Moving countries, what's the process like?

My last visit to the US was 8 years ago, and yeah I liked it. But then again I liked being in Australia too. As I mentioned above, when I was in the US, I missed video games so much. It just wasn't as common in the US as it was in Japan. But you know what, when I came back to Japan, I was so sick of the tiny houses, and to constantly deal with the next door neighbor, since we live only centimeters apart (I'm serious, in the cities of Japan, there is no such thing as a backyard).

One thing that I did notice, was the cultural differences in casual talks with friends. Nobody in America says "Cheers" or "Mate". You may experience situations where you just don't understand why everyone is laughing, just because the joke is very "American". But all of these small differences are nothing serious. It's part of the enjoyment

So I would first give appreciation to the place you currently live, and if you still seriously feel the need to move, I would take a long vacation (working holiday visa?) and try out a different location, and test your feelings.

You might ask now, then why is eugene19 thinking about moving to the US? It's because my second hobby is gliding/soaring/sailplane, and Japans weather is crap. This is a fact, and US or AUS has much more to offer in terms of aviation. Another reason is because my job is translation, and I feel my English skills are slowly degrading. I need to go back to an English speaking nation to brush up my language.

Every country is very special and at the same time lacks many things.

 

http://www.us-immigration.com/us-ci...lication.jsp?gclid=CPKNpcqjt68CFQhN4AodyjBlkA

See it's not THAT hard

 

You do not have to become a citizen of a country to live there... Anyway you can't become a US citizen unless you happen to live there which is what the thread is about. Can you read or are you being thick on purpose?

Living in a lot of countries is quite hard, there are some exceptions like living in EU, EEA countries, so you can go to any other EU / EEA country. A lot of other countries you have two choices, find a job (most will require a degree or a specialist skill) or marry someone (which could be an easier way...).

 

*NOW* who's being thick?

 

Oh don't give me that, on that lovely link you posted it basically said the same thing. If you have no degree or required skills then having a spouse is likely to be the easiest way even if you are from a western country...

 

Well what do you want? Jeez. If you just want to live here then yeah no problem.

 

Are you just trolling or really serious? The biggest obstacle is already mentioned in the very first sentence on the page you linked:

It's HARD to get a green card. In Canada it's supposedly a lot easier to become permanent resident and I can assure you that it still was neither easy nor cheap. You have to prove every little shit of your life, they wanted police records for periods that were like 35 years back when my parents were travelling for a few months. For example, they asked for a work certificate for my mom's part time job during her studies when she sold donuts for a mere 2 months LOL. From then on it took over 2 years although my father already had an unlimited job contract in Canada at the time and accordingly also a work permit. There was a medical examination and if we only had the slightest sickness that hinted we could makeuse of their precious health care, then a reject would have had to be expected. I can be happy they didn't reject me for wearing glasses, or my mom for that her grandfather died of a stroke so they could infer that it's hereditary.

And this is Canada, not the super paranoid United States where you have to fill out an entire book of questionaires even if you only intend to transit through their stupid airports. Where the FBI interviews people who checked the wrong answer on the money box on that questionnaire. The latter happened to my friend's brother once: He accidentally wrote that he brought $50,000 to the country in cash (an error because in Germany "50,00" means $50.00), so some guys in suits welcomed him at the gate and interrogated him for several hours. He missed his connection flight and had to stay in a hotel at his own expense.

If that's what they do to tourists then I don't want to know what they come up with when you actually want to infiltrate their territory.

As much as I like the US as a country for its culture, landscape and mentality - their politics, security attitudes and paranoia are absolutely retarded. Harden the fuck up...

 

It is easier to get the visa, it is not necessarily easier to live. Not all gags require a smiley.

I always heard this, but after 9 months of marriage, my wife applied for hers here in Japan and was awarded a Green Card and I didn't even have to show my face at the embassy.... I wound up going to sign a paper, but wasn't required to be there. No interview even. :|

That being said, unless one or both parties are gay, marrying for a visa is about as stupid as sticking your dick in an electrical socket. Marrying for convenience of any kind is, but that's for another thread. I've several friends that have done it but saying it is not without caveat is a vast understatement.

