For many years, immigration to the United States has been the dream of different generations living in the CIS countries. A high standard of living, developed entrepreneurship, excellent business conditions make the country an ideal place to achieve their goals. A successful country attracts many, but not everyone decides to move here for permanent residence. However, there are many very real ways to get to America and stay here for a long time.
A little about America: location, climate, people and local cuisine
The state is spread over the continent of North America in the western hemisphere and is made up of 50 states: 48 of them border each other, and two more stand apart - the island of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean and the giant peninsula of Alaska.
On a large territory of the state, you can find a climate for every taste. In the main part of the country, a moderate continental climate remains, in the east - high humidity, in the west - dry air. Alaska has an arctic climate, while Hawaii has a tropical one. Often, residents are threatened by hurricanes, the southern states are most susceptible to them.
Lives in the USA about 270 million Human, 80% population - Americans of European descent, least of all American Jews (about 2%). The average income of the population after taxes reaches $ 42,000 per yearand the difference between rich and poor is immediately apparent. Thus, citizens at the highest rung of the economic ladder receive 8 times more than those in the lower stratum.
Local cuisine is a real mix of national cuisines from different countries of the world. India, Mexico and European countries are mixed here. And each state has its own favorite dish. For example, in Florida they love lime pies, in Alaska - venison steaks, and in Connecticut - pizza with white clams.
Emigration to the USA: where to start
Planning a move for a Russian person or a citizen of any CIS country begins with determining the method that will become the basis for obtaining permanent residence. There are a great many of them, the most popular will be discussed below.
However, the choice of a migration method is preceded by a few more important things. This:
- Collecting information about the country and methods of moving there. You will have to spend several weeks to find all the necessary information, organize it and decide on the appropriate migration method.
- Life planning from scratch. We pass from theory to practice: you need to finish all business in Russia and find a "refuge" in America. For example, an educational institution that will help you apply for a study visa, or an employer that will bear some of the costs, send an invitation to a migrant and help you move. It is best to make friends in America who will initially provide support in the new country.
- Raising money and learning English. To move, you will need a rather large amount (for paperwork, rental housing, medical examination), so it's better to start saving in advance. Moreover, an excellent knowledge of the language is required. If you have already learned English, investing in improving it is never a waste of time.
Methods of Migration to America
In 2021, there are 2 legal ways to emigrate to America from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. These are direct and indirect migration.
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Their nuances are presented in the table below.
| Migration type | Description | Ways to get into the country |
| Direct Immigration | It is necessary to obtain an immigrant visa, which is issued only at the US embassy after an interview with the consul. An immigrant visa is the first step towards US citizenship, so it is extremely difficult to obtain one. |
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| Indirect immigration | Possible after obtaining a nonimmigrant visa at any regional consulate. Thus, in Russia there are American consulates in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg. More feasible migration path for an ordinary citizen, but also the longest. |
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Each method has its own characteristics and principles of implementation. However, any program provides for a phased development of events:
- First, the applicant receives a visa and lives on it for some time.
- Then he submits documents for obtaining permanent residence or a green card (residence permit).
- After 5 years of living in the United States for permanent residence, a foreigner can apply for citizenship if he wants.
Employment
In America, the rights of local residents to employment are carefully protected, so it is extremely difficult for a foreigner to get a good job. An invitation from a future manager will not be enough to issue a work visa: only an American employer can invite an employee, permission from the Federal Employment Service is required, after which a visa application is submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Service.
The easiest way to get a work permit for a foreigner is if:
- He is distinguished by outstanding abilities that can be useful to the US government.
- The position for which a migrant is employed is not suitable for any able-bodied US citizen.
- Hiring a migrant to work will not infringe on the rights of local workers (for example, due to the employment of a foreigner, the wages of workers in the company of Americans will not decrease).
A citizen living in Russia collects all documents with the help of a potential employer and applies for an immigration visa. You can start work and move to the United States when a labor immigration visa number is assigned.
Ball system for issuing visas
In 2017, a point-based system for issuing work visas was introduced in America. It consists in the fact that the applicant for employment is awarded points if he excelled in any category.
For instance:
- A candidate under the age of 21 is awarded 6 points, 22-25 years old - 8 points, 26-30 years old - 10 points, for older people the number of points is gradually decreasing.
- For a high school certificate - +1 point, bachelor's degree - 5 points, master's degree - 7 points.
- The English language test passed 100% - 12 points, 60% - 6 points.
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Also, points are awarded for the presence of the Nobel Prize and other achievements in science. To apply for a visa, you must score at least 30 points.
Business immigration
The term "business immigration" in the United States means obtaining a work visa, which allows you to work for yourself, do your own business, or buy a ready-made business. The permit is valid for 1 year, after which it is extended for another 3 years. If the enterprise begins to develop actively, the citizen has the right to apply to open a Green Card.
A full move to America for business immigration will cost to a migrant in 25 000 - 40 000 $. This amount must be in a bank account, which is confirmed by a financial statement. The money can be used for any needs of the company. Entrepreneurial migration is called the easiest and most popular way to legally leave for the United States and stay there.
Immigration through the purchase of real estate
It is impossible to obtain a residence permit in America simply by buying a residential property there. The owner of an apartment or house in the state can only count on a 30-day stay in the United States throughout the year.
However, there is an opportunity to get the coveted Green Card through investments in commercial real estate.
There are 2 options:
- The attachment 500 000$ to the place of business indicated by the Ministry of Immigration. This preferential program is designed for 3000 Green Card in a year.
