Working in Califonia
My name is Haylie and I'm 20 years old. I currently live in England and I'm looking to live out in California for 6 months to a year. I have wanted to do this for years. I am a qualified Hairdresser of 3 years and hope to carry on my career there. I dont know much about my dream but I could do with peoples advice and help please! Thank you1
The most difficult issue you have is getting a visa that will allow you to work. You will likely need an H-visa, though it may be possible to do this on a J visa.Neither of these are easy to obtain. You need a company to sponsor you. This is difficult for them. Then once you are sponsored, you can apply for the visa. Being sponsored is not a guarantee you'll get it. You will usually be tied to that sponsor; if you quit early, you will need a new sponsor or your visa expires.
Read FAQ 254.
2
You have a serious problem--getting a visa that allows you to work.The US has no Working Holiday Visa for people from the UK.
Work visas generally require that you already have a job offer and that the employer sponsor you for the visa. These visas are for people with certain skills. Some require that you have a university degree. Others are for people doing specialized things that range from farm work to religious work to being a race horse jockey. Many require that the employer prove that they cannot find people who are already legally able to work in the US.
Hairdresser is not going to qualify.
3
You may be able to enroll in an unpaid training program and stay in LA for 6 months or so. This would further your career, but you would need to save up a lot of money to support yourself.Getting a short-term visa that would allow you to work as a hair stylist is not realistic. Work visas are highly regulated and only certain fields are eligible for the various types of visas (with Employer sponsorship)
6
I agree with Kahua, except I'm guessing it's less a matter of being unrealistic than it is being uninformed.You face a major hurdle trying to work in this country. I'm not an expert on other countries (or this one for that matter), but I believe you'd have fewer obstacles in places like Australia, New Zealand, Canada (according to the esteemed Mr. carracar) and maybe South Africa. I just hit on a few English speaking countries.
Why do you want to leave the UK anyway?
9
California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the US.Add that to a very high cost of living.
Unless you plan on working under the table for less than minimum wage and tips forget.
Even then forget it.
Americans are having a hard enuf time finding jobs, so the likelihood of someone giving you one is slim to none.
10
Haylie, you can easily get a working holiday visa for Canada, Australia or New Zealand, so you need to think about those places. Working in California is never going to happen.11
Haylie, if you find work in western canada you can holiday in California fairly easily. I know people who do that regularly. Then you can learn about working and living conditions in the US and you might find that you are better off where you are or in Canada. You can learn about emigrating to the US to become a legal resident, or you might marry a US citizen. Living and working here illegally is very difficult, not secure and some people do it. In the past many Canadians moved to California to work and live, they have become permanent residents or citizens. It is not so easy or common now. Do something, learn, travel, live well. The world is your oyster. More info below.Pick a visa
There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:
(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.
(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience. (H visas)
(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.(L visas)
(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.
(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries. The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $350k would be a nearer minimum (E-2 visas)
(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt. (EB-5 visas)
(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years?
(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation
(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.
The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime
Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this (www.wes.org) ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent.
Also:
http://www.canuckabroad.com/forums/so-you-want-to-move-to-the-states-eh-vt2199.html
