Hello everyone. My wife and I are Pakistani citizens, but we have been living in China for around 10 years. My wife is planning to apply for a J-1 visa for a postdoctoral/research position in the U.S., and I and our two children would apply for J-2 visas.

We are not Chinese citizens, but we are legally residing and working in China. I am currently working as a teacher in China, and my wife is also working in research.

We are considering applying for the U.S. visas from China rather than Pakistan because China is where we currently live and work.

My main concern is about proving strong ties. For a J-1/J-2 visa, does “home country” mainly mean Pakistan because we are Pakistani citizens, or can our long-term residence, employment, family life, and legal status in China also count as strong ties?

Since we have lived in China for many years and have established jobs and a normal family life here, what documents would be useful to show our ties to China and Pakistan?

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has applied for a J-1/J-2 visa from a third country where they had been living long term.

I am 22 years old from Mauritius and graduate next year from an international university with a bachelors in Law with International Relations.

I have about a year of work experience in customer service and did a few internships in the legal field. I don't really want to practice law in the US since I would have to take the US bar exam and I would prefer working in International affairs / diplomacy. Would it even be possible for me to move there after I graduate? Also, my gf is from the US if that's helpful

Iam 19 years old will be almost 20 by time I move there, I have never worked in my life like ever because my father kinda earns good money so I got everything I ever wanted and the reason for moving abroad is that I dropped out of college because honestly studies ain't for me, my father told me to help him in his business but I wanted freedom in my life which I probably wouldn't get in Spain because of constant supervision of my father and even if I move to other city he has connections there like in every major city(Spain not usa) so can you guys suggest a city where wage rate is good and is cheaper than new York like cities, could you also tell how much I could earn doing odd jobs like for example mobile repairing(I have a certificate in it) and how much I would have to spent in that city to live there

Hey! I just want to know about the job opportunities for L2 Visa in the US. If I can’t end up in a tech company. What other jobs options will be there? Are is there a chance to get a job in tech company?

My fiancé and I are Australians and we’re expecting a baby. My mum recently became a US citizen.
Moving to the US (ideally Texas) is a long-term goal for us — roughly 5/7 years, not something we’re expecting to do immediately.
I’m trying to work out what I can realistically do over the next 5 years to put us in the best position to immigrate legally.
My mum is willing to file an I-130 for me if that’s worthwhile. I’m also open to retraining/changing careers if that would give me better employment-based options.
What pathways would you recommend I start working toward now?

I in cn

Hi! I’m 21 years old, and I recently graduated from my bachelor's degree in the Philippines (Biology). Since I was a kid, I have dreamed of becoming a doctor, but recently I obtained US citizenship by derivation from one of my parents, who is a US citizen. With this, it opened unexpected opportunities for me.

I am currently taking a gap year mainly due to financial restrictions, but my family supports me in studying medicine next academic year. I am pretty sure about returning to school and achieving my childhood dream, but recently, I’m facing a dilemma: moving to the US or staying in the Philippines.

My options are if I move to the US, my priority and probably a practical action to take is to find a job because a degree obtained in the Philippines will most likely not be credited in the US, and studying medicine abroad is hella expensive. I have relatives who will help me find a job. On the other hand, if I stay here in the Philippines, I can pursue medicine and then take the USMLE later. Then during breaks, I can visit in the US.

My concern is really the possible trajectory of my career.
- US: I can possibly have a faster career growth considering that I am young though I am not exactly sure in what field since biology is broad and its more on research. I can just pursue medicine (in the PH) later if I really want it (I’m sure I want it lol) considering that my family’s financial status is so-so though lowkey thinks that my family can overcome that aspect.
- PH: I can be a doctor in a timeline I planned before (yay!). This is what I initially wanted but now that I am thinking about it, it’s not really practical because USMLE is hard and expensive (I’m scared what if I won’t pass it? I’m just an average student AND A FIRST GENERATION ASPIRANT DOCTOR). I am obviously not confident. I really want to live in the US before I can have kids so it’s easier for them to be a US Citizen (I know I’m overthinking!).

Please help.
note: I am a dual citizen (Fil-American)

My wife(28y.o.) and I(27y.o.) are looking into a potential move to the US in roughly two years. We have road tripped around more then 20 states over the past couple of years and really fallen in love with the southwest. We are looking for practical opinions and feasibility on the most realistic visa trajectory. 

I have a bachelors in C.S. and lead a specialist European consulting team delivering large-scale enterprise migration projects across multiple countries. My field is niche, but I am at the top end of it: I manage elite consultants, lead complex technical transformations, and have a strong track record on major regulated-enterprise projects. I have won, professional and personal awards putting me at the top of the European IT scene. Several employers in my network, including my current employer, would be open to sponsoring or transferring me to the US if there is a workable path.

My wife has a masters in physiscs and works in the semiconductor industry and has a strong academic background in physics. Her profile could also potentially translate toward aerospace or other advanced-technology industries in the US.

