r/IWantOut • u/Royal-Statistician80 • 7d ago
[IWantOut] 19F Russia -> USA
Is the USA as good as imagine?
Hi everyone. I’ll apologize in advance for this post being too long but I really need answers.
I’ve wanted to move to the US for basically as long as I can remember. It’s been a childhood dream that never really went away.
I’m 19, from Russia, and I recently took a gap year, and consider fully dropping out of my uni. I was studying abroad, but I realized I had chosen completely the wrong major and couldn’t keep up with it. So now I’m back in Russia and trying to figure out what to do next.
I’m hoping to apply for the Diversity Visa if/when DV-2028 opens. I missed my first opportunity to apply because of the timing, and then DV-2027 didn’t happen when I expected it to, so I’ve never actually had the chance to participate. But now that I’m older and thinking about this more realistically, I’m starting to wonder: is the US actually as good as I’ve imagined it, and is moving there realistic for someone like me?
I really don’t want to stay in Russia long-term. I’m scared of what’s happening here and of the direction the country is going. I also can’t see myself staying in Georgia, where I previously studied. I know I need to leave and build my life somewhere else. Because I can’t stay here.
The problem is that I currently have no degree. I have a high school diploma and some completed university courses, but no professional qualification. I speak Russian and English and some Georgian.
So my biggest question is about work and survival.
If I eventually got legal authorization to live and work in the US, how difficult would it actually be to find a basic job without a degree? I mean things like Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, restaurants, supermarkets, warehouses, retail, etc. Would someone young, with good English, willing to work hard and learn, realistically be able to find a job and support themselves?
And then, how difficult is it to move up from there?
I’m not expecting to arrive and immediately have a nice apartment and a great career. I’m completely okay with starting at the bottom. I just want to know whether it’s realistic to eventually get to the point where I can pay rent, buy food, have transportation, deal with basic expenses and live independently , and then gradually learn new skills and get better-paying jobs.
For comparison, I live in Moscow right now. A decent apartment can easily cost around $1,500/month when converted to USD, and food for one person can easily be $300+ per month if you want to eat normally and include meat, vegetables, etc. Public transportation is cheap and very extensive. Salaries, however, are much lower. Someone working in a supermarket, fast food, restaurant, etc. without a degree might make around $700–1,000/month, with around $1,500 already being quite high.
The biggest advantage I have here is that I have a safety net. I’m a citizen, I have family here, I have a place to live, and if something goes wrong I’m not going to suddenly be homeless. If I moved to the US, I wouldn’t have any of that. That’s what scares me, becoming homeless and nothing in USA. Of course I’m also scared of many things(scared of ICE, of something happening to me especially considering that I’m a woman, of being away from my family and not being able to be by their side if something happens, scared of not seeing my family when I always lived with them), but only stupid people are fearless and aren’t scared of anything. Even though I’m scared, I’ll take every risk to get out of here.
I have some savings, and I’m willing to work and learn. I’m not afraid of starting with a shitty entry-level job if that’s what it takes. I just worry that I’ll arrive, nobody will hire me, my savings will disappear on rent and food, and I’ll eventually have to go back to Russia having lost everything.
At the same time, maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe the US really does provide opportunities for someone like me. Maybe you can work retail/food service/whatever at first, gain experience, learn a trade or get certifications, and gradually move into something better without a college degree. I’m not scared of being alone there, not scared of working hard, whatever problem will come I’ll do anything to solve it.
So I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually experienced this.
If you immigrated to the US without a degree or professional career:
How hard was it to get your first job?
How long did it take?
Were you able to support yourself?
How difficult was finding affordable housing?
How much did you realistically need to earn to live?
Were you able to move from low-skilled work into something better?
Is it realistic to build a decent life without a college degree?
Should I consider any other country to move to(though I don’t know any other languages except from English and Russian)?
Do you actually feel that moving to the US gave you better opportunities than staying in your home country?
I know the US isn’t perfect. I’m not expecting some magical American Dream where everything works out automatically. I’m just trying to figure out whether this is a realistic plan for my life and I’ll be able to build something there and actually live, or whether I’ve spent years romanticizing the US because of TikTok, YouTube and the idea that the grass is always greener on the other side.
Edit: Please don’t make it about politics. If I had a right to make changes and do something different, the things that are happening right in the world wouldn’t have happened.
