How to go to live in America? 9 ways to legally emigrate to the USA from Russia

People come to the States from all over the world - for money, stability and comfort, here they escape from wars and poverty, acquire new social connections, seek great fame or quiet happiness

The notorious “American Dream” has been turning the heads of adventure seekers and those who want to radically change their lives for a couple of centuries. People come to the States from all over the world - for money, stability and comfort, here they escape from wars and poverty, acquire new social connections, seek great fame or quiet happiness. But reality has a habit of making adjustments to any dreams, and not all immigrants are happy with the move. What doesn't suit them?

Prices

If you shop in supermarkets, cook at home and don’t spend too much money, you spend 15–20 USD per day on groceries, that is, 450–600 USD per month. Renting a room costs at least 600–800 USD, a separate apartment - 1400 USD monthly (it all depends on the city and region). At the same time, employees without qualifications receive, at best, 10–15 USD per hour (1600–2400 USD per month).

If there is a child in the family, and you are unlucky with a free school in your area of ​​residence, you will have to shell out another 1000 USD per month for a private one.

• Read also:  Application for confirmation of Russian citizenship

How much does moving cost?

After choosing goals, timing and direction, you need to prepare supplies for a long journey.

To smooth out the first shock of adaptation, you need to save as much as possible. I know people who have successfully moved with two thousand dollars in their pocket and one light bag, but this path is too difficult, so it’s better not to do it.

But no matter how much you save, don’t be fooled – you won’t be able to live carefree on these funds for long. Due to the huge difference in living standards (buying food for a week in an American store for $200-300 is a very unpleasant surprise at first), even substantial savings last for 6-18 months.

I moved with a year's salary accumulated over the past years. In addition, I received a salary that was relatively comfortable in the US. But it still lasted less time than I expected.

To live in large US cities, I would budget a minimum of five to seven thousand dollars a month for one and seven to ten thousand for two.

• Most of all will be spent on rent: two and a half to three thousand and four to five thousand per month, respectively.
• Health insurance will cost $300-800 per month per person.
• Very little is spent on food - $400-600 per month for one or two people.
• Transport will cost about $500-700.
• Clothes are cheap: even if you buy from brands like Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, you shouldn’t spend more than a thousand dollars a year.
• But small pleasures like coffee shops can cost a lot of money: a cup of coffee costs about five dollars.

In general, the dreams of a beautiful life for many immigrants were dashed by the high cost. If in Moscow a salary of eight to ten thousand dollars a month rockets you almost to the very top of the social ladder, then in San Francisco this is the starting salary of an engineer in popular areas, the middle class.

Many find it difficult to trade food in expensive restaurants, a luxurious apartment or products from luxury stores for moderation in spending, a cheap apartment and careful budget planning.

It should be understood that the standard of living in the USA is much higher. You just end up a few steps lower and may never grow to the entry level. Some of my friends have never been able to overcome this mental barrier.

4. Transport

There is a problem with public transport in the States, so you can’t get by without a car. Ideally, one for each family member, because sometimes it’s difficult to even get to the store without your own wheels. Monthly insurance costs are 120–150 USD, gasoline costs 0.70 USD per liter, fines are expensive (70 USD for not fastening a seat belt, 450 USD for driving on the side of the road, from 500 USD for aggressive driving).

How to go to the USA for permanent residence: step-by-step instructions

The firm intention to move to the United States is not wrapped in the rosy “American Dream.” It has specific stages and implementation methods:

• Familiarization with information and choice of state for future residence.
• Determining the method of immigration.
• Preparation and submission of documents for an entry visa to the immigration department of the US Consulate.

The period for obtaining a United States residence permit is from 6 to 8 months, of which one month will be spent on obtaining a visa. 5 years after receiving a Green Card, you can apply for permanent residence in the United States.

