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Moving to the USA

Moving to the USA

Read this first. I am a traveller, not an immigration lawyer. This is not legal advice, just orientation. The exact rules, deadlines and numbers change all the time, and a lot has been tightened in recent years. For anything binding, always rely on the official sources below.

The plain truth first

A holiday in the USA is easy. Living there is a completely different world. The USA does not make it simple for anyone to just move over, and there is no quick, safe route. Anyone wanting to emigrate needs a concrete reason that fits the visa system, a lot of patience, often a lot of money, and usually professional help. Most spontaneous dreams of emigrating fail right here.

The broad routes

These basic paths have existed for a long time. Which requirements, waiting times and costs apply right now is only on the official sources.

  • Through family: A close relative or spouse who is a US citizen or green card holder. The most common route, but often a long one.
  • Through an employer: A US company hires you and sponsors your work visa, or your employer transfers you to the USA. Usually requires sought-after qualifications.
  • Green Card Lottery: For years the Diversity Visa program awarded a limited number of green cards by lottery, for many the only realistic chance, but pure luck. Note: the US government recently suspended the program and its future is open. Whether registration is running at all right now is only on the official site. Genuine entry is always free.
  • Through investment: Founding a business or investing larger sums can open a path through investor visas. This requires substantial capital.

Current rules only from official sources

Because the details change constantly, I deliberately give no numbers here, only the sources that are always up to date:

One warning: many paid agents online promise a green card for a fee. The real lottery is free and runs only through the official government site. Be skeptical of anything charging money for something that is officially free.

My take

Over the years I have spent a lot of time with my relatives in Florida, often for weeks. That is close to everyday American life and yet very different from emigrating. As a tourist you may only stay for a limited time, you are not allowed to work, and things like health insurance or a bank account are awkward without a fixed status. Anyone wanting to stay longer quickly sees where the line between visiting and living runs.

My advice from a distance: do not crush the dream, but approach it soberly. First work out which of the routes above even fits you, and get someone who knows the field for the actual process. Going it alone on hearsay will not work.

How it sounded on the forum

Older impressions from USA-TALK.DE, anonymised. Not current rules, just the mood.

Now the adventure of emigrating can begin. Luckily we have plenty of people here who have already taken the step.
A friend of mine who emigrated handled all the paperwork through a US lawyer. It cost several thousand, but he made it over.

If you are serious about it, the searchable forum archive holds many more reports from people who tried. Browse the archive ›