Kimberkid Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 A few very dear friends of mine are UK citizens. They travel here once a year and shoot with us for a couple weeks. They are all of the impression that it is impossible for them to gain Citizenship here in the US. One guy in particular is in a transitional period in his life and has voiced to me the idea that he may try coming here for the duration of his tourist visa (90 days) and attempting to find a loophole that will allow him to stay indefinetly. He will be staying with me during this time and I am trying to help him along with things on this end. I have sent out an email or 2 to some of you that made it clear you have done the same thing. Any info anyone could provide in what he or I could do to speed up this process or to just make it happen at all would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 My parents and brother 'converted' from UK to US citizens. In their case, they had been living here on green cards for a long period of time. Attempting to overstay a visa is probably a bad idea though. Getting married to a citizen works, but you'd better be serious about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Become a Mexican citizen and then swim the river to the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 I was going to make a really acidic remark to the same effect as L2S, but the key is to have a job with an employer that will help you get a green card. Our immigration system absolutely blows chunks. Every dirtbag in the universe who hates America can come here and sponge off the system and Bush will grant them amnesty in hopes that they'll actually vote. When it comes to letting in upstanding western-cultured citizens who will love America and become contributors.....well....our government just doesn't want you. We need a system where we can just trade citizens at par. The UK can send us 1000 former gun owners and we'll send the UK/EU 1000 socialist/communist/fascist hippie dirtbags. Everyone will get what they want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberkid Posted June 10, 2004 Author Share Posted June 10, 2004 How/Who checks up on the employment issue. Finding a job will not be a problem, finding a "real" job might be a bit tougher. If, hypothetically, I had a friend that owned a business and was willing to put on paper that the man in question was under his employ, is it likely that they would check up and see to it that the man in question actually showed up to work and spun wrenches every day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precision40 Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Getting married to a citizen works, but you'd better be serious about it. Probably the best bet. But marrying a U.S. national doesn't automatically give someone a resident alien card. It takes upwards of a year for the paperwork go through. All the while, they have to stay in their home country. Tourists visas are easily obtained, but I wouldn't overstay the time-limit considering were now in post 9-11. Short of getting some sort of work-related visa or marrying a US national, there really isn't any other alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Short of getting some sort of work-related visa or marrying a US national, there really isn't any other alternatives. What about giving birth to a child in the US, does that grant either or both the parents and child citizenship? This topic is rather timely as a group of 7 brits are coming to our match this weekend, some of the club members scrambled to find them guns, ammo, holsters, etc. so they could do some practice the day before the match and shoot the match itself. That's dedication to travel 7000 miles to shoot an IPSC match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Child gets citizenship, parents don't. I'm a case in point The best job is with a big employer that has people that deal with INS all the time.-- then it's very smooth. Otherwise the employer effort is much higher. From what I know, big employers won't typically hire off a tourist visa though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Child gets citizenship, parents don't. I'm a case in point Care to elaborate? So where do your parents live? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 My parents live here. They're naturalized now, but at the time they were here on work permits of some sort, so they stayed UK citizens. I got both since I was born in the US (=US citizen) and my parents were UK (=UK citizen). I'm not sure if having a US child gives automatic residency or not. Shortly thereafter Dad got a job at Ford and that was the end of the visa problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 My parents live here. They're naturalized now, but at the time they were here on work permits of some sort. I'm not sure if having a US child gives automatic residency or not. That's why I asked. Say some a british couple are here on vacation, she gives birth, is the kid a citizen? Can they leave it here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Here are some URLs I got from a quick search with dogpile.com. The first is the site of US Customs & Immigration, but the others are commercial sites that may or may not be accurate. If you're serious about immigration, I'd say the first step would be to do some research online, then contact an attorney who specializes in immigration. http://uscis.gov/graphics/ http://www.rapidimmigration.com/usa/ http://www.uscitizenship.info/?ad=adword&k...=uscitizenship2 http://immigration.about.com/library/weekly/aa070300b.htm http://www.usnaturalization.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 How/Who checks up on the employment issue. US Imigration does....and they really check, too. My wife's step-mother has been here from Norway for 15 years, keeps re-newing her work visa, and they're finally getting a little crappy about it; basically "become a US citizen or go home". The sticking point for her and I suspect a lot of people is to become a US citizen you have to give up citizenship in your native country. Some countries have dual-citizenship, but the only one I know of is Ireland. Another problem with folks from UK getting a work visa is you must have the job setup before you come over, and you can't change jobs. I worked with a British engineer who was sweating bullets when our company was talking about folding and he didn't want to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dv8 Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Employer has to demostrate that he couldn't find an American citizen to fill in the position to which an alien applies. This can be a basis for obtaining permanent residency status. It is not easy but has been done. A child born in the US has US citizenship but his parents will have to wait until the child lives to legal age and applies for them. That is unless parents find other way to stay. The way I became an American was specific to certain time and place - it is of no use otherwise. Besides, it took me 11 years. Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 I'll second BrianH on not trying to become a citizen under false pretenses. The penalties are very harsh, if I remember correctly. I don't think you can reapply for like 10 years if they catch you. If your friends have skills, why not post them, so that they could be legitimately hired? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dv8 Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 I'll second BrianH on not trying to become a citizen under false pretenses. The penalties are very harsh, if I remember correctly. I don't think you can reapply for like 10 years if they catch you. If your friends have skills, why not post them, so that they could be legitimately hired? Agreed. A member of this forum has put it once this way: What kind of citizen one will become if he chooses an illegal way to become a citizen in the first place? There are legal ways and employment is one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpolans Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Carlos, are you going to chime in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 The UK can send us 1000 former gun owners and we'll send the UK/EU 1000 socialist/communist/fascist hippie dirtbags. Everyone will get what they want. Hey ho, hold on a second here, I'm not sure I like this deal very much ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdj Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 It is, unfortunately, quite difficult for UK folk to get into the US. If they have sufficient skills then getting in via the employment route is usually the best. There are different catagories of qualification and some allow almost instant Green Cards - but not too many people are "Nobel lauriates or equivalent" . From there, the catagories move down through "Scientists of International Repute" and end eventually with something equivalent to "skilled for a job that can not currently be filled by a US citizen". As you get to the end of that ranking, the process is long and tiresome, often taking years to get through, I believe. If you don't have specific skills that allow that route, then the other possibilities are to marry a US citizen or to get in on the "lottery" which allows a certain number of people in per year regardless of skills. Unfortunately, the quota for UK people is very low. I've had friends who have looked into moving to the US but didn't find a way of making it happen. I don't know if anyone has tried the political asylum from an "oppressive regime" (as far as gun owners are concerned) but I think there has to be fear of physical harm and not just psychological impact so the UK probably doesn't qualify It is pretty difficult for folk without highly specialized skill sets to move *from the UK* to the US ... Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberkid Posted June 11, 2004 Author Share Posted June 11, 2004 Thank you everyone for your helpful information and advice. I think I may have given off the wrong impression. The person in question is a man of high moral standards and has no intentions whatsoever of gaining access to this fine country illegally. I was merely proposing a hypothetical to increase my own personal knowledge that I might better assist him. I do know that he is highly educated and quite employable. Only obstacle being that it is difficult to do job interviews from across the ocean. Also, knowing what is available and where to apply. Myself and my family/friends are all primarily blue collar working class people, where as he is primarily a white collar type, thus making it more difficult for me to assist him in his job hunt. I have sent him a link to this forum that he might be able to read this as well and decide for himself what is his best course of action. Everyone's assistance is very greatly appreciated and I am once again astounded by the generousity of the shooting community. I assure you all that should he be successful in moving here, you will see his name at the top of final score sheets very soon. Should anyone have any additional info please continue to post it or PM me if you like. With a heartful of appreciation and thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3quartertime Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Going to school in the US is an option. Not sure how tough it is to get accepted from abroad, but once he was enrolled he could more easily go on job interviews. PS... I think the major problem for UK'ers becoming US'ers is the accent. Nothing worse than to see a group of babes going nuts over a guy just cause he talks funny!!! Tell him to learn some hillbilly and we'll let em' come on over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooter Grrl Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Mike, What industry does your friend work in? I might be able to help him in his job search! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdj Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 PS... I think the major problem for UK'ers becoming US'ers is the accent. Nothing worse than to see a group of babes going nuts over a guy just cause he talks funny!!! Personally, I can't see why this would be a problem . There have to be some benefits to compensate for occationally being asked what language we just spoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberkid Posted June 11, 2004 Author Share Posted June 11, 2004 3/4- i assure you, we started his hillbilly education the first day I met him. It is funny you say that because the whole group of them cant seem to fight off the waitresses and barmaids whenever we go out. One guy was looking for a ring for his wife so I took him to a very nice jewerly store and all the women, 5 VERY attractive women, nearly went into palpatations. Shooter Grrl- He has a history in sales, his previous job was with a very popular food corporation, like our Nabisco or Frito Lay. I dont doubt for a second that he could sell snow to an eskimo. I know his education can easily be called "advanced" but particulars beyond that I am not totally positive about. I got an email from him the other day and he informed me that he has a couple interviews back in the UK this week. He also passed on to me that he is defintly keeping his options open to see what might come about. Thank you all so much for your time and thoughts, I feel bad for begging for info and assistance like this, but I very much want to see my friend be free again. He will be a blessing to our country and does not need to be "punished for a crime he did not commit" as one Forum reader said. All my non shooting friends wonder why I spend so much time and money on this sport, and dont understand that I have been fortunate enough to become accustomed to people of such high quality of character as yourselves. God bless you all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGYoung Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 From what I have heard, the nursing profession is the way to go, but make sure the school is US accredited. The nursing shortage is so great that most hospitals have a nurse recruiter that is familiar with doing work visas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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