It is not a simple economic situation that creates instability. Immigration to the USA and the European Union is becoming increasingly popular. Especially among the talented youth of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. For some, moving to America remains a pipe dream. But in reality there is nothing complicated about this. America is not part of the European Union, and you cannot get there with a Schengen visa.
Taxi on the streets of New York during rush hour
But there are many ways to immigrate to the States and eventually become a permanent resident.
Green Card Lottery
Every year, 55,000 visas are awarded to people from countries with a small flow of emigrants. You can fill out the form for the lottery only on the official website: https://dvprogram.state.gov
How to participate
To participate, simply fill out an application on the US government website. Fill out all fields clearly. Since the slightest defect will serve as a reason for disqualification. Therefore, you will have to wait until next year. Applications are accepted only on the website. No written applications in paper form are submitted to the embassy.
Completed application indicating the interview date for the Green Card
You can fill out the form only once a year. Consequently, duplicate applications are deleted and lead to disqualification of the participant. Applications will be accepted until the fall. Each participant is given an individual registration code. In May, you can use this number to check the result of the drawing. The winner will receive a barcode page.
Spouses and children under 21 years of age can apply for a visa together with the winner and prepare to move as a family.
The drawing is carried out according to a computer algorithm by random selection. Statistics show that there are much more winnings in loyal countries. And in undesirable ones it is reduced to a minimum. A lot of time passes from submitting an application to receiving the result. A letter or file with a registration number can be accidentally deleted, and then everything will go to waste.
American Green Card sample
What to do if you win the Green Card lottery?
- Complete the DS-260 form. It must be filled out in English for each family member individually. After checking the data, you will receive an email with the date of the interview. It takes place at the American Embassy in Moscow.
- Collect the documents of all family members and make translated copies of them.
- To obtain a visa you need to go through a commission at the address: Moscow, st. 2nd Zvenigorodskaya, 12, building 6, 1st ring. They will give you a sealed envelope, and this is how you need to take it with you to the interview.
- An important stage is the interview. Check the documents, the envelope with the results of the medical commission. In addition, pay the visa fee and go to the Embassy exactly at the appointed time.
Facade and map of the location of the American Embassy in Moscow
Reasons for refusal
Winning the lottery does not guarantee a visa. You may hear a refusal for the following reasons:
- health status;
- mental instability;
- criminal past;
- political danger.
H-1B Work Visa
The most attractive option for many seems to be obtaining an H-1B visa, a work visa for specialists. Quite a lot of people come to us with the following question: “I’m a housewife or a secretary, I want to work in America, get me a work visa.” I don't want to upset you, but you have no chance. It is possible to get a job on a work visa if you, for example, are a programmer with education and work experience, speak English and are in the USA.
Let's look from the employer's point of view . Let's say you are an employer, and I turn to you and say that I want to get a job. I fill out the form on your website and send my resume. You look, everything seems to be fine, and you say: “Okay, when can you come for the interview?” But I don’t have a visa to America, and I answer: “I can’t come, I’m in Moscow now.” Well, goodbye, if you’re visiting us in Silicon Valley, come in.
In America , it is customary for an employee to personally come to the employer for an interview and charm him. This interview can last several hours, it goes through several stages: first the HR department, then the head of the department or director, then the technical interview. No one is interested in interviewing you on Skype, especially without the prospect of seeing you someday. Therefore, the employer will not waste time on you.
If you are, say, a programmer with work experience, education, and knowledge of English, then we advise you to come to the USA either on a tourist visa, or to visit someone, or to some conference, and then you’ll be there go to interviews and send out your resumes. Then you will have some chances.
Obtaining an H-1B work visa is a long process . If you find a company that is willing to hire you in October, you will still have to wait until April 1st to file a petition with USCIS for a work visa. At the same time, the H-1B visa is a lottery visa. If you have a bachelor's degree, your chances are about 30%. If you have a master's degree, then the chances increase to 40%. Let's say you win this lottery. Then next October, you can start working. The employer must be very interested in you to wait a whole year, and without a guarantee, because, as we said, it’s a lottery. Some will be lucky, some will not.
Immigration methods for business people
Business immigration to the United States is possible in three ways, requiring the availability of start-up capital.
Immigration through the EB-5 program
This program was created to attract foreign investors.
Map of countries showing the number of people emigrating to the United States under the EB-5 program
To participate, you must be a successful businessman and have experience in productive leadership. Mandatory minimum funds – $500,000–$1,000,000. What they can be spent on:
- investing in a regional center;
- creation of a new enterprise;
- acquisition of an old enterprise and improvement of its efficiency;
- acquisition and collection of jobs at an unprofitable enterprise.
Only legal money is suitable as an investment. As proof, you will have to provide a tax return for the last 5 years.
To build a business using money from sold real estate, confirmation is required. You need to provide information about where the money for this property was obtained. Those who conduct their business honestly will not have problems expanding to the international level.
Opening a branch on an L1A visa
Allows you to send management personnel to the States to open a subsidiary.
