Travelling to NY

[D. Rumble]

Hi there!

My plan is to travel to NY this summer and stay for 6 months.

Does anyone have an idea bout what is the best way to go concerning a visa?

If possible, I want to find a (simple) job and an appartment. Appartment will be easy, but what kind of papers do you need to be able to work? And to get a bank account?


Thanks in advance for your replies :)

D.

[fioco]

Dennis,
Until a compatriot or an immigration lawyer posts a reply, the following links will get you started.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/visa_info.htm

Procedures have changed a lot since Sept. 11, 2001, and they continue to change. Citizens of EU countries (The Netherlands, of course) are eligible for visa waivers. Requirements differ depending on status: visitor, student, business, etc.
Visa Waiver Program
http://travel.state.gov/vwp.html

Consult the American Embassy in The Hague
http://thehague.usembassy.gov/main.htm

OR: The U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam
020-575-5309
http://www.usemb.nl/consul.htm

A Resource in NYC:
Netherlands Consulate General
1 Rockefeller Plaza, 11th floor, NYC 10020
(212) 246-1429
http://www.cgny.org

Keep us abreast of your plans so we can prepare a New York welcome.

[D. Rumble]

Thanks for the kind words!

I already checked all of these sites out myself. Along with a bunch of other forums. It's not really helping me so far.

My options are:

- Go to NY for 3 months with a Waiver Visa (not allowed to work, though). Just to check things out.. If I decide to stay, I'm still stuck with the same problem, though.

- Request a one-year tourist Visa and do the same as above..

- Try to find a "sponsor" that can help me to either get a one-year working visa, or a greencard.

A friend of mine has a company in NJ. He doesn't need any employees, but maybe he could function as a sponsor? Does anyone know if you're allowed to work with a different employer that the one that functioned as a sponsor to get you a working visa?

Thanks guys!

Dennis

[maroualle]

For the greencard, you can always try the greencard lottery which is organized every year....

http://www.usafis.org

[D. Rumble]

I know... I just missed the lottery for 2005.
Aplying for the lottery for 2006 is in November/December of this year.
*If* I would win (most unlikely to happen), that would mean I would get a greencard in 2006. I'm planning to leave for NY this summer...!
Ofcourse I will still participate (incase I have figured out something else before the end of the year).

Dennis

[fioco]

Dennis, please proceed cautiously. It's a pain to immerse yourself in the immigration details, but these are not good times to take risks. I can think of one intelligent young woman who entered the U.S. in the fashion you're considering. She worked herself up to an impressive position in an international corporation that required her to travel abroad. She was not an illegal immigrant in the beginning, but her decision to follow ways outside the regulations forced her return to her home country.

Certainly, seek out friends and comrades, but also seek out accurate advice based upon solid knowledge of immigration law. I wish you luck.

[D. Rumble]

Thanks for the advise.
I'm not gonna take any risks. I'd rather wait a loittle longer and do it all right, than take risks...

Dennis

[Montana]

Hi,

I'm planning to move to NYC too somewhere in the future
I hope someone can explain how to get a green card or something like that, so i can stay in the US the rest for my life.

Thanks in advance

[billyblancoNYC]

There are 2 or 3 Dutch people asking about moving to NYC. Is this the start of a trend, or not really? Just curious.

Always love to see new immigrant groups come to the city.

[NYR2B]

After all, wasn't New York City formerly New Amsterdam?

Go figure!

Maybe we new NY'ers can all hook up and share info on our experiences.
I know I'm an American but kind of a professional immigrant (it's a 39- year long story!).

Wishing new immigrants all the best. 8)