How difficult is it to legally emigrate to the U.S. if...?

Question

you have a college education but are not an especially highly skilled worker (ie, engineer, doctor)?

Answer 1

Its not but most of my friends came illegally so they could avoid the hassle.

Answer 2

actually if your intentions are to move to the US with a work visa, the person that applies for it is your employer not you seeking for a job.

what I know is that you must have an almost "amazing" ability  that would convince the immigration officers to give you a work visa, some kind of ability that wouldn't be found in a US citizen, so it's gonna be kinda hard for you but good luck!

Answer 3

it's really easy if you have patience. to legalize your stay here is much more better than to go here and stay as an illegal allien.

Answer 4

Julie,

It is not at all difficult, but it can be expensive.

That expense can often be covered by the employer, which is why the need to convince an employer to sponsor you has to be established that they really need your skill set...

but quite often, some arrangement can be made "under the table" such that the employer may front the money and you work it off for a reduced salary for a period of time before receiving a set higher salary ... this is a loophole that I have seen exploited many times by friends in the same situation.

The trick is convincing an employer to do this and it is most frequently able to be accomplished through friends you already know here who have businesses established.

I know someone who studied in Mexico to be an engineer, but came to the states with a completely legal work visa to manager a sandwich shop ... earning much more than he could as an engineer in his home country ... my only concern for him is that he will not be happy for long managing a sandwich shop

Answer 5

its not easy, but if you're from mexico its impossible.

Answer 6

Depends. Our immigration quotas favor some nationalities over others. The process takes months or years - months if you have a skill that US employers want (don't want to pay US workers the prevailing US wage); years otherwise. Even doctors and engineers can take years to legally work here.

Answer 7

check www.uscis.gov for information realted with immigrating to the US.

There are different paths to immigrate to the US. If you using employment based (EB) path, you need to find a sponsering company that will hire you. Your field has to be an area where there is a shortage of trained US citizen. Check the Departement of Labor (?) website for lists of fields where there is a shortage of US workers.

You can also try with a non-immigrant visa like H-1B (temporary worker) and apply for an immigrant visa after you come here.

Good luck