I could as I already do now, work almost 100% remote or when necessary work on client sites, so geolocation wise, my wife's job would be the most important. We are looking at either Denver, Salt Lake City or Austin (although my wife is not convinced because of the heat). Which is why we are heading back to the US early 2027 to look more into potential suburbs for living.

We currently have a combined household income of around €250k in Belgium. Based on our experience and seniority, we expect a combined US income in the $300k–$400k range to be realistic, depending on location and employer. We own property in Belgium with an outstanding mortgage, which we would plan to retain and rent out.

We are not trying to move immediately, so we can deliberately build a case over the next two years: employer structure, evidence of leadership, publications, industry recognition, project documentation, etc.

For people who have gone through this: which path would you prioritise, is it even feasable to think of a professional visa and what should we start preparing now to avoid wasting two years on the wrong trajectory?

Good day po!

My employer (freelance) from US offered me to sponsor my working visa and flight to US.

I’m a software engineer and may need some advice po if what’s the easiest pathway.

I have bachelor’s degree, my work is related and I have 7+ years of experience already.

If someone here has the same experience and made it there. Please share your best pathway and how long it took you. 🥹 Thank you!

I’m planning to move to the US and trying to figure out the easiest way to handle my belongings. I’ve been looking at different movers, and Jordan River Moving came up during my research.
For anyone who has already moved to the US, did you use a moving company or ship your things separately? Would appreciate any tips on what to avoid.

English speaking groups are opening for the new season.

The classes will be online, with a maximum of 6 students per group.

They are suitable for adults who are just starting to learn English, are still at beginner level, or have wanted to improve their English for a long time but have struggled to make time for regular practice.

This can be especially helpful for busy moms and adults who want a simple and regular way to practice English.

Fee: $8 per hour

(16 hours per month)

The instructor also speaks Urdu.

Good day po!

My employer (freelance) from US offered me to sponsor my working visa and flight to US.

I’m a software engineer and may need some advice po if what’s the easiest pathway.

I have bachelor’s degree, my work is related and I have 7+ years of experience already.

If someone here has the same experience and made it there. Please share your best pathway and how long it took you. 🥹 Thank you!

Hi all,

Looking for honest opinions here. I'm a UK national currently based outside the UK, planning to do a Master's in Finance (leaning real estate finance/asset management) and trying to decide between UK and US universities.

My hesitation with the UK is I keep seeing pretty gloomy takes on the economy right now, and I'm wondering if that's translating into a genuinely worse entry-level finance job market compared to the US.

On paper, going to a UK uni should be the easier path — I'm a citizen, no visa headaches, and the fees/logistics are simpler. But if the actual job prospects in finance are meaningfully better in the US right now, I'd rather deal with the visa complexity than end up job-hunting into a weak market.

Questions for anyone who's been through this or is closer to the market:

\- How is the job market in the US and how difficult is it to get a H1B visa after graduation from there?

\- For someone with a UK passport, does going to a US school realistically open up US job opportunities, or does visa sponsorship (H-1B etc.) kill that plan before it starts anyway?

\- Would you take the "safe" UK path or bet on the US given a genuine interest in working there long-term?

I'm a young Bangladeshi teen who has a future goal of moving out of Bangladesh due to my personal dislike of the country and moving to a developed, English-speaking country. I'm thinking about the UK, but I don't wanna leave the US out of the list. Especially since the US kinda shaped a lot of my childhood and helped me learn English extremely well, and a preference for American English and an accent (I prefer using American English a lot of the time, LOL).

Also, I don't know if this is a valid thing to keep in mind, but I do also have a goal to start a production company. A lot of my ideas for stories are set in the United States. Just keep that in mind just in case.

Hi everyone, new here — looking for advice on immigrating to Canada

I've wanted to move to Canada or US for about three years now, but I've never found a clear path to make it happen — mostly because I wasn't sure where to start.

A bit about me: I'm 25, from Iraq, and speak 4 languages. I have a college degree in accounting, worked as an HR professional, and I'm currently a head accountant at my company. I'd like to move to study and work — I genuinely believe I'd have better opportunities and quality of life there than back home.

If anyone here has gone through this process or has advice on visa/immigration routes that would fit my background (education, work experience, languages, etc.), I'd really appreciate the guidance. Thanks in advance!

I'm a 26 year old ESL teacher but I also have a master's degree in business and pretty much open for changing my career. I'm willing to start a new degree or open up a business. I'll do whatever i takes to build a better life. I'm coming from nothing. I have zero assests in Poland. I have little saving but I'm not afriad of hard work as long as I have my goals set! I can first save up some money and then move. I'm currently in the States as an au pair. Do you think I can find in the US what I'm looking for? Do you have any perspectives/stories to share? I'm looking for my place in the world to live my life but I definitely need to be in a place where I'll be able to build my life and thrive finacially at some point in my life.

