Visa's And Migration

[Semperfidelis]

Just curious to if any of the members here have had any involvement with migrating from the US to Australia.

I have a couple of very good friends stateside that want to come out here to live.
And to say the immagration departments from both sides have had us running round in circles, jumping thru hoops etc would be a HUGE understatement.

If they wre coming from anywhere but the states, it would be a walk in the park
i.e.
Tourist/Working visa to enter
Skilled Migrant visa to stay
Real simple

But no
The US refuses to sign those type of agreements with any country
Yes I understand why, but cmon.
Gimme a break here
Seeing they are coming from the states its like this :
Tourist non-working visa
And then more hoops as they will have to attmpt to get sponsored by a company with a list of conditions as long as you arm

Yes
Im frustrated as all hell
And yes
Im venting

But the whole point of this thread is to see if any of you fine people out there have been thru - or know of others - anything like this, and can offer any advice.

Its not to debate whether the US is right or wrong
Or start a political debate

Just looking for a shining light at the end of a tunnel, cause atm, it looks like its been switched off

[MarkB]

I've done AUS to UK Unfortunately, no help. tell 'em to move to Canada and try from there

[AWS]

I did U.S. > Russia in 1974-76. The company I worked for took care of everything so I think the hassle was less then an individual would go through.
I know the U.S. requires that the company you are going to work for sponsors you to get a work visa, but, you know this already.
Why not have them enter on a visitor visa and then when they find work have the company file the papers?
Once you get an employer involved the agravation level will lessen.

[chrispadfield]

Depends how old, the US and Australia have signed a tentative working holiday program so that a US citizen can have 4 months in Aus, I think it is through bunac or someone like that - but you have to be young, probably under 25, maybe 30. If they then got employed while in Australia and that company was prepared to sponsor them then it is possible they might be allowed to stay; as I understand it Aus actually listen to circumstances whereas US immigration don't.

Otherwise, I think you need to set up a job first. You can find out all the details at www.workpermit.com they have an amazing amount of information on their site.

Unfortunatly, when it comes to visas, dealing with the US is the worst of all western countries in them either wishing to live elsewhere or someone wanting to move there.

[Tungsten]

Unfortunatly, when it comes to visas, dealing with the US is the worst of all western countries in them either wishing to live elsewhere or someone wanting to move there.

If terrorist wackos had flown airliners into Buckingham Palace, I would imagine that the UK would have tight requirements on visas as well.

[chrispadfield]

a) The visa restrictions are no harder now then they where before
b) The terrorists already had student visas. If you have enough money to afford to go to a US college you can get in without any problem. It is a financial situation.
c) The UK has suffered terrorist attacks, largely financed from East Coast US for the last 20 years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1563119.stm

Either way, the US seems to be very keen on "free trade" but not vey keen on "free movement of people". Economically these two approachs contradict each other - which is why outsourcing is so popular.

[Joe Gronlund]

You must successfully be able to outrun a dingo, as initiation they make you ride in a kangaroo pouch, for 30 mins..

[chrispadfield]

Thats only if your survive the 15 minutes swimming with a croc.

[merk]

The kangeroo pouch is slimy, noone would want to be in one

Though i do ride to work on the back of one! (cant believe some people believed that when i was in america ! )

[Semperfidelis]

lol
Steve Erwin should be shot....twice just to make sure

Thanks to everyone - esp you Chris - for your replies

The frustration levels have decresed a fair bit
And the search continues....

[MarkB]

Just make sure they look out for the wombats - viscious little buggers!

[IceyJ]

lol
Steve Erwin should be shot....twice just to make sure

Thanks to everyone - esp you Chris - for your replies

The frustration levels have decresed a fair bit
And the search continues....

ya the frustration is down a little NF ... not much but a little