I was considering moving to New York when I'm a bit older, and starting a real career there. I've never been there before but I've only ever heard good things about it and it seems surprisingly affordable.

I just want a fresh start in life and living somewhere like New York for a couple of years would be an amazing experience for me. I'm very keen to travel as much as possible in life - it's very unlikely I'd get homesick, I'm all for embracing the moment and facing changes in life.

However, I live in the UK at the moment, and I've heard you've had to get a visa to live there (or anywhere in America, in fact). I've also heard that New York are really edgy about immigration and won't let you live there unless you have a very good reason to, and if they need you.

Is this true? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me as I know quite a few people who lived in New York briefly and rather recently, and had no real problems moving there without a job or anything.

Anyway, I'm rather clueless about this and I've been trying to do my research, but all the visa talk doesn't make a lot of sense to me currently. It would be great if any helpful DDNer could explain things a bit more clearly for me!

I'm nearly 17 at the moment, but I wouldn't move there until I'm past 22 (getting out of university and all that). At this point, I'm planning to move there with my friend Becca (DDN's BooPops) who's hoping to be a professional dancer/performer on Broadway. I'd probably follow up a career involving writing of any sort.

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!