Requirements for applicants

There is no clear list of requirements for immigrants of all categories. However, there are conditions that must be met:

1. No problems with the law. There are certain nuances here. Not every criminal record is a reason for visa refusal, so it is worth consulting with a migration service employee or lawyer before collecting a package of documents.
2. No serious health problems. Before an interview at the consulate, all applicants for permanent residence in the United States undergo a medical examination. The presence of complex or chronic illnesses can reduce relocation efforts to zero.
3. Lack of experience working in “closed” or secret institutions.

In addition to the general requirements, there are specific requirements for applicants according to the chosen migration method:

1. Availability of specialized education and work experience - for those entering on a work visa.
2. Having no more than one divorce - for fiancé/fiancé visa applicants.
3. Documented evidence of persecution and harassment - for those applying for refugee status.

Documentation

The package of documents required for any category of immigrants includes:

1. Internal passport of the applicant’s country of residence.
2. Valid passport.
3. Certificate from place of employment indicating monthly payments.
4. Certificates of marriage, divorce and birth of children.
5. Documents confirming the availability of movable and immovable property.
6. Bank statements about sources of financial income.
7. Confirmation of acceptance of the electronic application on the US Embassy website.
8. Receipt of paid consular fee.
9. Photo 50*50 mm.

All documents must have a notarized translation into English.

5. Medicine

There is no free healthcare (only the option of free insurance for low-income people), and debt from medical bills is one of the most common reasons why Americans go bankrupt. Full family insurance costs as much as 1,500–2,000 USD per month (although most of it is usually covered by the employer), but the costs are justified: pay for an ambulance call (1,500 USD), ultrasound (500 USD) or emergency heart surgery (40 000 USD) somehow I don’t want to come from my own pocket.

U.S. citizens and low-income legal aliens are entitled to free Medicaid coverage.

Preparing to move to the USA

With a visa to America for 10 years or a green card - the right to permanent residence - you need to prepare for settling in a new country. Moving to the USA for permanent residence involves learning English, which is necessary for communication and successful employment. For the first time in the country, you should prepare additional funds. It is also recommended to take care of your health, undergo a full examination in the hospital, and visit a dentist. Medical services in the USA are significantly more expensive compared to the cost in the CIS countries.

When you move to the United States, you, as a permanent resident, are responsible for complying with applicable US laws. Along with your new status, your rights and responsibilities to the American people and state expand. The government considers your permission to remain in the United States a privilege and retains the ability to revoke your right to permanent residence. To further reside in the state, work and obtain US citizenship, you must adhere to a number of rules and maintain your status. You will need:

Adhere to rights and responsibilities

Every decision made and action taken can affect your future acquisition of US citizenship by naturalization. As a foreigner with permission to reside in America, you can:

• Live in any city in the country
• Officially find employment in the USA
• Become a real estate owner
• Study in state educational institutions
• Get a driver's license
• Serve in select branches of the US military
• Receive social benefits and benefits
• Apply for citizenship
• Apply for US visas for relatives
• Leaving the United States and returning

Permanent residents receive a green card upon arrival in the United States. Before registration, you must pay the USCIS immigration fee through a special electronic system. If you obtain permanent residence while staying in the state, you only need to pay for Form I-485 - Application to Register Residence or Change Status. You must always have your green card with you to provide it upon request to immigration officials and law enforcement agencies as confirmation of the legality of your stay in the United States.

Maintain permanent resident status

According to the terms of the law, you can lose your green card by refusing it. The American government has the right to regard your actions as a refusal of permanent residence in the event that you leave the country for a long time. To maintain the right to permanent residence, it is recommended:

• Carry out short-term, temporary trips to other states. It is prohibited to stay abroad for more than 1 year. If the trip is planned for 12 months, you must obtain permission to re-enter the United States in advance.
• Prepare an explanation for your absence When returning to the United States, ensure that you have evidence to explain your continued absence from America.
• Submit an income tax return The Federal Tax Service keeps records of the income of US passport holders and applicants for US citizenship.
• Report a Change of Address Whenever you move to a new location, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days.

Pay taxes

Permanent resident status requires you to file income and tax information with the IRS and the state and city tax authorities where you live. Failure to declare or indicate a nonimmigrant status may be considered by the American government as a denial of permanent residence. It does not matter whether you were on the territory of the state or outside it.