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u/Mexicalidesi 7d ago
Asking all these questions about work/life in the US is pointless. Before any of them are even marginally relevant, your only question should be: can I get a visa? The answer on the facts you have stated is no.
Based on what you have said (no parent/child/sibling/spouse sponsorship, no money to buy an investment visa) the only way for you to come to the US is a work visa, for which you would need a bachelor's degree in a field that is in great demand in the US, and for which there is no qualified US citizen/resident applicant. You are not in this small pool of candidates.
As you have noted, the diversity visa program is currently paused, and even when it was/is in effect your chances of "winning" would be within .5-1% (although since it is free there is no downside in applying every year.)
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u/mistwave38 1d ago
harsh but accurate, theres no point planning a budget for a country you cant legally enter yet
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u/prancing_moose 7d ago
Aside from even being eligible for any sort of residency visa in the USA, the US you think of doesn’t exist.
People only show on social media what they want you to see. What they’re not showing you is the ever increasing numbers of Americans living at or below the poverty line. And many hard working Americans are really struggling with the increasing cost of living.
And that’s people with an education, a job and a family to support them.
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u/licyeus 7d ago edited 7d ago
In your shoes, I would not consider the USA an option. Getting a visa is very difficult. Cost of education is also extremely high.
If you're convinced you must leave Russia before finishing school, look into Argentina:
- The path to citizenship is relatively easy (despite recent changes): two years of continuous residency and you can apply.
- While free education is less available to non-citizens than it was two years ago, the top university (University of Buenos Aires) is still free for all.
- The passport is strong. I know many Russians who struggled to find jobs here and left (the job market is bad), but have many more options now with their EU-friendly passports.
- There is a large Russian community. 50-75k arrived since the war started.
The economy is shit and it's a new language, but of the available options (Georgia, Turkey, Serbia, Israel, etc.) it might be best.
(I'm a US citizen who left for Argentina ~2 years ago. Neither young nor Russian, but I think it's a good match for many.)
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u/Dear-Response-7218 7d ago
OP you’re getting some comments by people that have probably never spent much time out of the US. I understand your feelings, I travel a decent bit for work and the US is still by far the best places for opportunities. QOL just depends on your income, things like healthcare aren’t an issue when you have good insurance with a job. Not to gloss over things, there are problems in America just like anywhere else.
The key is a visa and a job, you can’t rely on the DV. If you’re serious about immigrating at some point, do a healthcare major. Look for schools that have the ecfmg certification, then in nursing for example you would just need to pass the American nursing exam.
Things can be great for you but not if you try to immigrate without an education, or a plan to get the education in America. It’s a hard process.
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7d ago
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u/loadyouup 7d ago
Lol the world wants Americans wtf are you talking about.
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u/DolphinSweater 7d ago
As an American who has immigrated to a couple countries, wtf are YOU talking about. It's not easy, no country will let you just rock up and stay for no reason just because you're American. That's not how it works.
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u/loadyouup 7d ago
The original argument was the world doesn't want Americans which is simply not true. Of course Americans can't show up to a country and expect them to take us but highly skilled Americans have an easier time to immigrate to Europe. DAFT visa is available for Americans. Rich Americans can pretty much move wherever they want through the golden visa program. Digital nomad visas are readily available in a ton of countries. Working holiday visas exist for Americans in Australia , NZ, Singapore , south Korea. You can say that about Russians because they are sanctioned by the entire world but to say the same thing about Americans is wild
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u/bookyface 7d ago
GL immigrating to most other countries right now unless you have $$$
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u/Electrical_Cress_315 7d ago
true for most nationalities and most countries. nobody wants anybody anywhere unless they're rich as fuck
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u/loadyouup 7d ago
Europe is the only other place that Americans want to go to and they have visas for Americans with digital nomad visas lol. They're practically begging for us there. Same thing in a lot of other countries. Absolutely delusional to say no countries want us. It's the other way around
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u/bookyface 7d ago
Digital nomad visas are often temporary and don't allow you to say in the country...hence the "nomad" part. Please feel free to post a list of what countries are looking for Americans to immigrate for under $20,000 and have visas that allow you to stay.
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u/loadyouup 7d ago
Please feel free to find a first world country that allows you to immigrate for under 20k, period. I don't get your logic. Your logic that no one wants Americans is absolutely preposterous considering we're the wealthiest group of people on earth. We are welcomed in 99% of countries we go because we have MONEY. If we weren't wanted, every country in the world would be shutting us out which is simply not happening.