 

Well, if you're married to a citizen then it becomes a piece of cake. It's just hard to get if you have no relatives in the country, are not married to a citizen and are basically just applying on your own - which, I think, is what Hexigon was planning to do.

 

Exactly, sounds like the process is hard though :/, well not sure depends if I meet a woman there or not and how many visits I do. Not saying I'll marry for the green card though, no way I'd do that.

 

What is your profession? Do you have a degree? Are you a student? These are the main tricks. US is a weird one. Massive immigrant communities all over the place, but they've all jumped through fiery hoops (or crossed a river & the desert... badump tssh). If you're a student, just get a student visa. Be warned though that you'll very likely not get a working visa when the 4 years are up.

 

I don't have a profession or anything like that. Although I could study there, this move won't be a for a long time so I can't really say much in terms of what I'm thinking to do over there. Thinking of being an officer here in Australia, and I guess I could see about being one in the US.

 

You can't just move to the US. You need a valid reason to get a Visa.

- Student (this will be a limited time visa and may or may not allow you to work)
- Marriage (not easy - I believe you now have to leave the US after getting married and it can take up to 2 years to process)
- Work (you have to have a degree and get a job where a company will sponsor you, for which they have to prove they tried advertising locally but nobody was right for the job... i.e. you have to be a specialist. Or work for a multi-national that will transfer you)

The Visa diversity lottery isn't for Brits, so probably isn't for Aussies either, and is very limited.

 

The UK has a visa I like. I forgot the name of it, but it basically stated if you made 100k GBP the last couple of years you could get a working visa w/o a sponsor. Stupidly enough the US doesn't have that I don't think.

 

So I wouldn't be able to be a officer over there? :<

 

American citizenship is very difficult to acquire. I know someone who has been here since the mid 90's and although he legally lives and works here, he's not a permanent resident, still waiting. Really though, I don't see why you'd want to leave Australia, the economic situation here is pretty bad. I've been jobless for 3 years already and I'm not picky about the places I apply to. Anyway if I ever decided to leave this country, Australia would be my first choice to go to.

If you really have your heart set on coming, then marriage is probably the most secure way. Also, I live in southern California and love it here, but I lived in Texas before and its really a great place to live. Not always as much to do in Texas, but the people are friendly and life seemed more easy-going.

 

For some reason, I feel that I will find a lady over there I know that sounds a little, well crazy but I think I could possibly marry, still that wouldn't be the reason to get the green card. I'm pretty sure I'll be travel to and from the US, depends on how I go over there. I really want to be a officer and my mother is trying very hard to talk me out of it (as I want to be one in Australia), it's a goal I've set for myself, and hoping that experience can be transferred in the US.

You're in California which is where I want to live, not sure what area but definitely Cali - when you mentioned you've been jobless for 3 years, what type of jobs have you been going for? (if you don't mind me asking).
Good luck finding work in Australia as well, I believe they're equally as difficult! Right now major corps are sacking thousands of workers every 2 months or so I've heard on the news reports, many smaller stores are struggling. Everything you hear about the economy here being strong, it's all hyped up and a fairy-tail! Our dollar may be a few dollars stronger but really many people can't get a job here either, most my friends are on unemployment benefits.

On the topic of Texas, I know my mother's friend currently lives there (she moved from Australia, with her husband) I'm guessing it's a working visa of some sort but not too sure how they went about it.

 

I'm pretty sure the US immigration process is a relic from at least the early 20th century when the US was actually a dream land for many Europeans. Now I can't imagine too many Europeans wanting to go through that bullshit to live in a country where social security is a dirty phrase and a trip to the hospital could bankrupt you.

 

hexigon, if you hold an aussie passport you can travel to canada no problem. if you immigrate to canada you can visit the u.s for 6 months a year with no visa or anything.

and as for moving countries, i moved to new zealand back in the mid 90's for 2 years. it really wasn't difficult ( super long flight in a middle row seat not withstanding)
and it just felt like an adventure to me.

 

when you said officer did you mean police???