Moving To LA form Uk (Los Angeles, London: apartments, jobs, universities)

[viintage]

I'm going to move to LA from the Uk soon, and I was wondering how could I do this because I'm really confused about visas and whether its necessary to have a visa to move to LA or not. I've already looked at apartments and jobs and so forth. I need help on what to do!

[CESpeed]

You will definitely need a visa. You will also need a job and a sponsor. Go to or call the U.S. Consulate for detailed information.

[katenik]

why do people write things like "i'm going to move to LA from [insert foreign country]...," and then proceed to indicate that they haven't the faintest idea what is involved in the immigration process? does the lunatic situation on the southern border encourage people in other parts of the world to think that our immigration policy is just a free-for-all, and that anyone, anywhere can decide they want to live here and then just do it? posts like this one are really puzzling to me.

[viintage]

i know it seems as if I don't know but I have been looking online and at Universities but I was just wondering were to start!

[straight outta camden]

Originally Posted by katenik

why do people write things like "i'm going to move to LA from [insert foreign country]...," and then proceed to indicate that they haven't the faintest idea what is involved in the immigration process? does the lunatic situation on the southern border encourage people in other parts of the world to think that our immigration policy is just a free-for-all, and that anyone, anywhere can decide they want to live here and then just do it? posts like this one are really puzzling to me.

I sympathise. I suspect it's not the porous southern border that explains why so many Europeans (including Brits) write in with this question, though. All Europeans now have the right to work anywhere in Europe. London's streets are full of Polish and Lithuanian license plates. It is also pretty easy for well-educated Brits to get work visas for Australia and Canada. And America has a reputation as a land of immigrants. So it comes as a shock to discover that America is actually rather hard to get into. Legally, that is...

Viintage: yes, you do need a visa. If you want to work you need a US company to assert that they really, really need you to work for them. There is a lot of paperwork and some money involved. Qualifications make it a lot easier for companies to make this claim. You will also need a visa to attend a US university but this is an easy matter. Those visas will let you work but not (usually) full-time. Many universities offer free tuition and funding to foreigners just as they do to Americans, but more for the longer courses, e.g. PhDs.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by straight outta camden

I sympathise. I suspect it's not the porous southern border that explains why so many Europeans (including Brits) write in with this question, though. All Europeans now have the right to work anywhere in Europe. London's streets are full of Polish and Lithuanian license plates. It is also pretty easy for well-educated Brits to get work visas for Australia and Canada. And America has a reputation as a land of immigrants. So it comes as a shock to discover that America is actually rather hard to get into. Legally, that is...

[remainder redacted]

i know about the EU policy, but why would anyone think that any parallels can be drawn between that situation and moving to the US? this isn't even a commonwealth nation, like australia and canada, which accounts for the relative ease with which brits can obtain permission to live and work in those countries. i really believe that we're sending a message to other countries (and i'm not singling out the UK, by any means) that our sovereign borders are a joke...and that's our fault, not theirs. it's the only thing that satisfactorily explains (to me) why so many prospective immigrants come to this forum with inquiries about jobs and neighborhoods, while the issue of whether they even qualify to obtain the relevant documents (logically, the first question) often appears to be an afterthought, at best.

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by viintage

i know it seems as if I don't know but I have been looking online and at Universities but I was just wondering were to start!

If you are coming here on a student visa, the best place to start would be the school(s) you are planning to apply to. If you plan to stay after you finish school, I would recommend still contacting the consulate and begin the process while you are in school because I understand that it's a lengthy process. The sooner you get a sponsor (employer) - someone who will guarantee you financial support, the better.

[straight outta camden]

Originally Posted by katenik

i know about the EU policy, but why would anyone think that any parallels can be drawn between that situation and moving to the US? this isn't even a commonwealth nation, like australia and canada, which accounts for the relative ease with which brits can obtain permission to live and work in those countries. i really believe that we're sending a message to other countries (and i'm not singling out the UK, by any means) that our sovereign borders are a joke...and that's our fault, not theirs. it's the only thing that satisfactorily explains (to me) why so many prospective immigrants come to this forum with inquiries about jobs and neighborhoods, while the issue of whether they even qualify to obtain the relevant documents (logically, the first question) often appears to be an afterthought, at best.

I know, I know... But I really doubt that Europeans are listening to Tom Tancredo et al and thinking "hey, those Mexicans are having such an easy time sneaking into America illegally. Surely that means they'll let me in legally and give me a job, too!" Your average college-educated Briton does not exactly identify with an unskilled laborer from Oaxaca. And many European countries have a problem with illegal immigration from Africa and Asia--particularly Italy and Spain, but also Britain. We are familiar with the concept. We even have our very own Tom Tancredos.

Another possible reason Britons specifically think it must be easy to get a job in America is the large number of their fellow-countrymen who work in the entertainment industry and are therefore highly visible. If Simon Cowell, Mark Burnett and a thousand others did it, it should be easy, right?

[louise1990]

Im almost 18 in a few months and plan to move to Los Angeles as it has always been my dream. People say i am to young but i am very serious about it and have been looking for a job in law as i am a trained legal secretary but could work doing normal clerical jobs, do you think there are many out there? And i need a good website for apartments!
Thanks

[Clinton167]

I know I'm a bit late, but read the posts and as a Brit thought I'd try to shed some light on the situation!
First of all, there are definitely a few people out there who think "I know! I'll move to Hollywood and be an actor!" And actually, they just don't have a clue. It's hard enough to build up a career in this country and a million times harder in L.A where you are competing against thousands of people who are better trained, more experienced, and just know more about the city and the way it works. But for every one person who asks the question (paraphrased) "Help me move to L.A. I don't know how/why/where", there are a hundred who are right now researching the visas and doing it the right way.
As for all the immigrants here, and our currently relaxed immigration policy, I think everyone is pretty upset about it, which perhaps is one of the reasons people are so desperate to leave here!
Just my thoughts.