, they are different to becoming a citizen. I just want to be able to work there really. I can travel there now with no problems.

*chuckle* Outsider, I too have no trade, or degree. Makes it look difficult. I'm hoping someone can shed some make it look a little less ominous. Can't seem to wade through all the info available right now.

 

[OUTSIDER]

Outsider, too bad you can't get paid for finding the most obnoxious pics in the world.

It's a gift

 

[OUTSIDER]

Green cards (as I understand it) mean you don't have to renounce anything, they are different to becoming a citizen. I just want to be able to work there really. I can travel there now with no problems.

*chuckle* Outsider, I too have no trade, or degree. Makes it look difficult. I'm hoping someone can shed some make it look a little less ominous. Can't seem to wade through all the info available right now.

I hear you there brother.

I wonder is it to late to become a plumber....they always need plumbers.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I don't know about the legalities, but I do know I am now seeing a lot of companies saying they are not sponsoring anybody right now. I don't know if it is because of new restrictions due to 9/11 or because this is just another way of cutting back on the number of resumes, but it is a definite trend that is just the opposite of what it was two years ago. I get asked all the time during interviews whether I can legally work in the US. They can't ask if I am a citizen, but I think they can ask if I am legal, and I always volunteer that I am a citizen.

As for your background and citizenship, being a Canadian is probably better than other origins. Having QA background is good too; there are a number of bio-tech companies in the Seattle area looking for such people, food production ditto, and in the Portland area there are a few silicon fab companies looking for QA people, but I think you have to be a bit specialized there.

 

[OUTSIDER]

you can't blame the USA for trying to protect it's culture and way of life by screening who they let in, you have a good thing going there and no one can blame you for trying to keep it that way.

I just wish the UK was like that.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Green cards (as I understand it) mean you don't have to renounce anything, they are different to becoming a citizen. I just want to be able to work there really. I can travel there now with no problems.

Yes, they are essentially a work permit - with a time limit if I remember (in years). IIRC, if a company hires you with a green card, they have to advertise the position - the idea being that they have to search for a qualified citizen to fill the position. They usually don't bother with interviews or serious consideration though if they really want the person with the green card; they just advertise and trash any resumes sent to them and then say none of them were as qualified as the green card person. I have seen this done after the green card person was hired and had been there a while. I have no problem with it - I am anti-isolationist, anti-protectionist and very free-market.

Good luck in today's market though.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

you can't blame the USA for trying to protect it's culture and way of life by screening who they let in, you have a good thing going there and no one can blame you for trying to keep it that way.

I don't (want the US to keep people out). The US was and is based on the idea of being a melting pot, and as long as people are law abiding, willing to earn their own way, and willing to live by our ideals of freedom and civil rights, I have no problem with them coming here. My problem is with people coming here for a free ride - which if we eliminated altogether then we would have less of a problem with illegal immigration.

 

[OUTSIDER]

Thats life for ya STG, there's always "workers and shirkers".

 

[Ukin]

Can anyone give me some starting points (legal, anecdotal, or opinions) on imigrating to the USA? There are lots of services that I can find on-line, but the amount of information is a bit overwhelming, just looking for some conversation to help it make more sense.

Having just recently moved to the USA.. I know EVERYTHING there is to know about the INS!! I spent ages pouring through the reams of paperwork on the INS web site www.ins.gov
As one comment said albeit not quite correct (about the Green Card-which is PINK btw lol). Basically, the firm HAS to sponsor you, and the work permit normally lasts for ONE year only and then is renewed. You don't HAVE to renounce your citizenship..but to obtain the FULL benefits, it could be advisable.
If anyone wishes infor, please feel free to email me on ukinmale@aol.com-I will be more than happy to answer questions, even research for you.

 

[Xander]

best deal is to contact an immigration lawyer. They are online too and you can call them. Then discuss the possibilities with them.

 

[Basia]

Don't do what my relitives did! All fo my relitives on my step-dad's side of the faimly either are or where illegal at one point or another.

Find a sponser in the states, and make a formal application for resident status (green card) with INS before you do anything. www.ins.gov is the site you want to go to.

 

[Xander]

Don't do what my relitives did! All fo my relitives on my step-dad's side of the faimly either are or where illegal at one point or another.

Find a sponser in the states, and make a formal application for resident status (green card) with INS before you do anything. www.ins.gov is the site you want to go to.

Very good advice Basia, but I would still have legal support for the official papers and all.

 

[Juspar Emvan]

Thanks all. Lots of good advice here. I was just nosing around the edges of the idea at the moment, and didn't want to spend any money on a lawyer or similar, but it looks like I'll have to get serious or forget it.

 

[Xander]

Thanks all. Lots of good advice here. I was just nosing around the edges of the idea at the moment, and didn't want to spend any money on a lawyer or similar, but it looks like I'll have to get serious or forget it.

You can do it alone Juspar, but it will be harder that way. Just trust me on that one

 

[OUTSIDER]

Don't do what my relitives did! All fo my relitives on my step-dad's side of the faimly either are or where illegal at one point or another.

Find a sponser in the states, and make a formal application for resident status (green card) with INS before you do anything. www.ins.gov is the site you want to go to.

I'm guessing that finding a sponser is gonna be the really hard part for any would-be immigrant to the USA.

Is there any place a body could go to find one or is it just down to luck ?

 

[Moi]

Promise to not blow anything up.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

Can anyone give me some starting points (legal, anecdotal, or opinions) on imigrating to the USA? There are lots of services that I can find on-line, but the amount of information is a bit overwhelming, just looking for some conversation to help it make more sense.

I'm a citizen of both Canada and New Zealand. Don't hold a degree, but do have a diploma in Quality Assurance. No job lined up (yet), no family or marriage connections. I have three years as a Quality Consultant, and two years managing a Post Office branch - so I suppose I have some work skills.

lots and lots and lots of paper work, I been filing it out for two years now, and 9/11 has made things even more tricky and slow.

If your in Canada go to your nearest government office like where the DMV and tax stuff is and grab a form and begin your quest for carpal tunnel syndrome

 

[Juspar Emvan]

You can do it alone Juspar, but it will be harder that way. Just trust me on that one

Don't mind getting someone else to work on it, or paying for it. But I'm just in the early investigation stages, expecting to want to follow through on it, but not 100% sure right now. I'd hate to spend money on something that might not happen (especially given the exchange rate ).

Outsider has a good point - anyone know about findng a sponsor when you're outside the US? I've applied for a couple of jobs down there, is that the easiest way to go . . . opinions?

 

[Siren]

talk to an immigration lawyer

 

[Nobody Special's wife]

If I was you I would ask xander he can tell you how he did it or how to go about it and apply for a work visa, but its a bit complicated for what I understand