This is what an American L1 visa looks like
The visa is issued for 3 years, with the possibility of extension. But after a year you can apply for a residence permit. To open a division you need to confirm:
- management experience of at least 1 year;
- availability of sufficient funds;
- detailed business plan.
Small business
The company or enterprise does not yet exist, but there is already initial capital and a desire to move to America or the European Union. For such a situation, an E2 investor visa is suitable. According to the international agreement on the support of small businesses, you can open a business in any participating country.
In Russia, unfortunately, the document was not ratified. But there is an opportunity for citizens of the former Soviet republics. Such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Moldova.
Alternative methods
This is what an American residence permit card looks like
For those who do not yet know what they will do in America, there are alternative ways to immigrate to the United States.
Fiancé/Groom Visa
The visa is issued for 3 months, during which time the wedding ceremony must take place. A happy newlywed can receive a residence permit, but not yet citizenship. You should not think that it will be easy to conclude a fictitious marriage. Newlyweds may be subject to inspections at any time.
After two years, you can go through an interview with your spouse and obtain citizenship. It is important to convince the inspector of the sincerity of feelings, otherwise there will be a suspicion of a fictitious marriage.
If you do get involved in an adventure and stage a performance with a fictitious marriage, you will have to practice acting.
Immigration through refugee status
This is a quick and economical way to move to permanent residence in the USA. But it will be necessary to prove why the person is afraid to stay in his native country. For political or ethnic emigrants, detention certificates will be helpful. In addition, certificates of beatings and dismissal from work. Notes in newspapers and other public media will be an excellent help.
Reliable evidence is a recommendation from a European or national human rights organization.
Born in America
According to US law, every person born in the country automatically has the right to citizenship. This rule does not depend in any way on the citizenship of the parents. It is enough to go to America for childbirth.
American passport sample
The child will have the right to choose which country to live in. But he will be able to call his parents only upon reaching the age of majority - 21 years old. And the parents themselves will not receive any privileges in terms of relocation. If you take care of the future of your children in this way, there will be no question for them about how to leave for the USA.
To the States from the countries of the former USSR republics
Immigration to the United States from Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan is no more difficult than from Russia. The same methods apply:
- a good specialist can find a job in America;
- businessman - create a subsidiary or start a new one;
- Students have the opportunity to obtain a study visa;
- Alternative methods also work.
Any of these visas allows you to stay in the country for at least one year. During this time, you will have to prove why you are useful to the country. If this is successful, there will be a chance to obtain a residence permit and immigration to the United States will become real.
Immigration through the Jewish community
The American Jewish community is one of the largest in the world. Now there are more than 5.5 million people. A considerable part of them own businesses and occupy senior positions in large companies. Historically, life for the Jews was not sweet, and the persecuted people learned powerful mutual assistance.
At one time, immigration to the United States became a real salvation for them from oppression. There may be some difficult research ahead.
If there is evidence that you have Jewish blood, you can safely establish contacts with the community.
But first, take care of documentary evidence of your origin. For example, certificates from the archive, copies of documents. They always help their own, but you still need to prove that you belong, and there are many who want it.
If everything goes as expected, they will help you find a job and send you a call. The Jewish community will become a second home and reliable allies.
Work and Travel USA Program
As an internship option, there is the so-called Work and Travel USA program. J-1 visas are issued to students who wish to participate. These visas are also issued to people going on internships at American corporations. There are many different options for how to stay completely. For example, get a tourist visa and marry a US citizen (see paragraph 2) or change the J-1 visa to a student or work H1B, and then as in the previous paragraphs 7 and 8.
After receiving a Green card, in order not to lose its capabilities, you must live in the USA for at least 0.5 years. Subsequently, after a certain number of years (depending on the type of Green card), it will be possible to become a full-fledged US citizen with all the ensuing rights and responsibilities.
USA or EU - Which is better?
The question is quite complex, the answer depends on the goals of emigration from Russia. Moreover, it depends on marital status and initial capital. To create a complete picture, reviews of emigrants from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan were studied.
Work and career
In the USA, if you have the ability, you can make a successful career. In the European Union, despite high qualifications, you can remain in lower positions for many years.
Language
In the USA, English is spoken throughout the country. There are many languages and dialects in the European Union, which complicates labor emigration.
Culture
The USA is a young country with a unified culture. In the European Union you can move freely across countries, study the history and art of several regions.
Table: advantages and disadvantages of working in the USA
There are pros and cons to the US. Before looking for vacancies and organizing your daily life, you need to study the advantages, disadvantages and draw your own conclusions.
| Advantages | Flaws |
| High salaries compared to CIS countries | Difficult and lengthy collection of documents |
| Convenient work schedule | Complex state taxation system, high fees |
| Tolerance and equal treatment of all applicants, regardless of gender and age | Many unusual prohibitions and laws in different states and cities that must be observed |
| Taking care of employees | Very expensive medical care that is not covered by the employer |
| Entrepreneurship support | Accommodation and household costs are higher |
| High pensions | Expensive housing |
| Lots of free seats |
In addition to work issues, among the direct shortcomings it is worth noting everyday difficulties: unusual weather for Russians, lack of familiar products.
