For once the USA are behind Europe!

This must be a first - that is since the USA are the most powerful country on this planet - The New Nation is behind Europe!
The key word at the moment on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean is 'Change', after almost 8 years of struggles with a president whose vision remains to be grasped by 99% of the World population, the Americans have had enough. On the Democratic Side, we are witnessing a fight between a woman and an African-American, I call it a change!
On the other side we saw the symbol of the past Giulani bowing out and now the race is between a mormon and a guy called after a fries brand ;-)

And yet, despite all this and despite the fact that in any case something will change next year and the USA will have a few interesting years ahead (maybe not 'positive interesting' but interesting nonetheless), the USA will be a step behind Europe!
Germany set the tone of a new generation of Politic with the election of Angela Merkel in 2005, and France is following the lead and doing something we would never have guessed France was capable of... moving forward and not looking back!

Indeed, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, whose father was a Hungarian citizen who became a French citizen in the 70's, married Carla Bruni, born in Italy.
To top it all, this is Mr. Sarkozy's 3rd marriage and this is the first time a president gets married during a mandate!
Now that's Globalization! ;-)

Who said France was living in the past? We might, but our president lives in the future!

I'm not judging at all Mr. Sarkozy's private life and not living in my country, I'm not influenced by the media but just like my fellow citizens, I'm saddened that something so private and not related whatsoever toPolitics is displayed everywhere like the latest gossip about Britney Spears or Paris Hilton (truth be told, we don't talk much about those in France!)

Webiste: CIA: The World Factbook

Link: CIA: The World Factbook

This website might not help me move to the USA, but I think this is one of the few websites thateveryone should have in their bookmarks.

As one might guess, the CIA captures loads of data, and then some!
And this website is a small payback for the intrusion in our lives. This is the ultimate website when playing Trivial Poursuit or preparing for Joepardy!

In my current job, I spend hours on end searching for companies all over the world, and it can be a nightmare to find the former name of a country, or even its current name in certain parts of the world. Same, Virgin Islands belong to which country?
Well, you can find the answer to this question on this website (or right here right now: part of the Virgin Islands are actually called British Virgin Islands, the other part is called US British Islands and of course belong to the UK and the US).

And contrary to Wikipedia, the CIA is a very much official source that wouldn't post incorrect information for no reason (oups! ;-) )

Website: IDcide - Local Information Data Server

Link: IDcide - Local Information Data Server

This website captures all the main data one would want to have before moving to a State or a city in the USA.
From the average household income of a city to the crime rate or population stats, this website has it all.

They target potential property buyers who would like to get more information before investing hundred thousand dollars in a house.

It's jam-packed with detailed data on every State and city big enough to be called a city.

'Funny in a cynical way' anecdote: They counted the victims of the tragic events of 9/11 in the crime rate in New York city for 2001, making it 6 times as high as 2002!

You will also find useful information on the weather for those same cities... I wish I had found a similar website before moving to Scotland, would have realised way sooner how often it rains here! ;-)

And if you're not thinking of moving over there, this is still a fun website to visit!

One of the options available: The Green Card Lottery

To legally immigrate to the USA, there aren't a lot of options available to this day:

- Marry an American citizen (I'll keep this in mind as a last resort!)
- Get sponsored by a company (this is my prefered option but not the easiest one!)
- Buy your Green Card (very expensive and take ages!)
- Win your Green Card through the Lottery

Let's remind that the Green Card is the ultimate pass for Non US citizens. This gives you the right to reside and work on the US soil for life. You will need to spend most of your time in country not to lose it though!

You can get temporary working papers and apply for the Green Card once you're in the country though, which is another option I'll be looking into.

Today being the day I start looking for a way to live in the USA, my first action was to register for the Green Card Lottery.
I did it last year as well but didn't win, let's hope it works for me this year!

Each year since 1991, 50,000 green cards are offered to foreigners through a lottery.
To enter you need to be born (or have a parent) in a country eligible. This is based on quotas and maybe relations between the countries even though Iraqi people can apply, same for Northen Korean citizens.
As an example, Canada and the UK are already sending too many people each year so they aren't eligible.
If you are born in Canada but have the French nationality, you'll be eligible only if one of your parents was born in France.

I'm French with French parents so eligible... great!

Also, you need some kind of education or experience in a job that requires training, once again, I fit in.

There are tons of websites offering to do everything for you, which is just fine as dealing with your own administration isn't always easy, so imagine doing so with a foreign one!
Most of the websites will try to attract you with free goodies such as a free plane ticket to the USA if you win. There might be strings attached so choose carefully.
You can also apply directly on the State Department website. However no help is provided.
Every year between 20 and 30% of the applications are disqualified for incomplete/incorrect forms, so I won't take a chance!

