I want to make my dream come true but don't know HOW

[jd1982 0]

Well if that's the case maybe I should go the illegal route! Move to Mexico and cross the border with them and then get a visa because they're too lazy to kick the illegals out but they won't let decent honest people like me who want to start a new life over there move in. That was a sarcastic comment, by the way.

Ok, so my plan thus far..

1. take a holiday there to sample the country and culture and see if it lives up to its name (august-sept 2015) - this will mean learning where to go for the trip, saving for flight, and getting the right visa for the trip. If I get the wrong visa this might blow my chances in the long term if I find I like it there

2. if I like it there, start applying for jobs upon returning (from winter 2015). I think I'll keep my options open in terms of where to go, though I know places like California and NY will have too much competition as they're highly populated, so I'll 'look under' while everyone's 'looking upwards' for easier opportunities, so to speak.

3. keep saving up money and keep working in my job, building up experience and enough for an initial payment for a house there if offered a job (now)

4. apply for a visa upon getting a job offer (if ever), maybe an i-140? if anyone has any better ideas let me know

5. move if accepted a visa (if ever)

What does everyone think of this plan?

After reading that, it looks a little clear but for some reason it's left me nervous (?).

Edited November 30, 2014 by jd1982

[Boiler 43,397]

You do not need a visa to visit Look up VWP.

The Employer is the one that applies for a work visa.

[Boiler 43,397]

Customs would not be involved. Would be an immigration matter. I have never heard of anything like that happening from the UK.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Customs would not be involved. Would be an immigration matter. I have never heard of anything like that happening from the UK.

I'm referring to US customs..... you know, customs & border control.. immigration in the airport. haha. It DOES happen, and yes, US customs IS involved. They're the ones making decisions on who gets let in. No one else. We witnessed it firsthand.

Edited December 1, 2014 by lovecometruex

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Customs would not be involved. Would be an immigration matter. I have never heard of anything like that happening from the UK.

I saw a thread today or yesterday with someone Irish saying they went through their laptop.

[TBoneTX 43,020]

Second that. You can come for 90 days or less without a visa. BUT make sure you bring some kind of proof of ties just in case (ie: pay stubs from your job or something like that ) because depeding on the airport, sometimes they can be hard on you in customs. My now fiance went thru 2 different airports.. He was in & out of JFK immigration. Took him 2 minutes. But at Newark they took him and his whole flight to second immigration, where they GRILLED them about their intentions, lying to them and trying to get them to say something wrong. They even called everyone's contacts & families and scared the hell out of us. They called me and were telling me my fiance was "telling a different story than me", which was a lie to try to get me to admit to something that wasn't true. Some airports just have terrible customs, so be ready to prove that you won't overstay past 90 days. Have EVERYTHING together. Your ESTA (research this), proof of ties to UK, and a letter explaining the purpose of your trip & how youll be back at such and such a date. Make sure you show a ROUND TRIP plane ticket. If they think youll overstay, theyll have no problem sending you on a plane back.

(Paragraph deleted by VJ Moderation)

You may not need this stuff, but it's good just in case. Better to be overprepared. But your plan seems like good short term goals! Good luck

The post above was removed from the thread, edited to remove a passage in which questionable behavior was mentioned, and returned to the thread.

Edited December 1, 2014 by TBoneTX

[SantyAndAllie 155]

The post above was removed from the thread, edited to remove a passage in which questionable behavior was mentioned, and returned to the thread.

Um, please tell me where questionable behavior was mentioned. Everything I wrote was a true testimony of what my fiance experienced when going through customs.... Removing that was totally unnecessary. Nothing I said was inappropriate OR inaccurate. Please explain this, or I'll have to be going to someone about abusing some power here...

Thanks

[TBoneTX 43,020]

Answered via PM.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Since my original post was deleted (VJ is so touchy; I don't think I said anything wrong, but whatever), here's my EDITED post:

You can come for 90 days or less without a visa. BUT make sure you bring some kind of proof of ties just in case (ie: pay stubs from your job or something like that ) because depending on the airport, sometimes they can be hard on you in customs. My now fiance went thru 2 different airports.. He was in & out of JFK immigration. Took him 2 minutes. But at Newark they took him and his whole flight to second immigration, where they GRILLED them about their intentions, lying to them and trying to get them to say something wrong. They even called everyone's contacts & families and scared the hell out of us. They called me and were telling me my fiance was "telling a different story than me", which was a lie to try to get me to admit to something that wasn't true. Some airports just have terrible customs, so be ready to prove that you won't overstay past 90 days. Have EVERYTHING together. Your ESTA (research this), proof of ties to UK, and a letter explaining the purpose of your trip & how youll be back at such and such a date. Make sure you show a ROUND TRIP plane ticket. If they think youll overstay, theyll have no problem sending you on a plane back.

I won't say what I said earlier that was apparently misconstrued, BUT customs can check your phone, laptop, etc. So just know that that can happen, as well. (To VJ moderators- There is no reason to delete this part, as I'm just warning this can happen).

Hope that's a better post Thanks for explaining, TBoneTX.

[jd1982 0]

What do people think of my plan in the meantime? thanks

[Boiler 43,397]

Planning a holiday is good idea, gives you a focus.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

What do people think of my plan in the meantime? thanks

We told you, hahaha. Your first step was to go there for a holiday. That's what my comment was referring to It's a good idea.

[jd1982 0]

Ok. What about coping with my feelings from now to holiday?

My feelings because of the whole matter, if I sit down and think about it:

- I have trouble controlling anxiety

- this longing to be there and not caring about anything else around me at the present has made me feel numb,

- unable to concentrate,

- slow,

- unable to enjoy things that would otherwise give me pleasure (e.g. gaming),

- fatigued, feeling helpless and hopeless

- feelings of emptiness

- deep envy

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Ok. What about coping with my feelings from now to holiday?

My feelings because of the whole matter, if I sit down and think about it:

- I have trouble controlling anxiety

- this longing to be there and not caring about anything else around me at the present has made me feel numb,

- unable to concentrate,

- slow,

- unable to enjoy things that would otherwise give me pleasure (e.g. gaming),

- fatigued, feeling helpless and hopeless

- feelings of emptiness

- deep envy

You need to go see a psychiatrist for your mental health / emotional distress / depression issues.

[MacUK 983]

Ok. What about coping with my feelings from now to holiday?

My feelings because of the whole matter, if I sit down and think about it:

- I have trouble controlling anxiety

- this longing to be there and not caring about anything else around me at the present has made me feel numb,

- unable to concentrate,

- slow,

- unable to enjoy things that would otherwise give me pleasure (e.g. gaming),

- fatigued, feeling helpless and hopeless

- feelings of emptiness

- deep envy

Think long and hard, how would being in the US help those things?

Not everybody in the States has an idyllic lifestyle, you could get to the States and find yourself in just the same rut you're in right now of just work, go home, sleep, wake up and back to work again. But you wouldn't have your family or friends around you to give you support.

I'm not saying you should give up on your dreams, just don't let them consume you.

Visit, do some touristy things but also go off the tourist trail and see the real America that doesn't get shown on the telly.

There's no easy path to take to be able to live in the States and none of them are quick. Don't let dreams of the future stop you from living in the now.