Living in America - what do I need to do?

Question

I am a British citizen, running my own business in Spain. I wish to move to America and again set up my own business and work for myself. Do I need a Visa / Green Card? What are the rules involved?

To all the idiots giving me stupid answers, if you're not interesting in living in America then bugger off and annoy someone else... cheers!!

Answer 1

Welcome! Anyone who wants to work in the U.S. (who doesn't plan on immediately seeking citizenship [you aren't, are you?]) needs to obtain a visa/green card. (I know this was the case with a British friend of mine who was a college student but wanted to work in this country.)
Check out the Immigration & Naturalization Services webpage (listed below) and see if you can get the information you need or, if possible, contact information for people who can help.
I wish you the best of luck!! :)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

P.S. What's the deal with these other answers? If you hate America, get out. No wonder they call it "Yahoo Answers!" LOL :)

Answer 2

Yes, you will need a green card to run your own business. You should also do some research on which part of the US you would like to move to as the climate is very different depending on loction and then check out the following:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/immigrant_visas/9imm_process.htm

Hope you come to stay for a few years, the US is nicer than many of the folks here suggest. Then again, I doubt they have travelled to visit the states at all. They just believe what the TV tells them to. There are quite a few ex pat Brits over here to hang out with if you get homesick too.

And do come to New York to visit at least once, it's a wonderful place, and people aren't rude, just in a hurry and busy :)

Answer 3

Move to Seattle, you will find it quite nice and the people very polite, and quite a bit of British people are living there as well. Plus you will be close to Canada. Anyways a place like Seattle is much different than lets say rude New Yorkers or Texans. Plus being in Seattle you will be also closer to Asian markets. But go to an American Embassy for more info. But good luck on your process, it will be a hassle. I have a lot of Friends that are Canadian who are trying to become permante US residents and they say the whole process is a very big hassle, it would be easier to just run across the Mexican-American border.

Answer 4

Hi there well actually since you are a business woman there are several options. Check the following page it might help you understand which are the ways...

I recomend marrying a us citizen or applying for a job or invest in a company here that might claim you to be a us resident.

Answer 5

You can go the green card route, or try to enter as an entrepeneur.

If you do so, see the following link for the PDF version of form I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepeneur).

Answer 6

Yes you need a working visa if you are going to stay over 3 or 6 months

Answer 7

Yes, you need a visa/green card. You are an alien you cannot enter the country w/o these things. You will also need a working permit of some kind to open a business. Do some research.

Answer 8

u need a visa coz u not a citizen of america and meet a airline agent or any licensed agent that will guide u through fly safe wen ready

Answer 9

I've been a permanent resident for 500 days and still no wiser to the whole immigration process. Although a good tip would be to contact the US embassy they'd be able to advise you best.

Answer 10

You need a green card. Only illegal aliens from latin-America are allowed to live here without a green card.

Mexicans are encouraged to come here to work below minimum wage as agricultural labor. Not so for whites.