Such a responsible event and the answer to the question of how to move to the United States for permanent residence requires careful preparation. Every year, more than 500,000 citizens from other countries come to the States for the American dream.

The authorities and residents of the country do not really like the large flow of visitors, so various laws and restrictions are being introduced to contain it. Every year it becomes more and more difficult to immigrate to America.

In order to move to live in the country, you need to figure out which permit option is right for you. There are 2 ways to legalize: get an immigrant visa while in Russia, then go to the US for permanent residence, or first leave and, while in the United States, change the status of a non-immigrant visa.

Resident card

For legal emigration to the States from Russia, there are only 3 ways:

1. Family reunification for spouses, parents, children, and siblings. Citizens of the country in favor of their relatives can apply for an immigrant visa. In the case of a request for spouses, children or parents, there are no restrictions. When applying for relatives of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th order, there is a limitation of an annual quota of 480,000 permits per year.
2. Employment in the United States at the request of a US employer who has received the consent of the US Federal Employment Service to hire a foreign worker. It is very difficult to obtain such permission, for this it is necessary to provide evidence of the absence of this specialist among American citizens. Another condition for issuing consent is a promise that hiring a foreigner will not lead to a deterioration in the working conditions of American workers or a decrease in wages. The number of immigrants entering on a work visa is limited by law to 140,000 per year.
3. Refugee status for citizens who have been persecuted or persecuted in their home country. The justification for such actions may be racial or ethnic origin, religious and political beliefs, membership in social or other organizations objectionable to the authorities of the native country. To obtain such a residence permit, a foreign citizen can apply to the US Embassy from his country or while in the United States. By providing evidence that such a threat is real, the applicant can count on the protection of the US authorities from the moment of obtaining refugee status.

Currently, the number of people wishing to leave for America is so great that a system of quotas for the annual issuance of immigrant visas has been introduced into the US immigration law. American authorities are reluctant to issue green cards for refugees, reducing their number every year, as the country is filled with citizens who exist on welfare at the expense of the budget.

There is another way how to leave the green card lottery. It is not as simple as it seems. Please note that you need to provide documents proving your financial solvency to live in the country, confirm education and work experience, and present an offer from a US employer.

Temporary or permanent immigration

In order to obtain permanent residence in the United States, you must first obtain an immigrant visa. If you can't do it in the three legal ways, there is a longer, but also legal, way.

Sometimes you need to change your visa status while in America. Whether it is worth moving in this way needs to be assessed before you find yourself in the States. Study all the conditions for changing status, pay attention to the deadlines, calculate whether you can live without work all this time if you have to.

Moving to the United States can be done using about 20 different types of nonimmigrant visas:

1. Bride's visa. Such a permit is issued to enter the country and prepare for the wedding. It is valid for 3 months, during this period you must get married and receive the status of a conditionally permanent resident. After 2 years, you will be able to apply for a US residence permit.
2. A work visa allows you to obtain a residence permit through employment if the employer is your sponsor. Then not only the person who moved on a temporary work visa, but also his family gets the right to live in the USA permanently.
3. A business visa is granted to the owner of an enterprise registered in America, or in the territory of any other state and having a branch in the States. Such a permit is issued not only to a businessman, but also to his family members for a period of 1 year. If the enterprise is successful, then the owner living in America receives the next permission for 3 years, after which a green card is issued.
4. If a child was born in America, any state recognizes him as a US citizen automatically.

Employment in America

Every Russian citizen can become a job seeker in the United States. A high level of social protection, wages, good medical care, low mortgage interest - this is an incomplete list of arguments in favor of working in America.

Immigrant work visas are usually issued on the basis of a petition from a US employer. At the same time, hiring a foreign citizen should not negatively affect the position of Americans.

Employment immigration is one of the most attractive ways to leave for the USA. To do this, you need not only to know English well, but also to be a highly qualified specialist, which the American economy needs. Your degree and work experience must match the position you are applying for.

The first stage is a job search in the USA. To do this, you can use the portal of the city employment service or view the vacancies of any recruitment agency. Now on the Internet there is a lot of information on employment in any state. Having picked up a job that interests you, you need to receive a petition from the employer that he needs you. After receiving it, you go to the consulate for a work visa. You will need documents:

1. International passport.
2. 2 color photographs 3.5×4.5 cm.
3. Secondary education certificate or diploma translated into English.
4. Certificate of membership in the professional union of specialists, translated into English.
5. Employment book translated into English.
6. Detailed summary in English.

It can take about six months from the moment you submit the documents to the start of work, so it is important to take this time into account. If you have worked in the same organization for 3 years, the employer has the right to file a petition to grant you a residence permit.

Housing in the States

When choosing a job, pay attention to the best cities to live in the USA. The first of these is New York. All the economic ties of the States are concentrated here. A large number of jobs and rapid career growth attract a large number of immigrants here. But we must not forget that this is the most expensive city in America.

When moving here, be prepared to pay high rents for housing, incur large expenses for leisure and food. A fairy tale city with a huge number of skyscrapers, vibrant nightlife and intense business life will amaze you with its traffic jams, gas pollution and high prices.

The most dangerous cities in the United States, among which was Chicago at the beginning of the last century, have now changed their appearance. Now it's Cleveland, Birmingham and Baltimore. Chicago is considered a good alternative to New York. You can rent an apartment for 1200-1600 dollars a month, groceries for a week will cost you 150 dollars, leisure is relatively inexpensive.

If you are traveling with your family, pay attention to the safest cities in the USA. Among them are Madison, Rochester, Arlington, Berkeley, Sacramento, Salt Lake City.

But if it's important for you to combine the quiet life in your home with a fast career or business, then choose Bellevue, Washington. Santa Clara, California is located in Silicon (Silicon) Valley - a world-famous place where the experience of creating and promoting high-tech, knowledge-intensive startups is concentrated, the best platforms where venture investors, developers, businessmen, representatives of the world's leading technology companies and business media.

The most criminal cities in America are places with a low standard of living and education, high unemployment, most of the townspeople in them live on social benefits. Needless to say, it is not worth immigrating to such places. Here are some of them: New Haven, Stockton, Memphis, St. Louis, Oakland, Detroit, Flint. Before you go for permanent residence in the United States, study the situation in the city where you are offered to work.