- Investment 1 000 000$ to any commercial property. The investor must independently provide at least 10 vacancies for working Americans and take care of the company's profitability.
Getting an education
Typically, a student visa is issued for young people and girls under the age of 25. They first submit documents to the chosen university, then take exams. If a student is enrolled in a university, he or she issues a visa on the basis of an invitation.
At the American consulate, it is important for a potential student to prove that:
- There are strong ties to the home country that will force the citizen to return after receiving an education.
- The student has enough funds to support his life in the United States and pay for his studies.
However, refusals to issue a student visa are not uncommon. This may be due to:
- Failure to maintain dialogue in English or misunderstanding of the American dialect.
- Negative migratory experience from past travel while studying or working in the United States.
- The wrong course or university where there is no practical benefit in your home country.
Family reunion
The direction that immigration law takes as seriously as possible. Family reunification of Americans is on stream, but sometimes you have to wait a long time for an application to be considered, since there are quotas for the issuance of such visas.
First of all, applications for reunification of minor children with parents living in the United States or adult children from the United States with foreign parents are considered.
For the rest of the categories, there are restrictions:
- Adult children of Americans. Quota allocated at 23,400 annual visas, plus unused visas from the fourth category... At the same time, unmarried / unmarried children belong to the 1st category of priority, and married / married children - to the 3rd.
- Husband / wife or unmarried children of permanent residents of the United States. Provided 87,900 visas per year, citizens belong to the 2nd category.
- Married brothers or married sisters of an American citizen. 65,000 annual visas, category of priority - 4th.
Quotas significantly slow down the process of issuing a residence permit. So, in rare cases, waiting for the consideration of the application may last about 10 years. The average waiting time is from 1 to 5 years.
Marriage
Another way to immigrate to America is to meet a citizen of the country or its permanent resident and come to him on a bride / groom visa to get married. The marriage must be contracted no later than 90 days from the date of entry.
After the wedding, the migrant applies for conditional permanent resident status. And after two years of living in this status, you can apply for Green Card.
Important! In the United States, there is a rule - if the spouses have lived together for less than two years after the registration of the marriage before the divorce, the foreigner loses the opportunity to live in the cities of America. His Green Card is canceled and he is obliged to leave for his home country.
Migration through refugee status
If in their home country a citizen is persecuted on various grounds or threatened due to discriminatory law, he has the right to apply for political asylum in America. To do this, he must come to the country and write a statement about the need to remain in refugee status. In rare cases, you can apply for a petition while in your home country.
To gain a foothold in the United States, you will need to provide documentary evidence that a person is suffering from persecution.
Further, the situation develops according to the following scenario:
- If it is possible to prove the existence of the danger, the applicant is provided with assistance under the program of resettlement of foreign migrants.
- After a year of living as a refugee, a foreigner can apply for the status of a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
- When a refugee becomes a legal resident of the United States, he gets the right to work here and temporarily leave the country.
Important! Any attempt to move involves an honest statement of intentions and a deliberate desire to stay in the country. So, if a foreigner crossed the US border on a tourist visa and decided to stay as a refugee, declaring persecution, the authorities will see the deception and refuse.
Consequences of illegal emigration
An illegal presence in the United States threatens the offender with expulsion from the country and a ban on entry.
The severity of the punishment depends on how long the illegal stayed in America:
- From six months to a year - entry ban for 3 years.
- More than a year - ban for 10 years.
- Second illegal entry - ban for 20 years.
Pros and cons of living in the USA
Taking a closer look at the issue, American life cannot be called as ideal as it seems at first glance. Its disadvantages are especially palpable for immigrants.
The pros and cons, which people from the CIS countries talk about, are presented in the table below.
pros | Minuses |
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Immigrants who have moved to America forever recommend digging well before the trip. For the first time, you will need start-up capital for renting housing, buying food and other expenses. The size of the start-up capital depends on the state where the foreigner is going. Over time, a foreigner can achieve good earnings, even working as a car mechanic or shop assistant.
Reviews of emigrants
Elena:I have been living in Georgia for a year now, I moved to my future husband. The locals are friendly, always helpful and know how to enjoy life. In general, I am a skeptic and do not idealize America, I see its shortcomings, but there are far fewer of them than advantages. For example, I don't like the local compulsory insurance system. It makes medicine unaffordable or too expensive for most people. I still don't like the complex system of forming a credit history with all its scores and other nuances, although the idea is very interesting. Otherwise, I'm happy with my life here.
Leonid: The main attributes of happiness for the local population are a good home, a prestigious job, and a decent education. And the legislation, which many complain about, on the contrary, I consider a plus. I am glad that no one begs for bribes, officials and tax authorities do not threaten.
Evgeniya: I have been living in Virginia for a long time. The dream of all local residents is a large house with a pool and a garden, but such real estate is very expensive, so everyone lives in apartment complexes. A one-bedroom apartment costs about $ 150,000. Most people live in the suburbs, myself included. Everyone gets to work by car, as the buses run badly.At the first acquaintance with the apartment, I was a little shocked. The communal flat is cheap, everything is thought out to the smallest detail, comfortable and cozy, quiet in the courtyards, there is where to walk and play sports. As for the megacities, in my opinion, everything is much poorer there, because the territories are limited.
The United States attracts immigrants for its high standard of living. Economic, social and political indicators speak about the active development of the country. But moving to America for permanent residence is not at all easy: you have to be patient, have money and choose the right way of immigration.
