California Dreaming
Discussion
Posted this in holidays/travel but come to think of it, this seems more long term and wasn't getting much interest. So hear goes:
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
Anybody been there? I haven't. Maybe you would suggest going over for a holiday and check some places out? What is the weather like? Work? Lifestyle? Just want some general thoughts to be honest.
Thanks
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
Anybody been there? I haven't. Maybe you would suggest going over for a holiday and check some places out? What is the weather like? Work? Lifestyle? Just want some general thoughts to be honest.
Thanks
I want to move to LA once uni is over, so far i've found out, a lot of people work in bars, clubs and shops, very relaxed attitude, getting a green card is a b
h, getting a job is fairly tricky, especially doing music or acting (LA is full of people wanting to be famous, duh!)
BUT, if you wanna do it,
GO AND DO IT!
Go for a month or so, look for jobs, see how you like it and if it's for you, stay there.
h, getting a job is fairly tricky, especially doing music or acting (LA is full of people wanting to be famous, duh!)BUT, if you wanna do it,
GO AND DO IT!Go for a month or so, look for jobs, see how you like it and if it's for you, stay there.
Realistically you've got no chance unless you can find a US based company willing to offer you a job and sort out the visa for you, or you get engaged to a US citizen.
You can spend three months in the US under the visa waiver scheme or apply for an extended tourist visa, but neither of these will allow you to work or look for work while you're there. If you've never been to the US before do this first just to make sure you like the place as there is so much variety just in California, never mind the rest of the country! I lived just north of Los Angeles (Canyon Country for anyone who knows the area) for about 4 years and loved it - far enough away from LA to be out of the traffic and pollution, but close enough to be convenient for just about everything else.
If you do come over for a visit, do NOT tell immigration that you intend to look for a job while you're there or they'll refuse to let you in the country.
You can spend three months in the US under the visa waiver scheme or apply for an extended tourist visa, but neither of these will allow you to work or look for work while you're there. If you've never been to the US before do this first just to make sure you like the place as there is so much variety just in California, never mind the rest of the country! I lived just north of Los Angeles (Canyon Country for anyone who knows the area) for about 4 years and loved it - far enough away from LA to be out of the traffic and pollution, but close enough to be convenient for just about everything else.
If you do come over for a visit, do NOT tell immigration that you intend to look for a job while you're there or they'll refuse to let you in the country.
Very easy to slip under the radar and live illegally in California apparently. A mate of mine moved there with no papers, set up his own business, opened bank accounts, got driving licence, etc, etc. The only thing he couldnt do was leave the country, so he thought. He had to urgently go back to UK and was advised to just leave via a different airport to that he arrived at. That worked and he then travelled back every couple of years.
After about 8 years there was some sort of amnesty for overstayers and if you could prove you had lived there and were not a burden on the state (no benefits and you paid tax) they let you stay, so he now has his green card.
I'm not saying its foolproof by any means but its possible.
Set up on your own as a plumber, if you turn up when you say you'll make a fortune.
After about 8 years there was some sort of amnesty for overstayers and if you could prove you had lived there and were not a burden on the state (no benefits and you paid tax) they let you stay, so he now has his green card.
I'm not saying its foolproof by any means but its possible.
Set up on your own as a plumber, if you turn up when you say you'll make a fortune.
California is a FANTASTIC place. It's not perfect (there is no perfect place), but it has so much to offer. If you're a musician, you can find a gig if you work hard enough. However, if you're serious, my recommendation would be to come here with some money under your belt. You won't regret it.
Wow nice bit of information, thanks allot everyone!
Why is it so hard to get into America now? I thought it would be easier having a trade, being young and with a Canadian passport; I would go there but I've had enough cold weather hear to be honest!
Making money or being famous isn't my aim, I just want a lifestyle that enables me to enjoy the country and the weather. Plus maybe play a bit of rock n roll and the blues. Oh and the cars.
What are my chances?
EDIT: I've been to the states a couple times, Orlando Florida, all of New England, Niagra, Ontario and Boston. Didn't see a great deal as time is always limited on holidays.
