I have a friend in Belarus who wants to immigrate to the US and is asking me how to do it...?

there really isn't anyway you can do much for him directly, however, most immigrants go to the US based on petitions filed by close relatives who are themselves either US citizens or green card holders. there are also employment based immigrant petitions filed by sponsoring employers and there's the Diversity Visa Lottery. check out http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/type... for lots of information on the various types of immigrant visas.

Pick a visa

There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:

(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.

(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience. (H visas)

(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.(L visas)

(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries. The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $350k would be a nearer minimum (E-2 visas)

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt. (EB-5 visas)

(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years?

(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation

(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.

The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime

Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this (www.wes.org) ..

But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent ©

From Belarus it should be easy as it is a country without freedom.

To become successful refuge, one must suffer in their own country from political, religious, expression and movement freedom and no BS about it mate. It must be the real McCoy as they have many ways nowadays to find our if your persecution was real or not. The ones who just make their up stories are the potential losers of-course.

But if he is real, he should have no problems to gain the refuge status with the UN blue passport.

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Look at the state department website. It's almost impossible unless you marry an American. Of course if you just walk in, no one deports you.

He should talk to the US Embassy in Minsk. I am sure they would be happy to talk to him and tell him the process.