Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Can you help me get a visa to the US?

I get asked this constantly. People write to me all the time, approach me at work, approach me in the parking lot, approach me when they deliver KFC....

In a word: No. I can’t help you. It isn’t that I don’t want to help anyone who asks, but there is no wastah at the US embassy.

If you do want to go to the States – either as a visitor or to live, you need to follow the rules.

First, check out the types of visas available HERE and HERE.

Visitors Visas are explained HERE
Immigration Visas are explained HERE

After you apply for a visa, you must go to the US Embassy for an interview. Make sure that you have all the documents they require – as stated on the website. If you don’t, they may reject your application.

Desert Girl responses to frequently asked questions:

No, I don’t want to marry you or anybody else for a green card.
No, I’m not going to write a letter for someone I don’t know.
No, I can’t go with you.
No, I can’t help you with the website and/or paperwork. If you need help with English, find a friend who speaks English and has access to the internet, or hire a translator or lawyer.

My general advice for those wanting to move to the US for work is: try to find out what types of jobs there is a shortage of in the States (like nursing, for example) and if you aren’t already a (nurse), study to become one, then try to find a (hospital/medical facility) in the US that will sponsor you for a visa. Talk to the Visa Services people at the embassy to get their advice on the best way to get your visa. I don’t work at the embassy; I can’t help you - as much as I would really loooooooooooooooooove to.

Sometimes in life, you have to actually do the work if you want to accomplish something.

5 comments:

abolesanzalef said...

hello,

Desert Girl responses to frequently asked questions:

No, I don’t want to marry you or anybody else for a green card.
No, I’m not going to write a letter for someone I don’t know.
No, I can’t go with you.
No, I can’t help you with the website and/or paperwork. If you need help with English, find a friend who speaks English and has access to the internet, or hire a translator or lawyer.


So funnnnnnnnnnnny lol

Anonymous said...

I was rolling on the floor & laughing out when I was reading your entry. I faced the same questions & really didn't understand why are they asking me.. But now I came to know.

Anonymous said...

I had the exact same thing happen to me in Kuwait. Isn't Kuwait rich enough already? Don't they know we're going through a recession now?

Desert Girl said...

Anonymous: It is never Kuwaitis who ask for help getting a green card. Why should they ask? Sheeeeet - I want a Kuwaiti nationality - free money. It is poor people who aren't even making minimum wage because... um... there IS no minimum wage in Kuwait. People are still looking for a better life and the grass always looks greener (until you get your first paycheck and see the deductions for FICA, State/Fed taxes, social security, etc. and realize you still don't have health care and you are SCREWED).

Aamer said...

I wonder how many of those people just try and piss you off.
and i am with you on taxes. numbers look great on the surface, until you start talking about the indirect expenses, tickets, all kinds of taxes, fees, expensive good health care, shitty cheap health care etc