Obtaining a green card..

[Gypsiyee]

Ok.. so as some of you guys know from my posts, my bf is from NZ and plans on moving here.. obviously, he's going to need a visa in order to do so. I know there are different types of visas, but for those experienced in this category, what is the best way to go about it? He obviously has no family here (well other than his dad who I don't think went through naturalization or anything, he's in the movie industry and I think he's just on a work type of permanent residency for that), we aren't engaged and there will be no wedding in 90 days for sure.. the only options we can really think of is a work visa or a student visa.. and he does plan on going to school but it won't be immediate, and I don't know if you have to have a job set in stone before you can get a work visa.

These are the only things I can think of but I've clearly never immigrated to another country, and immigrating to the US is harder since the whole 9-11 thing but I have no idea how strict they are.

[Jay]

Marry him. Done.

Oh wait, I missed that 90 day part. Are there any companys in NZ that have a program in the US? If he can get a company letterhead from a US branch through some kind of work program that'll make him eligible for a k1 visa and that'll allow him to stay long enough to go through the citizenship process. Also, k1 visa, proof of residency and a company letterhead will bypass a lot of things that usually require credit like an apartment, cellphone etc etc.

[Gypsiyee]

Reading comprhension 101: failed

No.

[10sun]

Student Visas are very restrictive and work visas are limited in supply, not many are available every year.

[Jay]

Read it again =P

[Gypsiyee]

Well his passport is good for 90 days and he plans on being back here by the end of this month.. I don't expect it to happen overnight by any means but with all the *legal* poor english speaking people who've immigrated over here (again, legally) I can't imagine that it's going to be a horrendous time.. I mean I know it won't be easy but it can't be impossible. We just don't even know where to start, really.

[Tikker]

wait

your internet lover is coming to finally meet you in person?

[Gypsiyee]

...

he was just here last week, and i've known him 5 years.

get out of my thread if you're just here to shit it up with assumptions and judgment please~

[10sun]

Well, we know its not Taxx...

[Jay]

[Menlaan]

It's incredibly hard to get a Visa. If he's not super-wealthy, he'll need a job over here to sponsor him. The only easy way is to apply to school and get a school Visa, but obviously that's not fast. That will also allow him to roll his school Visa into a work Visa when he finishes. Note that he won't be able to work and go to school at the same time though.

Yay immigration restrictions!

[Gypsiyee]

Well see that's what I don't understand, how can he get a job to sponsor him when he can't exactly establish rapport right off the bat and I highly doubt any company will just sponsor a new employee? Then there's the question of if he can even get a job based on the fact that he's currently not authorized to work in the US.. with job markets the way they are I just don't vision any company taking an applicant that's going to be more work for them over an applicant that's already a citizen.

It's like what came first, the chicken or the egg.

[araby]

yah, when I hooked up with that canadian on the cruise I went on (haha who remembers that?) and he wanted to come live/work in the states we were having to deal with this and learned it's not easy AT ALL. I should email him to see how he is.

[Gypsiyee]

based on this here, I think this would be the best way for him to come over

Am I Eligible for Permanent Residency?

To be eligible for lawful permanent residence based on a family relationship you must meet the following criteria:

* You must have a relative who is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States who can provide documentation proving their status and is willing to sponsor you for lawful permanent residency by filing the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
* Your relative must prove they can support you by providing documentation that their income is at least 125% above the U.S. poverty level for their household size, including you and all other sponsored family members. For more details about the meeting this criteria and filing the Affidavit of Support, see Filing an Affidavit of Support for a Relative.
* If your relative is a US Citizen and they can legally prove you share one of the following relationships, you may be eligible for lawful permanent residency (please see Preference Categories & Visa Numbers, below):

o Husband or wife;
o Child under 21 years old;
o Unmarried son or daughter over 21;
o Married son or daughter of any age;
o Brother or sister if you are at least 21 years old; or
o Parents if you are at least 21 years old

* If your relative is a lawful permanent resident and they can legally prove you share one of the following relationships, you may be eligible for lawful permanent residency (please see Preference Categories & Visa Numbers below):

o Husband or wife; or
o Unmarried son or daughter of any age


His dad is certainly a permanent resident even if he isn't a citizen, he's definitely 125% over the poverty level in the US, and it's an unmarried son over 21

I think this would be the best way to go, no?

[Spazz]

I hope he cant get into the country.

[Scatillac]

I hope he cant get into the country.

yea, hes probably a fucking arab... From New Zealand of course.

[Spazz]

I dont care what he is or if he gets into the country actually. I was just bein an ass.

[Ganzo]

only realistic way to get in is to get married, have direct family, or be a refugee

[Lyion]

Hey Gyp.

If he can afford college, it's not tough to get a visa, but he has to pay the cash up front and have a college setup for state.

If he plans on coming here first, it's going to take a long time. His Fathers resident status is meaningless for immigration.

Or he can do what everyone else does, fly over here and just stay...

Just curious why he's coming here, versus you going there. It's much easier to get into Australia than here.

[Gypsiyee]

I don't think his father's resident status is meaningless, I think it's actually going to be the key to his obtaining a visa based on the things I've prodded around with. Permanent residents can petition for an unmarried child of any age, and I think that's the route we're going to have to take.

His dad is direct family Ganzo =p

[Lyion]

If his Dad isn't a Citizen, it doesn't matter to State Gyp. His petition will sit there for years, just like many other ones do, even of naturalized citizens.

Good luck with it, but my guess is if he starts today, this time next year he'll still be waiting. I've had friends go through the same thing, and this was before 9/11.

It's a lot easier for you to get into Australia.

[Harrison]

Australia is a great place from all I've heard.

[Gypsiyee]

it's not australia, it's NZ!

you actually might remember him harrison o.O he was good friends with chad and i back in the day

[Gypsiyee]

I contacted a guy who is a citizen of pakistan, canada, and the us to see what the best way to go about it is.. we'll see what he says.

[Lyion]

Is his Dad here on a green card, Gyp? How is he a 'permanent resident'?

Anyone can petition to enter the US. If his Dad isn't a citizen, and is on a green card then he'll pretty much have to get in on his own merit.

Anyways, NZ is awesome. Make him stay there and move there.