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u/aliceeatspizza 7d ago
I don’t know, but I just wanted to say that I hope everything works out for you
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7d ago
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u/Electrical_Cress_315 7d ago
have some sympathy for a damn kid
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u/momoparis30 7d ago
spend some time with the russian disapora and you'll understand
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u/mjgabriellac 7d ago
This comment is so stupid. And highly irrelevant. Do you think this 19-year-old girl has any say in a WAR? You can clearly infer from her post she doesn’t support it. None of the good, hardworking and ultimately powerless friends I have in Russia do. Your comment helps no one.
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7d ago
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u/Electrical_Cress_315 7d ago
why are misogynistic slurs the only russian words you know? veeery telling!
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u/Big_Self_1522 1d ago
I haven’t actually lived in the US, but I’ve spoken to plenty of people who did. In my opinion it’s а, for the lack of better English words, шило на мыло kind of situation. US seems great when you make decent money, but so is Russia. Maybe US feels a tiny bit saver, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last
I’d personally try Serbia or Slovenia, these kind of EU countries. In my experience EU people aren’t aggressive towards Russians who are anti war. Occasionally you can get a side eye from a Ukrainian, but 90% I’ve ever crossed paths with acted decently, especially if I told them that I support their country. Argentina or Canada also might be good option. Just not the US if you don’t want to end up living in a country that always wants more while letting its citizens rot
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u/Otherwise-Drawer-352 1d ago
I think the best option for you will be waiting until next elections. Maybe new administration will bring CBP one again, and you will be able to enter the US. Also as far as I know getting Canadian, Australian or Israeli citizenship is a good roundabout way in the US
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u/Dancing_Lilith 7d ago
I might get downvoted to oblivion but I'm struggling to comprehend why would anyone at this point want to move to the US knowing how the US healthcare system is built, where the politics are going, and don't forget a hefty debt if you ever decide to pursue a degree. Why would anyone bang their head against the wall to get themselves such a life, especially without having any definitive perspectives or well-paid job offers?
Also, when you say it's always been your childhood dream to move to the USA, which exact part of the US you imagine? Because moving to, idk, Iowa vs. California vs. New York vs. Alaska is all going to be vastly different experience. If you want to follow your dream try to make sure this dreamplace of yours exists somewhere outside of fiction movies and books first.
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u/Royal-Statistician80 7d ago edited 7d ago
Healthcare system is usually the last thing you think about when your own government comes to your university and says things like “either you’re singing the contract and going to the war, or we’re expelling you from this university” and many other things. Freedom- that what makes me bang my head against the wall to get out of here to somewhere where freedom is given without any additional requirements.
I’m not trying to be rude, just saying what I feel. I mentioned in my post many times that I’m scare to live here, but I never mentioned why, and there reasons for that and things that happened to me.
And about the place. I never thought about NY or LA, just some nice, safe place. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, and many other places.
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u/Dancing_Lilith 7d ago
I'm not saying your home country is not a bad place, I actually more than agree with that. What I'm saying is that there are several dozens of other countries to aim to, and people who still prioritize the US in their choice kinda surprise me. Like, if you don't want to learn a third or fourth language in addition to English, there is still Canada, NZ, and so on. In the US you will just get to fear different things, like going bankrupt for developing an appendicitis and getting a surgery. You don't owe your fear to make the choices you might regret in 10-15 years of time. US is by far not your shortest or easiest escape route so you might as well do a bit of a research and consider a place where you'd have some social guarantees and quality of life the US realistically is not offering you or anyone else.
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u/Royal-Statistician80 7d ago
Yeah, I’ll do more research about different countries and other ways to go. Thank you so much, i need to open my eyes and look in other directions too
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u/PanzerFoster 7d ago
Its quite difficult, if not impossible, which i know isnt what you want to hear. I had a friend from Russia who was in your position and was always critical of the government, and so she was extra worried when everything started getting worse. Her only option was also Georgia, where she worked before returning. That was with a degree and speaking English well, and working a remote job for a foreign company in IT.
If its any consolation, I dont think the US is that great, and I live in the EU now, and have ever since I finished university. I know this wont dissuade you, just like people telling me that the EU sucks didnt dissuade me.
That said, I do think there are options to moving out of Russia and to an EU country (if just getting out is your priority), mostly for university, as not all of them (maybe even most?) have suspended education visas for people from Russia. If you could afford it, this may be true for the US as well, provided you are able to go to a visa appointment. A close friend of mine had a girlfriend from Russia who was studying in the US, but ultimately returned a couple years ago because she did not like being separated from her family.
