Moving to America

[priceyclause]

I am 21 and current doing an apprenticeship at Nissan in Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Once I have completed this i intend to stay on for a couple of years, save a bit cash, get somemore experience etc.

After this I would really like to move to America, to work and live. Could anyone please tell me what is involved in order to get a permit / American citizenship.

Also, if by that time I am married (which more than likely i will be) would my wife be accepted even if she has no specialist skills?

Thanks!

[2armyvets]

Contact the US Department of State at usstatedepartment.gov for all of the up to date info.
You must live in the US for seven years before you can apply for citizenship. Contact usins.gov for info. No skills reqiured to live here.
Good luck and welcome.

[Buenchico]

The sentence "No skills reqiured to live here", above, is far from accurate. UK citizens (without immmediate family members already living in the USA) can only emigrate to the USA if they can meet the relevant criteria, many of which are employment based.

'Skilled workers with at least two years training or experience' are considered for a resident's visa but it's likely that you would need a firm offer of employment before the visa would be granted.

Unskilled workers can normally only be considered for residential status if the applicant has a firm offer of employment in a sector where workers are in short supply in the USA. However, if you became a 'Lawful Permanent Resident', your wife would be eligible for the 'family based immigration' scheme.

See here:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/i ndex.html

Chris

[Dumbo#1]

First the good news - yes, your wife would be accepted even if she had no skills.

The difficult part is being allowed to live and work in the USA in the first place! The best website is www.usembassy.org.uk. You have to have a job offer before you even go to America to work. You also have to have a skill that is in short supply in the USA if that's the way you aim to get in. If America is definitely your ultimate goal, I would make sure that the skill you are trying to get into America with is actually in short supply and in demand. You will also need to have a minimum of 2 years experience in that profession.

It's unbelievably difficult to get a greencard (which is what you need to work there) but you have youth on your side and can alter your career to suit.

[priceyclause]

thanks everyone!!

[dzug]

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/i ndex.html

is a good basic summary.

It isn't easy.

[dzug]

Oops - duplicated earlier info, sorry. But it is a good link