Looking for direction

Alright, I'm new here and I've spent a bit of time looking across some of the threads but I figure my best way of getting information (I hope) is to state my individual case on seeking a visa. I've spent time off and on over the course of months trying to figure out what to do, but it becomes pretty overwhelming for me and confusing.

Quite frankly, I'm starting from scratch, and I need to know what the easiest route for me could be to find a long term visa hopefully leading to citizenship. I'm 20 years old, high school graduate, and although I've been working on and off I'm currently unemployed. I am willing to do pretty much anything within reason though to end up in the UK, it's just where I've decided I want to be. I have visited the UK twice now, my prior reason was a long distance relationship in which I was actually engaged, but the distance became too much for her and in the long run it fell through so marriage really isn't an option for me anymore. Right now I just have a few questions, but I'm also very open to any and all suggestions.

1.) I'm considering entering on the BUNAC program, until I can figure out what else to do. I know that for this I will need to be attending a university. I was also planning on doing my education through online courses though, is it at all possible to go into the BUNAC program in doing this or do I have to attend classes at the university?

2.) I'm entirely not sure about this but I figured I'd throw it out there. I had a great grandparent who was born in Ireland. I was reading about the Irish ancestory visa and I'm not sure if it would be at all possible for me to get one. From what I saw, USA doesn't fit in with this visa, or am I missing something? I'm not really sure about this because it's a stretch, but I was wondering also if I could first go for citizenship in Canada, and then apply for this visa from there?

3.) As a general question; does anyone have any suggestions for someone who can go in pretty much any direction? This includes earning a degree first, working in certain fields, moving elsewhere first, etc. I'm not sure how hard, how long, and how much money it will take to get me to the UK but I intend to do this one way or another. I have the will so there must be a way. I can start school here, if it would be easiest to enter in that way. I'm open to work permit opportunities, but from what I've read that's nearly impossible. So, any ideas?

That's all for now. All help is very much appreciated.

1) I know that to qualify for BUNAC, you must attend a university full-time for at least a semester.  I believe this is organized classroom time, because the school has to certify the BUNAC application that you are fully enrolled.  Don't take my word on this, but I think this excludes online classwork.  You have to physically attend a university to qualify.

2) To get citizenship by heritage, it would have to be a grandparent, so I'm afraid you're out of luck there (even if it was a grandparent that could qualify you to gain visa/citizenship to Ireland, you'd have to do that first and from there you would have to move on to the UK).

3) Work permit would be an extremely long-term plan.  People need to be highly specialised and experienced in their fields to qualify - to have a company willing to go through the hassle and expense to sponser them.  However, if you don't mind planning that long term, go for the "shortage" positions of nursing, social work, teaching, etc.  You might be more likely to find a position, since these places are chronically short on staff.

That said, spend some time in the UK before thinking about something as serious as citizenship.  Go to university & spend a year/semester abroad.  Do BUNAC.  Take a vacation.  Think about attending a British university, if you can afford it.  If you really love it, then come over for your postgrad (Master's, PhD).  You can spend a year after that degree in the country, just working and living.  After that - anything can happen.

I'm not sure how hard, how long, and how much money it will take to get me to the UK but I intend to do this one way or another. I have the will so there must be a way.

That's such a great attitude to have Moving to the UK is definitely doable on your own steam, but it'll most likely take some years of building up some qualifications, etc.  I'll PM you.

Quite frankly, I'm starting from scratch, and I need to know what the easiest route for me could be to find a long term visa hopefully leading to citizenship. I'm 20 years old, high school graduate, and although I've been working on and off I'm currently unemployed. I am willing to do pretty much anything within reason though to end up in the UK, it's just where I've decided I want to be. I have visited the UK twice now, my prior reason was a long distance relationship in which I was actually engaged, but the distance became too much for her and in the long run it fell through so marriage really isn't an option for me anymore. Right now I just have a few questions, but I'm also very open to any and all suggestions.


3.) As a general question; does anyone have any suggestions for someone who can go in pretty much any direction? This includes earning a degree first, working in certain fields, moving elsewhere first, etc. I'm not sure how hard, how long, and how much money it will take to get me to the UK but I intend to do this one way or another. I have the will so there must be a way. I can start school here, if it would be easiest to enter in that way. I'm open to work permit opportunities, but from what I've read that's nearly impossible. So, any ideas?



Sounds like I was a few months ago....

I had always wanted to live in the UK. when I was 9 years old I was kicking and screaming through Heathrow airport because I did not want to leave.... I had been back since and got depressed when I came back to the USA.
I was on a personal study plan to move there and had no idea I would have been married sooner. My Husband is from the UK we had a long distance relationship for just over 2 + years and I was going to apply for a work Visa as a hairdresser which I know is a hard way to go but is still and option I had got several contacts from the UK along the way and as I didnt know how serious my Husband was before about being with me at the time I just went at my own pace and then life falls in front of you....

I Know youll get there if you really believe it in your heart. Neil and I got married in March of this year, I am happier than I remember...

Don't give up and you never know the best way to get there, the least expected happens and then you find yourself sharing your dreams with someone else  .


Sorry that seem a load of crap but its true. Keep going!