Entering through an organization will cost around $50 (roughly 35 euros, £25).
I've chosen to apply through FranceService which is based in Los Angeles and focuses on helping French citizens living in the USA.
Each application form is manually checked and the photos are edited by their very capable staff (it's been enough of a nightmare getting my picture approved for my passport, I like getting the help of a professional for something as important as this!).

As far as the official version says, this a genuine lottery, meaning the winners are randomly picked by a computer.
Because of the times it takes for the State Department to notify the winners and then fill in the proper forms, you can only apply for a Green Card that you would get 2 years later.
Meaning I've applied for the 2010 lottery!

Now it's a waiting game! Only winners will get notified (the date hasn't been released yet but it should be at some point in 2009 I reckon).

Now it's time to try another less random way of moving to the USA!

Where to start?

One can't just decide to leave everything behind and move to another continent without a good plan... and if like me you don't have a good plan, then start a To-do list! ;-)

First, always go to your governement website and read the information on living abroad. It's packed with useful information and links.
For France, follow this link: Ambassade France: Travailler aux Etats-Unis

Then you need to find as many online job search websites as possible, the main problem will be to get the US way of thinking compared to the European one (when they say no discrimination, they mean it for instance).

Oh yeah... small detail, you need a resume in the US format... need to look for some help for this!

On a more cultural note, you have to know the country in which you want to live, that means the history, the main traditions... everything that will help you understand their behavior (yep, it starts with spelling like a good ol' American person! ;-) ).

I studied the UK History at school and yet nothing had prepared me for the cultural shock when I first arrived in Scotland. After visiting many places, talking to Scottish people and reading History books, I got to understand this country a lot better, which makes the whole experience way more pleasurable... plus we only fear what we don't know!

Anyway... I've been interested in the USA for quite some time now so I know the popular TV programs, TV presenters, singers, actors; but I also know the key dates in History, I can list and place the 50 states...
Very recently (as in yesterday), I've purchased a History book which will be useful in getting to know better the country, at least that's what I hope because reading 1456 pages for nothing isn't too fun!
The book I got is: America: A Narrative History: Brief, 7th Edition
This should help me understand why when you ask an American person where they come from, 6 times out of 10 they will say the country their family is originated from and not their home state!

Also, when one seeks a job in such a big country, one should always have a map handy!
You'll get under hundreds of city names thrown at you, and you'll need to place them as to not end up living in a Mormon community in Utah! ;-) (even though they might get a president... should be a safe place!)

I will provide links and tips as I go deeper in my researches.

Inventory

Because having a dream is nice but actually having a plan is even better, I need to start somewhere!

How does one seek a job on another continent?

Luckily, I'm far from starting from scratch and have a few strong points:

- I've lived outisde my country for almost 4 years
- I'm pretty much fluent in English and do understand the Scottish accent (meaning I fear no accent! ;-) )
- I have a Master's Degree in International Business which helps get a job abroad
- I already have a job, thus have references, experience and... yep, a wage!
- I work for a well-known US company so employers will have a point of reference when reading my resume
- I speak two languages, very badly a third one, which happens to be Spanish, that helps as well.

So all the above are great, except that when I look at my weak points I get depressed!

- I don't have a green card
- I don't have any sponsorship
- I don't have money
- I have a job, hence don't have a lot of time to look for another one
- No way I'll go to any interview in the USA if my plane ticket isn't paid by the company or if it's not my dream job and already 150% sure I'll get it!

So this is where I stand... now over the course of the next 11 months, I'll have to find the state I want to live in, then the area, then get a job, sort out all the paperwork and finally quit my current job and move over there!

Ain't gonna be a wlak in the park but I'll get there... eventually!

Howdy people!

Welcome all on this new blog!

For those who don't come from my other blog, let me introduce myself in a few words.
I am 27 year old French girl who has been living in Scotland for over 2 years now.
This is only a step on the way to finding the country I will want to settle in.
Next step... yep, you guessed it, the USA!

On this blog I will share my journey to the USA, from the very first day where I decided I would live in the USA by the end of the year, until I set foot on the US soil!

If like me you want to work in the USA, you might find some useful information and things to avoid.

This will be as much of a personal journey as a crash test of how to get the right to work over there without marrying an American guy or buying a Green card, all in all, how to deserve your working permit!

At the moment I live in the south of Scotland and am a Team Leader for a leading US IT company, I'm happy with the job I have and wouldn't mind working for the same company over there!

Let's start the countdown... my journey starts today!