Hi all, i'm new to this forum and not quite sure how things work and if this is even in the right place, but here goes....
I've been in a long distance relationship with my californian girlfriend for 3 years now and i would really like to move to america early next year. we are both currently looking at ways to make this happen and i have a few questions for you people and i would be interested to know what you think and also about your own personal experiences of moving/living in america.
Ideally i would like to do everything above board and get some sort of work sponsorship visa for 18 months to test the water etc (i think this is a J1 visa? i maybe wrong though). i work in the building trade as a dry-liner (dry-waller in america?) which i am happy with and would like to continue with although i guess i do have transferable skills for similar sort of handwork. at the moment i have been sending prospective emails to contacts of my girlfriend, however she is from san francisco and the construction industry seems to be in somewhat of a lull there at the moment and there doesn't seem to be much work for the people already there, never-mind someone who also requires sponsorship as well. could anyone give me a better picture of how things are in america as a whole at the moment with regards to the economic recovery and more specifically if anyone works or knows people working in the construction trade who could give me a bit more detailed knowledge, and maybe point me in the right direction to look etc. and does anyone know the criteria for accepting skilled workers into america, whats required from them, how they must prove their skills etc etc...or is it just down to the fact that a company is sponsoring you?
another option is just flying into new york, looking for casual work and then hopefully in time get work sponsorship or married a little further down the line. this is not as appealing for me due to a few reasons. in autumn 2008 i naively followed a similar plan and being blindly in love flew to new york with just my backpack and thought everything would just magically work itself out, unfortunately it didn't, the recession was bottoming out at this time and work was not to be found anywhere, i ran out of cash and had to return home after my 3 month visa expired with my tail between my legs. i am also aware of the legal implications of working black and staying beyond my the expiration date of my 3 month visa. however living in a world that is so opposed to international love and relationships and one that makes it extremely difficult for 2 people in love to be together, sometimes you gotta put yourselves out there and take these risks. it also seems a lot of people i came into contact with in nyc especially the ex-pats were living and working under the radar or at least started off that way. although i'm not wholly advocating breaking the law i would be interested to hear peoples thoughts on this and anyone thats followed a similar route into america. i'm also led to believe things are better in nyc now and the economy is starting to rise again now, can anyone give me an idea of things currently are in nyc in general and also more specifically how the construction trade is over there.
ideally we would like to live in new york or california, although we are flexible, my girlfriend has a good degree and should be able to pick work up pretty much wherever we go in america. its all down to me really, where there is work for me and where i can hopefully get sponsorship and a visa. so if anyone can give me any ideas for work, sponsorship, and living etc i would really appreciate it.
Thanks for looking.....
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