My Situation, Help Much Appreciated

Hello, I am Mike. I was born in Minnesota, United States. My great grandparents moved to the United States from Scotland back in the early 1900's, but this may be irrelevant since I think anything after your grandparents doesn't get you entry. I am 19 years old, going to be 20 in a few months. I have 3 years of college experience but no degree yet. I have had 4 jobs: three fast food and one at a library. I have $2,500 currently, but live with my parents so saving up will be easier. I make about $500-700 a month. I hope to work a second job soon.

For the past few years I have done a fair amount of research, budgeting, and calculating what I'd need to do to move to Scotland. I have been faced with a few problems.

1) I do not have a 'skilled' profession
2) My great grandparents do not gain me entry
3) Proof that I would not survive on state welfare**

**The problem here is with my low-level salary job, minimum wage, on paper it would look like I could not support myself even if I put a lot in savings**

I want to move to Scotland, I am willing to work some really low end jobs (just about anything) for Scotland, and I just want to be given a chance to one day perhaps become a citizen of the UK. So my questions are:

Is there ANY way, considering my situation, that I could live/work in Scotland? If I jump through some hoops, can I find a way into Scotland and then somehow be eligible to apply for work/residence?

Thanks!

I believe university or marriage are your only options. Or you could aim to get a job with a US company that has offices in Scotland and eventually work your way up enough to be able to request a transfer.

Work based visas are really hard to get. What about being a student? Maybe doing a masters course?

Have you ever been to Scotland?

You can't move to the UK without a visa and your choices are limited. 

A work visa.   Unless your occupation is on the shortage occupation list it is extremely hard to qualify for.  You need extraordinary qualifications, education and experience. 


A student visa.  As suggested you could go for a masters in the UK.  You would have to pay international student fees and this visa does not lead to settlement.

A spouse visa.  You could marry a UK citizen.

My great grandparents moved to the United States from Scotland back in the early 1900's, but this may be irrelevant since I think anything after your grandparents doesn't get you entry.

UK-born grandparents are only useful for Commonwealth citizens (e.g., Canadians, Australians, etc.), who can use that connection to get a UK Ancestry visa. That leads to indefinite leave to remain after five years and citizenship a year after that.

For US citizens, the buck stops pretty much at your parents. If a US citizen's parent is British otherwise than by descent (e.g., by being born, adopted, naturalised or registered in the UK), the US citizen is then likely British by descent. Anything further back doesn't help you. Italy, Ireland and some other EU nations are much more generous with grandparent ties than the UK.

This doesn't help the OP, but just putting it out there if anyone else sees this thread.

Are you h*ll-bent on Scotland? If you are just looking to see the world, there are other places more accommodating than the UK right now. Norway, for instance, I believe has a short-term visa (six months?) where you can just move right over and hunt work. The other EU countries offer the EU Blue Card programme (some more liberally than others). There are education/earning requirements. If you decide on the school route, take a look a Germany.

Things have tightened up everywhere really but if you are looking for the expat experience you may find more options outside of the UK.

IIRC, people have mentioned that Australia has a working-holiday type programme as well - if, as sonofasailor mentioned, you're looking for some experiences outside the US and aren't deadset on the UK.

For those familiar with the process and requirements, would BUNAC for the UK be an option for the OP?

There aren't a whole lot of options people haven't already mentioned, but it might be worth keeping an eye the news. One of the reasons the Scottish Independence parties have been citing for wanting to leave the UK is that they want a to set their own (less stringent) immigration policy. Even if they don't become independent, they could find a way to work this out (like Quebec has in Canada.)

This is all speculative and not guaranteed, but if you're not in a huge hurry it's still worth following.

There aren't a whole lot of options people haven't already mentioned, but it might be worth keeping an eye the news. One of the reasons the Scottish Independence parties have been citing for wanting to leave the UK is that they want a to set their own (less stringent) immigration policy. Even if they don't become independent, they could find a way to work this out (like Quebec has in Canada.)

This is all speculative and not guaranteed, but if you're not in a huge hurry it's still worth following.

I do not want to make this too public, but I am a supporter of Scottish independence...ideally, I wanted to move over and get directly involved with the Yes campaign and hopefully work for the government one day. Anti-independence/pro-union people don't rag on me for this. 

Well, if I am not seeking what I would like a career in and what I am passionate about and would give my whole hard working being, then I would be more open to other European countries. Norway would be great, but I heard it is very expensive.

Anti-independence/pro-union people don't rag on me for this. 

I think the UK needs Scotland...please stay guys....

I think the UK needs Scotland...please stay guys....

In my research, it seems evident that there is an imbalance in democratic power in the Union that has not only placed a higher tax burden in the North but shows no sign of giving the power the North needs to help its own citizens. One and four children are born in poverty. I believe that England and Scotland wouldn't change too much post-independence, it is simply taking the necessary power to govern a nation who is rich in resources but the wealth isn't distributed among them in any fair sense. Scotland seems to be following the Scandinavian model more so than England and I believe that is the step in the right direction: green/alternative energy, social justice, nuclear disarmament, economic justice, and emphasizing education.