can someone pls read this and help
 

hey, my name is Ivan

my family has an O1 visa and I'm not illegal but i have been here for 7 years, i have graduated high school AND elementary school. i write speak and think in english and now I am almost 20 years old and i am not even allowed to have a driver's license... (no SSN or chance to apply for college or work....)

i was very young when i officially moved here and didnt choose to live somewhere where i virtually have no rights. unfortunately everything and everyone i know is here and all i want to do is just be a NORMAL person like everyone else so i can do something with my life.

i realize the dream act is only for illegal immigrants but i honestly feel just as illegal as anyone else. i cant go to school, i cant work, i cant drive and i spend most of my time at home doing nothing as my friends are finishing up their freshmen year in college. my life is basically on pause.

what do i do? this visa is preventing me from having a normal life. please help.

Re: can someone pls read this and help
 

So basically you're here on O-3 visa. You're only legal here until the day before your 21st birthday, then you will be out of status and become undocumented, unless you leave the country.

Now why aren't you in college? You can change your status into F-1 (international student), and if you take a STEM major you'll be given 19 months of OPT to work, and hopefully find a company willing to sponsor an H-1B visa, which can eventually lead to LPR.

F-1 students are also allowed to work on campus. If you get a campus job, you'll be able to get SSN then driver's license.

Better yet, stay in college and take a STEM master's degree. Hopefully by that time the Comprehensive Immigration Reform has passed, and when you get a job you'll be able to file for green card at the same time.