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Just out of curiosity (as a UK resident), how would you plan on moving to the states from a legal standpoint? As far as I'm aware, if you don't have immediate f

Just out of curiosity (as a UK resident), how would you plan on moving to the states from a legal standpoint? As far as I'm aware, if you don't have immediate family who are US-citizens, $500k-$1M to invest in a business, marry a US citizen or take employment on a H1-B (not easy), it's not possible?

neverminder 12y ago
I'm an EU citizen as well and I have to agree with you, aside from all you've mentioned plus winning a green card - moving to US is anything but trivial.
- DrJokepu 12y ago
  The Diversity Visa Lottery will be likely repealed in the near future by the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 so that won't be an option for very long.
  - KhalPanda 12y ago
    Plus, the United Kingdom aren't eligible for the lottery anyway. So I guess it depends where OP is from.
    - e15ctr0n 12y ago
      The Diversity Visa Lottery can be granted on the basis of your birthplace, not your current place of residence or current nationality.
  - nobodysfool 12y ago
    That's not likely. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s744 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s744 It only has a 43% chance of passing. It's been up to the house for a year now, it's probably going to be shelved until after 2016.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
- lbotos 12y ago
  Define "work on your business". If you were just hacking on some code and managing your stuff I think it'd fly under the radar. On the other hand, if you were running around promoting a product, organizing events and essentially raising your profile I'd expect they might catch wind and give you some trouble.
  - 6cxs2hd6 12y ago
    I'm pretty sure it's not a violation of immigration law to visit the US briefly to do some meetings and/or free promotional events. People do this all the time. It's called a "business trip". Just be honest and check business instead of tourism on the immigration form, and be ready to answer a few questions about your job and company.
  - petervandijck 12y ago
    That's not true, it's totally legal to visit the US on a tourist visa and go to conferences promoting your product, for example. Or having sales meetings. That's not considered "work".
- jacquesm 12y ago
  It works as long as it works. Posting here under your real name is maybe not the best idea, people have been turned back by US immigration based on google searches of their name. Yes, that sounds Orwellian. Before we get the 'citation needed' police: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070427/095314.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070427/095314.shtml
- petervandijck 12y ago
  "If I visit a US city for pleasure, but work on my business at the same time, am I violating immigration law?" -> technically yes. Practically no. The solution is to not "work" on your business, but "do business". If you're in the US and have meetings with clients, that's not considered "work" by immigration law. Just don't tell the immigration office you're going to "work". In practice your situation is totally fine.

neverminder 12y ago

I'm an EU citizen as well and I have to agree with you, aside from all you've mentioned plus winning a green card - moving to US is anything but trivial.

DrJokepu 12y ago
The Diversity Visa Lottery will be likely repealed in the near future by the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 so that won't be an option for very long.
- KhalPanda 12y ago
  Plus, the United Kingdom aren't eligible for the lottery anyway. So I guess it depends where OP is from.
  - e15ctr0n 12y ago
    The Diversity Visa Lottery can be granted on the basis of your birthplace, not your current place of residence or current nationality.
- nobodysfool 12y ago
  That's not likely. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s744 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s744 It only has a 43% chance of passing. It's been up to the house for a year now, it's probably going to be shelved until after 2016.

deleted 12y ago

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lbotos 12y ago
Define "work on your business". If you were just hacking on some code and managing your stuff I think it'd fly under the radar. On the other hand, if you were running around promoting a product, organizing events and essentially raising your profile I'd expect they might catch wind and give you some trouble.
- 6cxs2hd6 12y ago
  I'm pretty sure it's not a violation of immigration law to visit the US briefly to do some meetings and/or free promotional events. People do this all the time. It's called a "business trip". Just be honest and check business instead of tourism on the immigration form, and be ready to answer a few questions about your job and company.
- petervandijck 12y ago
  That's not true, it's totally legal to visit the US on a tourist visa and go to conferences promoting your product, for example. Or having sales meetings. That's not considered "work".
jacquesm 12y ago
It works as long as it works. Posting here under your real name is maybe not the best idea, people have been turned back by US immigration based on google searches of their name. Yes, that sounds Orwellian. Before we get the 'citation needed' police: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070427/095314.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070427/095314.shtml
petervandijck 12y ago
"If I visit a US city for pleasure, but work on my business at the same time, am I violating immigration law?" -> technically yes. Practically no. The solution is to not "work" on your business, but "do business". If you're in the US and have meetings with clients, that's not considered "work" by immigration law. Just don't tell the immigration office you're going to "work". In practice your situation is totally fine.