Each action starts with a thought a nd moral set. Leaving the hometown is like declining from your comfort zone. Why the abundance of people is ready for this step? Do they usually look for new opportunities or just running away from the previous life? One should fight for better conditions and be confident in future occupation. Otherwise, a person risks its health, loss of motivation, depression, close relations and, secure position.
People have always preferred living a predictable life with family responsibilities, meetings with friends from childhood, going to the same office and paying the bills. This is what makes them happy. But not me. I was born in Ukraine, but since I was a kid, I didn’t like the Ukrainian mentality, I didn’t understand what am I doing at that place and who are the people I surrounded myself with.
At the age of 21, I changed my life and immigrated to Poland to get my Master’s degree in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy. How I made it?
I planned it,
visualized my life in an unknown country and saved money, which I earned myself.
I had a hope and desire of finding peace, harmony, freedom and my life mission in the unknown land. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find inner peace. In Poland, I’ve realized what “discrimination against foreigners” really means (not from the books). On my worst days, I didn’t want to get out from home and sometimes I didn’t even want to get out of bed. What for? To try hard and to fail again and again? Thank you. Tired. Nevertheless, I’m very grateful to that country and its citizens, who made me wiser and stronger. Besides that, I got my postgraduate degree in International Organizations in the capital of Poland. Even more important - I got married a polish man. Who could think and plan it? Love should never be something you plan. I highly recommend you to go to the multicultural city if you don’t want to stuck out like a sore thumb.
To be honest with you immigration with the partner is not easier than immigration alone.
Looking the same direction is important when you immigrate to the unknown world with your partner
It gives a common view and a common goal to a couple; otherwise, you are in a high risk of having depression, money losses or even worse - divorce.
When my husband and I moved from Poland to the US in 2018, we were not looking in the same direction. I wanted to stay with my beloved in the USA and to start life from scratch and my husband wanted to come back to our daily polish routine: doing business, having business trips and “enjoying our comfort zone” at our beautiful loft apartment not far from the Wawel Castle in Krakow.
It was a hard time for me: to inspire my spouse to give us a chance of new life in the city of angels (believe me or not, but you must be a good leader and equal partner in marriage to do so). Fortunately for me, for us and for women, whom I coach, my husband and I established a start-up company that empowers women to create the lives of their dreams through personal development, business-building, self-perfection and organizational skills improvement.
The picture was made in February 2018 when my husband and I came to the USA
The first dialogue after the flight:
Me: What do you feel in the air?
Husband: February warm weather and you?
Me: FREEDOM.
LAX, February 2018
One of the most typical issues for an immigrant is a visa. There are plenty of programmes and specialities both for young professionals and experienced masters. Get rid of stereotypes and dismay! Studying in a foreign university of your dream isn’t it the easiest way to move, but worth it. Remember that it is never too late for improving yourself. Another opportunity to get a visa is a job offer. Keep in mind that an employer has to be ready to provide you with all the necessary papers as well as additional expenses. Working in an international company means a lot for potential immigrants: you never know who can offer a beneficial position. Also, global corporations represent an enormous plus to CV and language development.
Business trips should be perceived as the little trials for living abroad. Try not to stay in the expensive and luxury hotels, but rent a flat on Airbnb or Booking and experience local life combining with your affairs. One more common reason for immigration is a foreign spouse. Love can be found in the most unexpected places, but it is important to think whether the move worth it as well as whether the feelings are real and pretending to be long-lasting.
How people stay in the US with B1/B2 Visa?
If you came to the US as a tourist you can change your status from B1/B2 to:
- F1 student, but bare in mind that education is very expensive in the US and the application process is time-consuming.
- A political asylum is a good option for people who are unable to return to their home country, because of persecution, but I am against political asylum if you are not in danger at your homeland. As far as I know, Mr Trump will eliminate/limit asylum.