Register with the Recruitment Service

Men between the ages of 18 and 26 must register with the US Army Draft Service at any post office or online on the government website. Persons who have an immigrant visa or have received permanent residence through a change of status are automatically entered into the database. In this case, an email will be sent to you confirming your registration. You can check the accuracy of the information by:

• Address to employees of the Office of the Recruitment Service
• Visiting the official website of the Recruitment Service

By submitting your application, you notify the US government of your readiness to serve in the US Army. Today there are no official calls, but registration for men is mandatory. Foreigners with permanent residence status and American citizens serve in the United States military at their own request.

9. Mentality

Most Americans keep their cool in public, polite smiles seem to grow on their faces. But in friendly communication one can feel restraint: if they talk about personal things, they do so reluctantly; true emotions are carefully hidden. Here they generally try to avoid conflicts, negativity and categoricalness, so phrases should be chosen carefully: instead of “What kind of nonsense is that Kanye West singing?” It’s better to say “I’m not a fan of modern rap.”

Anyone who doesn't use polite phrases like "may I ask" or "could you give me a hint" risks being branded as a rude person.

Can permanent residence be denied?

Strict immigration policy rules and security considerations for the state and its citizens allow the US authorities to deny permanent residence to certain categories of migrants:

• persons with dangerous infectious diseases or suffering from mental disorders;
• associated with criminality or guilty of committing actions contrary to the law;
• deliberately providing false information;
• not consistent with the moral rules of American society;
• have violated immigration laws or have previously been deported;
• persons with low financial income;
• illegal immigrants.

Business visa to Russia for citizens of the USA (America)

Sometimes Americans have to establish business connections directly in Russia. This purpose of entry is consistent with the essence of a business visa. It allows you to legally come to the Russian Federation, meet with counterparties, sign new agreements, participate in tenders, and speak at a seminar. Need an invitation. Unlike a private one, it is issued not only on the form of the Federal Migration Service. Two other methods: Telex and letter from the company.

When choosing an option, it is worth considering some nuances that may affect the final decision:

• The least waste occurs when receiving an invitation letter (the other two options are much inferior);
• A letter from an organization is completed faster (it can be done online and received by email);
• In the case of Telex and the FMS form, the original is required, there are no such requirements for the letter (receiving the original takes time and money, which is needed to cover postage costs);
• If you have already flown to the country twice on a business visa, it is possible to increase the period to 3 years (this option only applies to the presentation of a letter by the company).

What does each of the invitations represent?

1. Letter. An organization accredited by the Federal Migration Service applies to the Russian Embassy located in the States. Everything takes 24 hours.
2. FMS form. The issuance is carried out by the PVU of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation. A company that wants to invite an American contacts the authority, submits an application, and provides information about the foreigner and itself. The purpose of the visit, the duration and frequency of the visa document are also reflected.
3. Telex. The invitation is received by the consulate through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The American will need the number of this document. It is enough to provide the information to the consulate.

The last two options are inferior in terms of time to the letter. The fact is that the authorized bodies check the foreigner for offenses. If they are present, a refusal will follow. When there are no obstacles to the trip, an invitation is issued. With a business visa, you are allowed to come to the country for 1-36 months. The number of visits to the Russian Federation can be limited (1 or 2 times) or unlimited (multiple entry visa).

You will soon be able to issue a business invitation to Russia for US citizens in the form of a letter from an organization on our partner website. The price of a visa invitation will be $47.

https://goingrus.com/ru/russian-visa-invitation

Types of visas for entry into the Russian Federation

• Tourist visa. A visit to a country is always associated with a tourist holiday and sightseeing trips.
• Business visa. Issued to those who participate in a scientific conference, must organize a business meeting or renew a contract with an existing partner.
• Work Visa. Issued subject to employment in a company located in the Russian Federation.
• Private visa. Available to Americans who want to see their Russian friends and immediate family. If it is possible to get a tourist visa, give preference to this option. A private one will cost more, and its registration will take more time.