Why is it so hard to get into America now? I thought it would be easier having a trade, being young and with a Canadian passport; I would go there but I've had enough cold weather hear to be honest!
Making money or being famous isn't my aim, I just want a lifestyle that enables me to enjoy the country and the weather. Plus maybe play a bit of rock n roll and the blues. Oh and the cars.
What are my chances?
EDIT: I've been to the states a couple times, Orlando Florida, all of New England, Niagra, Ontario and Boston. Didn't see a great deal as time is always limited on holidays.
Edited by The Lukas on Monday 8th March 17:31
From what i can gather, There is 1 green card for every 30 applicants, although there is also a lottery system for them when people who are rejected a green card without good reason other than over-populating the country are put in to a raffle to get a card.
Try for it though. Once you have one, you can sort everything else out. But if you go over for a month or so, Go and ask the professionals over there how to get one, how to increase your chances and how hard they are to get.
Try for it though. Once you have one, you can sort everything else out. But if you go over for a month or so, Go and ask the professionals over there how to get one, how to increase your chances and how hard they are to get.
The Lukas said:
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
I live in California, emigrated. I'm an engineer also.What university did you get your engineering degree from? Do you have a Masters?
FraserLFA said:
From what i can gather, There is 1 green card for every 30 applicants, although there is also a lottery system for them when people who are rejected a green card without good reason other than over-populating the country are put in to a raffle to get a card.
Try for it though. Once you have one, you can sort everything else out. But if you go over for a month or so, Go and ask the professionals over there how to get one, how to increase your chances and how hard they are to get.
A couple of things that need pointing out:Try for it though. Once you have one, you can sort everything else out. But if you go over for a month or so, Go and ask the professionals over there how to get one, how to increase your chances and how hard they are to get.
1. You can't just apply for a green card, neither can you get one and then "sort everything else out". Someone else will have to apply for you, either a close family member/fiance who is either a US citizen or has a green card, or a company that has already offered you a job on the basis that they can't find a suitable US citizen to fill the roll. There is a business based visa you can apply for if you are willing to set up or transfer a company to the US and employ a certain amount of people, but you'll need a couple of million dollars available.
2. Acceptance into the green card lottery depends on how many other people from your country have been given green cards in the previous five years. If a relatively high proportion of the green cards have been given to British and Canadian people, you won't be allowed to enter the lottery. Guess what? Yes, most years a high proportion of the green cards are given to Brits and Canadians.
Edited by branflakes on Monday 8th March 19:39
Marquis_Rex said:
The Lukas said:
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
I live in California, emigrated. I'm an engineer also.What university did you get your engineering degree from? Do you have a Masters?
Marquis_Rex said:
The Lukas said:
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
I live in California, emigrated. I'm an engineer also.What university did you get your engineering degree from? Do you have a Masters?
Balmoral Green said:
Marquis_Rex said:
The Lukas said:
I really fancy living in California for a year or two. How should I go about this? I'm 21, a qualified plumber/maintenance engineer, have UK and Canadian passports. I also play and write music, and playing guitar sometimes in some blues bar for a job for a few dollars would be superb. I have no ties here whatsoever (save my job).
I live in California, emigrated. I'm an engineer also.What university did you get your engineering degree from? Do you have a Masters?
What advice would you give?
I am lucky enough to have two passports and will be moving to the west coast in a couple of years. Reading this makes me realise more that I shouldnt waste the chance that I have as so many will not get the opportunity. Only thing in the way for me is that my GF is German, we will have to get married prior to going over but that would be the case anyway if we stayed in Europe.
I lived in Denver for 10 years previously, the UK for 15 years and am now in Frankfurt Germany. Dont forget about the rest of Europr either, after all we are paying taxes towards the EU. why not use the chance of no boundaries to move to somewhere like Italy etc.
I lived in Denver for 10 years previously, the UK for 15 years and am now in Frankfurt Germany. Dont forget about the rest of Europr either, after all we are paying taxes towards the EU. why not use the chance of no boundaries to move to somewhere like Italy etc.
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