- Visa for a Spouse or Fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen. I am against this option if it is not real love and just for the papers. I know some women for whom love is equivalent to the Green Card and money on the bank account. I try to avoid such women and I highly recommend you to do the same, because it calls – degradation.
- If you are an extraordinary person, who demonstrates extraordinary ability in arts, sport, business, education, or the sciences, you can apply for an O1 visa.
Some options for Entrepreneurs:
- An L-1 visa is a good option for the employees of an international company with offices abroad and in the US.
- The E-2 visa is for individuals who invest a minimum of $250,000 and start and operate the business in the US.
- H-1B visa is a temporarily employ visa category that allows employers to petition for highly educated foreign professionals. The key words are highly educated
and professional, do not overvalue yourself!
- EB visa is also very attractive BUT you have to invest half a million dollars in your business.
I am an immigrant for five years already and during my journey, I have met some unhappy immigrants who usually say something like “I didn’t have a choice” and… their toxic story begins. I always say the same thing –
You always have a choice
It is YOU, who make a choice and you are responsible for the choices you make. If you married a man/woman and you are unhappy about the marriage – it’s because of YOUR choice. If you got the political asylum lying to the immigration officer about the threats at your home country – remember that sooner or later the truth will come out and YOU are responsible for it.
- Are you ready not to have lovely discussions with your friends every weekend and live without your favourite dentist and cosmetologist?
- Are you ready to see the true colors of the people whom you called “friends” after one, two, three years since your immigration?
- Are you ready to adjust to a new culture and traditions or do you plan to come to a foreign country and to spend time with the people from your motherland?
- Can your master degree in law be adjusted to new circumstances?
- Should you throw the business idea, what you’ve worked on so long, away?
Besides all of that, keep in mind the future professional occupation, medical insurance and climate.
For sure, we all want to move to a developed country, which guarantees us security, social benefits and an acceptable level of taxes. First of all, one should pay attention to the proposals of the countries where there are special programs for immigrants. The countries, which represent the highest level of education, medicine, transport and social security, are the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Austria and Switzerland. If you want to move to one of these countries, you would definitely need to have some money with you at least for the first 3-6 months. Acknowledge that the countries, which represent a high level of life have high living standards, so make sure you can afford immigration there. Get ready to hustle, I mean truly to hustle putting aside the laziness and your higher degree from the University.
good things come to those who hustle
Be careful!
You never know what to expect from people who have different mentality and way of thinking. Let me share with you one of the brightest examples of crazy people on the Airbnb:
My husband and I rented the room from one lonely lady in the Palm Springs area.
On the second month of our rent, she made me an offer in the form of a letter that I can stay at her house for free as long as I want, if I’ll divorce my husband.
Obviously, I did not agree and two days later, she asked us to leave her house! It was not a kind request like: "Would you be so kind to leave my house?" Oh no, it was a scandal!
We really did not know what to do and we did not understand what is going on. Starbucks was the safest place for us that day. You know that it’s impossible to find a new place in 5 minutes. That day, I’ve realized that we have something that you cannot buy anywhere – we have each other and faith in our American Dream!
The American dream is not for everyone,
A lot of people are happy in Europe, Asia and Africa. Personally, for me, Europe is too small, and when I said it to Europeans, almost everyone said that I’m crazy. It was one of the reasons why I changed my life and environment around me since June 2018. My eyes are shining when I spend time with people who’re positive, ambitious and inspiring. Luckily for me, there are a lot of extraordinary, well-educated and ambitious people in Los Angeles. Frankly speaking, I do not know what can be better in human relations, than learning from each other and growing together?!
No matter what country you’ll move to, remember that tough times happen to all of us. No matter how strong or powerful or confident you are. Besides that, I’ve learnt that it doesn’t really matter what happens in your life - you have to live your values, believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams! As American lawyer and politician Brad Henry said:
“Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place. Have faith in your own abilities, work hard, and there is nothing you cannot accomplish”.
