if america and england have such a good relaitionship why is it so hard to get a visa?

Question

i want to work in the usa but cant get a visa any ideas?

Answer 1

If you can find a job in the US which will fund a Green Card, you won't have any problem. It's the same with both countries: we are concerned about people coming to the country and either taking jobs from citizens who are equally capable and have more right to them or accepting lower wages or simply sponging off the state. It doesn't matter that people still do that (so neither of our systems is working very well), the restrictions have to be in place to try to stop people from doing it.

Because you have to fly to the States (and therefore your entry is known) it's a lot harder for Europeans to become illegal immigrants than it is for people who can just slip across the border unnoticed! (I love the advice to fly to Mexico as a tourist! You can imagine the outrage: "Ze bloody Eenglish Gringos are now trying to muscle in on the illegal work!")

If you haven't already looked at the visas available, the site is:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

Answer 2

Because we don't have such a good relationship after all. The USA is still a very isolationist country, and to be perfectly honest they're not all that keen on having immigrants from overseas. Mexico or Canada may be acceptable, depending on where you go and what you do.
That's just the way it rolls I'm afraid.

Unless you happen to be born in Northern Ireland (and eligible for the green card lottery) all you can do is try and get a job with a multinational that would give you the option of transferring to the US, or try and get a temporary one year training type job and apply for a J-1 visa.

Assuming you're a UK citizen, have you considered working elsewhere in Europe or perhaps in Canada, where it is a little easier to get a work permit as a UK citizen.

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with any supposed relationship between the USA and the UK, and certainly nothing to do with being Asian. It is incredibly difficult to get visas for the US regardless of where you come from. When I was in Canada, even the Canadians complained they had great difficulty getting in! I suspect strict policies apply universally - not just to the UK.

Answer 4

The hidden reason for why you have problems getting a visa to work in US may be due to agreements between US/UK in that they do not accept that many workers from UK. If you have the money and want to set up your own business in US you will probably have no problem. It is all to do with stopping what was once called "the brain drain" - stopping skilled workers going to US who might be needed here in UK.

Answer 5

You have that right, the US should be allowing more Brits and Europeans in but it´s true that it´s also hard for non-EU citizens like Americans to get visas to work in the UK. I would love to live and work in the UK but there are so many obstacles for non-EU citizens it just seems impossible if you´re not a doctor or a refugee.

Answer 6

The reasons have been quoted but I take issue with some of the answers.
Americans are not the rulers they are the people of that country and they are a generous warm hearted lot.
You can't blame Americans for their government anymore than you can blame us for Blair. He came to this country at a time when we needed Labour but he was in disguise.
He is Old Conservative not New Labour and if you want to go deeper ask yourself how come he was a candidate in the first place?
Yes it appears the help is all one sided and maybe it always has been, but they are there for us eventually.
I was a socialist in 1936 but Blair has ruined it for me.

Answer 7

I think that the Natives of America should decide who can and cannot enter there country. After all, the USA is rightfully the land of the native indians of America.

Answer 8

I've had friends who were in the UK not have their visas renewed after the 2 year period. So it goes both ways

Answer 9

What makes you think the two countries have a good relationship? Just because it runs very smoothly, doesn't mean it's good. It runs smoothly because the US tells Britain what to do, and we do it immediately, no questions asked. Complete lack of friction. Complete lack of dignity.

Answer 10

Yes, a good question....you will need to ask a potential employer to start a procees known as H1...this will give you a three year work permit which you can renew up to three times...best of luck