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If you have any tips to get to the US as a European, I’d be happy to hear them. If needed, my email is in my profile.

tehlike 4y ago
Shortest path is working for one of the FAANG companies, and requesting internal transfer to US. This basically skips the daunting process that's H1B lottery.
kaashif 4y ago
A path I have seen many people take, and one I'm going to take soon, is to work at a US tech company (not necessarily FAANG, lots of largish companies do this) and transfer internally from Europe to the US. There is no lottery for L1B visas, so it's usually hassle free compared to that H1B mess. L1B visas can also convert to green cards at some point, but I have no idea how easy that is (probably not easy at all).
- Underphil 4y ago
  I internally transferred (with my family) from the UK to California in late 2016 and secured a green card in early 2020.
- sgjohnson 4y ago
  > L1B visas can also convert to green cards at some point, but I have no idea how easy that is (probably not easy at all). False. L1B is not related to Green Card in any way. You can get the employer to petiton you for a green card while working on L1B.
  - School-Cotton 4y ago
    L1 is related to green card in the sense that with some statuses, you can never get a green card, but with L1 you can.
    - sgjohnson 4y ago
      That’s called dual intent.
astura 4y ago
Marrying an American is probably the quickest and easiest way. You're not allowed to work on a K1 Visa, but once you're married your spouse can apply for a green card for you and right now there isn't much wait for green cards for America spouses - friend of mine's wife got hers in about five months after they got married.
- tehlike 4y ago
  This is true, but you need to really make sure your intent is to really marry, and not marry for greencard purposes which is fraud.
  - astura 4y ago
    Certainly, yes! I am sorry if I didn't make that clear. Not only should you actually be in love/want to marry to avoid fraud but also for your own well-being. The United States has an adult population of 258.3 million, so it's likely you'd find someone to fall in love with if you're really looking. I have some experience here, I have a double digit amount of family members who came to the US to marry into my family, including my brother-in-law. With one exception they are all very happy marriages, the longest lasting 3 decades. There were some who were definitely were looking to marry Americans to immigrate, but the relationship is still real.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - tehlike 4y ago
      Americans are a great bunch. Contrary to popular (outsider) view, I think american family bond is very strong.
- mettamage 4y ago
  I’ll humor this idea. What city is the best to find someone who is/has: Open to new experiences and concepts (museums, art, dancing, music) <— literally the “openness to experience” on the big 5 High cognitive ability Into meditation, yoga and exercise? Somewhat into gaming and anime? (Optional) Somewhat of a programmer or (game) designer/related (optional)

Shortest path is working for one of the FAANG companies, and requesting internal transfer to US. This basically skips the daunting process that's H1B lottery.

kaashif 4y ago

A path I have seen many people take, and one I'm going to take soon, is to work at a US tech company (not necessarily FAANG, lots of largish companies do this) and transfer internally from Europe to the US. There is no lottery for L1B visas, so it's usually hassle free compared to that H1B mess. L1B visas can also convert to green cards at some point, but I have no idea how easy that is (probably not easy at all).

Underphil 4y ago
I internally transferred (with my family) from the UK to California in late 2016 and secured a green card in early 2020.
sgjohnson 4y ago
> L1B visas can also convert to green cards at some point, but I have no idea how easy that is (probably not easy at all). False. L1B is not related to Green Card in any way. You can get the employer to petiton you for a green card while working on L1B.
- School-Cotton 4y ago
  L1 is related to green card in the sense that with some statuses, you can never get a green card, but with L1 you can.
  - sgjohnson 4y ago
    That’s called dual intent.

astura 4y ago

Marrying an American is probably the quickest and easiest way. You're not allowed to work on a K1 Visa, but once you're married your spouse can apply for a green card for you and right now there isn't much wait for green cards for America spouses - friend of mine's wife got hers in about five months after they got married.

tehlike 4y ago
This is true, but you need to really make sure your intent is to really marry, and not marry for greencard purposes which is fraud.
- astura 4y ago
  Certainly, yes! I am sorry if I didn't make that clear. Not only should you actually be in love/want to marry to avoid fraud but also for your own well-being. The United States has an adult population of 258.3 million, so it's likely you'd find someone to fall in love with if you're really looking. I have some experience here, I have a double digit amount of family members who came to the US to marry into my family, including my brother-in-law. With one exception they are all very happy marriages, the longest lasting 3 decades. There were some who were definitely were looking to marry Americans to immigrate, but the relationship is still real.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - tehlike 4y ago
    Americans are a great bunch. Contrary to popular (outsider) view, I think american family bond is very strong.
mettamage 4y ago
I’ll humor this idea. What city is the best to find someone who is/has: Open to new experiences and concepts (museums, art, dancing, music) <— literally the “openness to experience” on the big 5 High cognitive ability Into meditation, yoga and exercise? Somewhat into gaming and anime? (Optional) Somewhat of a programmer or (game) designer/related (optional)