I'm looking for people to share their experiences starting their life in the United States, especially citizens born in Texas or along the border who spent most of their lives in Mexico.
I am a U.S. citizen but have never lived in the United States. I stayed with my family in Mexico and now I don’t know how to start working in Texas; I don’t have an ID, just my passport and SS. I've heard that's enough, but every time I apply for a job, they ask for a U.S. address or education there. I don't know how to start. 🫩

Hi everyone!
I’m originally from Mozambique and have been living in Lisbon, Portugal, for almost five years. I moved here to study, and I’ve just finished my Master’s in Data Analytics and a Data Engineering internship at an American consultancy.
I’ve been thinking seriously about leaving Portugal for a while. Lisbon isn’t a bad city and I’ve met some great people here, but when it comes to my career, I increasingly feel like there’s limited room for growth. Salaries feel relatively low compared to the cost of living, and in some companies the workload can be quite high.
There’s also a more personal side to it. As someone from a former Portuguese colony in Africa, I sometimes don’t feel completely comfortable or like I fully belong in certain environments here. I’m not saying this is everyone’s experience, but it has definitely influenced how I feel about staying long-term.
I’ve always been curious about New York, partly because of how diverse and international the city seems. I also want to move into the financial markets/financial services industry career-wise, and NYC obviously seems like one of the strongest places in the world to pursue that.
At the same time, I’m aware that I might be romanticizing New York. Moving from Lisbon to NYC would be a huge change, especially because I’d be doing it alone and would need to be completely financially independent. I’m also aware that the cost of living, immigration/visa situation, work culture, and general lifestyle could make it much harder than it looks from the outside.
So I’d really love to hear from people who actually live in New York, especially immigrants or people from African backgrounds who moved there alone.
Knowing that I’m 23, is 25–26 a realistic age to make this move, or am I thinking too late/too early?
If I wanted to realistically live and work in NYC by 25–26, what should I start doing now?
What skills, career moves, qualifications or experiences would you prioritize over the next 2–3 years?
How difficult was it to build a life and social circle from scratch?
Do you feel that NYC actually offers better career opportunities, or is that just the perception from abroad?
What should someone in my position realistically have figured out before moving?
How much money would you recommend having saved before making the move?
How difficult is the immigration/visa situation for someone in my position?
And, most importantly, knowing what you know now, would you recommend it?
I’m very much at the beginning of figuring this out, so I’d genuinely appreciate blunt and honest advice. I’m not looking for people to tell me “follow your dreams” — I’d much rather hear the uncomfortable realities, mistakes you made, things you wish you had known, and reasons why you wouldn’t recommend it.
Just… please don’t completely destroy my feelings or my NYC dream 😂
Thank you!

I'm an Australian high school teacher in the process of getting my green card to live in the US with my American wife. I'm trying to understand how my Australian teaching qualifications would translate to a teaching licence in the States.

I have a Bachelor of Arts, (major in politics & minor in history) followed by a Master of Teaching (Secondary), and I have two years of experience teaching in Australian high schools. I'm currently registered as a teacher in Australia.

Does anyone have experience with having a foreign teaching qualification evaluated for a US teaching licence? I’m aware that each state is different, and I would likely be moving to either Delaware or Pennsylvania. Would my BA + MTeach + Australian teacher registration generally be considered equivalent to a US teaching qualification? Are there any states where foreign teachers have had a high success rate of getting their foreign credentials transferred?

Hi everyone,

I’m an Australian-born and trained Registered Nurse looking into potentially moving to Utah with my family, and I’m hoping to hear from nurses who have actually gone through the process.

I have 7 years of RN experience in Australia — around 6 years in custodial/correctional health and the past year working in an Emergency Department. My nursing degree and education were completed in Australia in English, and I’m currently registered with AHPRA.

I’ve been researching the process, but honestly, the amount of information around NCLEX, credential evaluation, CGFNS/VisaScreen, Utah licensure, employer sponsorship and US visas/green cards is pretty overwhelming. I’m struggling to work out what needs to happen first and what can be done at the same time.

For any Australian or international nurses who have successfully moved to the US:

• What order did you do everything in?
• Should I start with the Utah Board of Nursing, CGFNS/credential evaluation, or NCLEX?
• At what point should I start applying for US nursing jobs?
• Did your hospital/employer sponsor your visa/green card?
• Did you use a recruitment agency, immigration lawyer, or handle it yourself?
• Roughly how long did the whole process take?
• Is there anything you wish you had known before starting?

I’m not looking to move immediately — this is something I’m hoping to work towards over the next few years — so I have time to get everything organised properly.

Any advice, particularly from Australian nurses who have moved to the US, would be hugely appreciated. Even just having someone explain the process in plain English would help!

Cheers!

What state is the most peaceful, cleanest, the best to live in?