<p>Hi everyone!
I have been waiting for this for such a long time and never thought it would become true, but finally me and my family took care of things and after I finish high school I'm coming to the US to study. I'm in second year of High School right now. I have an uncle in Ohio who is willing to accommodate me in his house and pay for everything, food, electricity etc. etc. and I just had to take care of the tuition costs, which I have. I plan on going to Columbus State Community College the first two years and then transfer to Ohio State University. I will be studying Computer Science.</p>
<p>The thing is that, as much as I am ****ing myself in excitement (sorry for the language), I want to get away from the hellhole I am live right now and create a new life in the states. I'm in Southeast Europe, and my country is not even in the European Union so I don't plan to study in Europe, plus I've always aimed at America. My uncle owns a big company there and I am aware of the need to have an employment request from the employer in order to go and live there, but his company isn't very related to computers, although he can find me a job there, does it count as an employment request of not because of him being a family member of mine?</p>
<p>Also if this fails, which I surely hope not, what are the odds of somebody like me being employed in a computer related fields in order to get residence permit? I'm a great student and everything but I have used the search feature on this forum and the threads that I found about this topic did not say there are big chances.. Sigh.. Although all of those threads dated back to 2009, I am hoping so much for something to have changed, no matter how much, I've waited so long for this and it means the world to me.</p>
<p>Thank you very much, I'd appreciate any reply.</p>
<p>Since the recession, the US government has made it tougher and more expensive for employers to bring in workers from overseas. So while foreigners still DO get jobs here through company-sponsored programs, staying on an H1B visa is not something you can count on anymore. (Although computer science is a better field than most in that regard.) Your other options to say in the US after graduation is getting into graduate school, or marrying a US citizen.</p>
<p>Woah seriously :(?
I certainly plan to get my Master’s degree in the US but I don’t know if I can afford it right after my undergraduate studies…</p>
<p>About the marriage part haha… Even if someone did it I guess the government doesn’t allow you to stay with them if you don’t have a residence permit of some sort? So you’d have to go back to your home country?
Not that that’s an option for me anyways…</p>
<p>Why don’t you apply in the Diversity Visa lottery, for U.S. perm residency? It’s free to apply, and if you are from a country that has historically sent few immigrants to the U.S., you’re chances may not be all that remote… I have a friend from Eastern Europe that actually got a green card this way.</p>
<p>Again, I reiterate that it is FREE to apply</p>
<p>Are you talking about the standard Green Card application? Well yeah, my family has been applying for it for 8 straight years but we never won it… It was so awful to see friends of mine and distant relatives win it the very first time the applied.</p>
<p>Can I apply for it while I’m in the US, since I’ll be turning 18?</p>
<p>So, I can apply independently from my family? Oh and if I apply for the lottery while I’m in the US, can my family in my home country apply for them and me as well, or since I have turned 18 by that time they aren’t allowed to apply for me?</p>
<p>And just asking, since I’ll be studying for 4+ years in the US, does this do any favor to me, like, give me any priorities or are all of the winners chosen randomly?</p>
<p>I recall that when he was selected he had the option to bring his family (that also included bringing his parents). The selection is not entirely random as the objective of the Diversity lottery is to increase immigration from under-represented countries. That is why certain nationalities are ineligible to apply ( e.g. China, Canada, Mexico, etc). My friend was from a small country in Eastern Europe. </p>
<p>I am not an immigration lawyer. My role in helping my friend was that I agreed to be his “sponsor” on his application. When he immigrated, he lived in our home a few months to get on his feet. He’s been happily living in the U.S. ever since.</p>
<p>It all happened over a decade ago, so it would be best if you google and read the U.S. State Department’s webpage yourself to get ACCURATE and up to date details on the application procedure.</p>
<p>I mention that it is FREE to apply, because there are a lot of scams out there w people offering to apply for you for a fee.</p>
<p>That would suck, really. I come from a small country in SouthEast Europe too and I know that it’s eligible for the lottery since my family has been applying.
I have the sponsor and everything in the US, I was just hoping I would get some sort of “privilege” since I will live there for a somewhat long amount of time.
I read the information on the website and I couldn’t find a certain answer for this, but most people on different forums were saying that the lottery is pure luck, just like gambling… :(</p>
<p>If you can get here, and live with your uncle while you study, you will be able to gradually sort through your options. A degree in engineering or computer science is more likely to help you get an H1B visa than other degrees are, so you have a chance. Once you are here and meet the education requirements for the visa lottery, you can apply every single year. It is free, and the paperwork is not difficult. </p>
<p>Do take advantage of all the volunteer, internship, and paid work opportunities that come your way during your CPT and OPT times. Maybe something will work out for you.</p>
<p>For the long-term, you need to consider whether your goal is specifically to stay in the US, or if it is merely to not have to return to your home country. If not going back is your primary goal, once you have a degree you could also consider looking for work in Canada. The immigration policies there are more rational than in the US.</p>
<p>+1 what happymomof1 said about Canada. Plus U.S. taxation policy is JUST AWFUL. With U.S. residency u will be subject to income taxes on income earned ouside of the U.S. Given a choice, pick Canadian residency.</p>
<p>Haha if it would be as “easy” as you guys say…
My goal is to actually stay in the US, as that’s what I’ve ever wanted for I don’t even know how long, but Canada is great nonetheless!..
As I said most companies require you to have 5+ years of working experience and that is what I fear the most.</p>
<p>So this green card lotto is free to apply, but do most people hire immigration lawyers for it? Or do they keep up with the paperwork themselves?</p>
<p>Yes it’s free, and no, it’s relatively easy, I’ve done it myself for the past years for my family and and a relative and that relative even won it lol :@ .
You just fill up stuff like, personal info, education etc. etc.
I don’t know afterwards though.</p>
<p>@mamroneck, when we sponsored our friend and helped him successfully (a decade ago), the process was entirely do-able w/out a lawyer. Suggest u google the U.S. State Department’s Diversity Visa webpage to get the details on the application process.</p>