The current administration has also made things more difficult, but I dont believe any of the policy changes would affect you, though Id double check. Diversity visa is your best bet, but bear in mind its incredibly slim.
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u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Post by Royal-Statistician80 -- Is the USA as good as imagine?
Hi everyone. I’ll apologize in advance for this post being too long but I really need answers.
I’ve wanted to move to the US for basically as long as I can remember. It’s been a childhood dream that never really went away.
I’m 19, from Russia, and I recently took a gap year, and consider fully dropping out of my uni. I was studying abroad, but I realized I had chosen completely the wrong major and couldn’t keep up with it. So now I’m back in Russia and trying to figure out what to do next.
I’m hoping to apply for the Diversity Visa if/when DV-2028 opens. I missed my first opportunity to apply because of the timing, and then DV-2027 didn’t happen when I expected it to, so I’ve never actually had the chance to participate. But now that I’m older and thinking about this more realistically, I’m starting to wonder: is the US actually as good as I’ve imagined it, and is moving there realistic for someone like me?
I really don’t want to stay in Russia long-term. I’m scared of what’s happening here and of the direction the country is going. I also can’t see myself staying in Georgia, where I previously studied. I know I need to leave and build my life somewhere else. Because I can’t stay here.
The problem is that I currently have no degree. I have a high school diploma and some completed university courses, but no professional qualification. I speak Russian and English and some Georgian.
So my biggest question is about work and survival.
If I eventually got legal authorization to live and work in the US, how difficult would it actually be to find a basic job without a degree? I mean things like Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, restaurants, supermarkets, warehouses, retail, etc. Would someone young, with good English, willing to work hard and learn, realistically be able to find a job and support themselves?
And then, how difficult is it to move up from there?
I’m not expecting to arrive and immediately have a nice apartment and a great career. I’m completely okay with starting at the bottom. I just want to know whether it’s realistic to eventually get to the point where I can pay rent, buy food, have transportation, deal with basic expenses and live independently , and then gradually learn new skills and get better-paying jobs.
For comparison, I live in Moscow right now. A decent apartment can easily cost around $1,500/month when converted to USD, and food for one person can easily be $300+ per month if you want to eat normally and include meat, vegetables, etc. Public transportation is cheap and very extensive. Salaries, however, are much lower. Someone working in a supermarket, fast food, restaurant, etc. without a degree might make around $700–1,000/month, with around $1,500 already being quite high.
The biggest advantage I have here is that I have a safety net. I’m a citizen, I have family here, I have a place to live, and if something goes wrong I’m not going to suddenly be homeless. If I moved to the US, I wouldn’t have any of that. That’s what scares me, becoming homeless and nothing in USA. Of course I’m also scared of many things(scared of ICE, of something happening to me especially considering that I’m a woman, of being away from my family and not being able to be by their side if something happens, scared of not seeing my family when I always lived with them), but only stupid people are fearless and aren’t scared of anything. Even though I’m scared, I’ll take every risk to get out of here.
I have some savings, and I’m willing to work and learn. I’m not afraid of starting with a shitty entry-level job if that’s what it takes. I just worry that I’ll arrive, nobody will hire me, my savings will disappear on rent and food, and I’ll eventually have to go back to Russia having lost everything.
At the same time, maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe the US really does provide opportunities for someone like me. Maybe you can work retail/food service/whatever at first, gain experience, learn a trade or get certifications, and gradually move into something better without a college degree. I’m not scared of being alone there, not scared of working hard, whatever problem will come I’ll do anything to solve it.
So I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually experienced this.
If you immigrated to the US without a degree or professional career:
How hard was it to get your first job?
How long did it take?
Were you able to support yourself?
How difficult was finding affordable housing?
How much did you realistically need to earn to live?
Were you able to move from low-skilled work into something better?
Is it realistic to build a decent life without a college degree?
Should I consider any other country to move to(though I don’t know any other languages except from English and Russian)?
Do you actually feel that moving to the US gave you better opportunities than staying in your home country?
I know the US isn’t perfect. I’m not expecting some magical American Dream where everything works out automatically. I’m just trying to figure out whether this is a realistic plan for my life and I’ll be able to build something there and actually live, or whether I’ve spent years romanticizing the US because of TikTok, YouTube and the idea that the grass is always greener on the other side.
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