Norah-93

Well good thing I have on in retail I guess... I've contacted the embassy just waiting for their answer now 

If the official US embassy website says I can enter in certain university with my Swiss VET degrees I guess it should be considered as graduated ? 

I also found that this:

"Vocational degrees that are not considered a basis for further academic study will not be considered equivalent to U.S. high school education."

what do they mean by "not considered a basis for further academic study" ? Would Photography be considered as a basis ?

im sorry to bother all of you with my questions 

I apply for it and I know about the "huge" hope but hey, I like to be positive and at least im trying. I'll know in may if I'm selected but I just want to be prepared if I'm a lucky one that's it. 

I don't want to go to university there I was just wondering if my 15years of education in Switzerland is the same level of the 12 (high school) years in the US.

I actually just found this. 

"Holders of the Eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis/certificat de capacite/attestato di capacita will be considered for admission to first degree programs except at select universities and where the educational training received is considered appropriate preparation." 

Which is what I have. I'm really confused and pretty nervous at the moment

Hey everyone,

Hope you all doing good.

I have applied for the green card through the DV Lottery and now I'm reading about education qualification. Basically here's what it says:

"High School Education: A high school education means successful completion of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to completion of a 12-year course in the United States.

Work Experience: If you are qualifying with work experience, you must have two years of experience in the last five years, in an occupation which, by U.S. Department of Labor definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher. "

So now my question is, as I'm from Switzerland and we only have 9 years (6 in primary and 3 in secondary both with diploma at the end) I was wondering if this was the equivalent of the 12 years in the US. After that I did two apprenticeships (the Swiss dual system is a dual based joint effort of training companies and vocational trade schools in Switzerland. Basically, the apprentice is employed in training company and once or twice per week she/he goes to a vocational school) one in retail management that was 3 years and graduated with a Swiss Federal Certificate and the second one in photography 3 years also graduated with a Swiss Federal Certificate and with honours. 

Is all my degrees and school education enough or equivalent to the US one? 

Sorry for that long message

Thank you in advance for your help !

Cheers !

Thank you so much for you help !

Y'all have a great Christmas !

So If I'm going back to the us on the 22nd of January 5 days before my visa expired and tell them that I have a flight back on the 25th of February, will I have to get out of the country on the 27th and get in again so I have a new valid stamp in my passport and can stay until the 25of February ? Or do you think they will just stamp it straight at the airport ?

I'm sorry for all these questions I just don't want to get in trouble as I'm trying to get the green card so I want to make things right and I don't want them to have a doubt on my entry.

Hey everyone,

So, I would like to surprise my girlfriend who lives in the USA. I have a tourist visa valid for 10 years and when I went to see her on July 27th, they stamped my passport until the 27th of January (so 6 months on the territory) but I left on August 15th. So, as I would like to to leave on the 22nd of January I'm worried about my visa.

My question is, would I have to leave the US like crossing the boarders and then come back so they can stamp it again? I'm sort of scared they are going to think that I've been here since July 27th even though thats not the case.

Is there a way for them to check that I left the USA before that ? And if any of you had a similar experience ? Or should I just go after the 27th so I would be allowed for another 6months ? I'm sort of really confused at the moment and I want to do the right thing so I'm not stuck at the airport or some sh*t like that.

Thank you for your time !

Cheers !

Thank you everyone for the clarity and support.

I decided that I'm going to apply this October for the green card for 2018 and see how it's going to be. Wish me luck please !

My girlfriend and I talked a lot about marriage and be both think that we are too young at the moment.

She's going to study for 2 more years so maybe in 2 years we'll be ready if my green card application failed.

Thank you guys

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and encouragement that help a lot !

I'm saying that it's different because you don't get to call this person and be like "hey I'm on my way to yours you want me to grab you a pizza?" Instead you have the long night call on FaceTime/Skype and the anger when the Internet is down, the long night sleeping alone, the day when everything that can possibility go wrong goes wrong and you just want to be with your person but you can't because you have 3500 miles between you and your person. And I forgot the jet lag too. So yes it is different to be in a long distance than from the same town. I wish I could just show up at her front door but I can't.

Also I know that we are not the only couple in that situation and I needed to hear those stories to keep me going. She's 19 and I'm 23 we are both too young for marriage.

I wouldn't be able to afford a studen visa I mean all my savings went in my plane tickets so I'm starting at 0 again and not being employed and going back to some study would be really hard for me mostly because I don't have the funds for it. The U.K. Economy isn't the best one to be honest and I'm not talking about rents. I left my single room to live in an hostel for £240 pm so I can save a bit more. I'm really trying my best and she feels guilty she can't help me. So I guess what we need is time and faith.

I wouldn't get engaged with anyone just for some papers...

I really appreciate all your encouragement and stories I think I needed to hear that too. I know it's going to be hard but she's worth it.

I hope you guys are all okay

Yuna628: it kind of sucks... I honestly don't like London and I don't want to go back to Switzerland and there is no other place I want to live. So being stuck here, work my ### off for the plane ticket to be with her 2twice a year when normal couple can just be together whenever they want. I wish I was in this situation...

Harpa Timsah: For a O visa I need to have extra ability in photography and won some international prices, honours or awards which isn't my case again

But apparently for a work visa I need to have a job offer and under the B1/B2 I can't even attemp interviews or look for a job. Who would like to give me an interview when I'm standing in the other side of the ocean when there is people in their area? .

I'm a professional photographer graduated from a photography school from Switzerland but then again unless I win some big price in photography which is not my case there is no chance to do something...

I really feel stuck at the moment...

I heard about the green card but there is so many different things said on Internet that I've read pretty much everything on it but still confused about what documents you need, how to apply, do you need an immigrant visa for it and more...

I've been to a lot of places in Europe but I didn't feel like settle there honesty...

I'm 23 and I'm not ready for that

My girlfriend and I have been together for 6 months now but we are in a long distance relationship. She's an US citizen and I'm from Switzerland but currently live in London UK. I have a B1/B2 visa at the moment but I would like to move and work there legally.

I'm lost about where to start and what to do to be honest.

Is there a way she can help be to move and have the right visa by being my partner ? I'm too young to get married now so it feels like unless I have a sponsor or get married there is no way for me to move there and I'm really sad about it...

I will appreciate any help from you guys !