I really wanna go to America, but I'm only 17. Can I?

No. Not independently.

You could stay with relatives and possibly with family friends who would guarantee you.

You can live here as a student in university because many American begin university at that age, but you would have to be admitted to study and have the means to pay.

You might be admitted as an au pair, exchanging child care for language study. I am not sure there is any other work you can legally do.

You could certainly come as an exchange student if you are in high school or its equivalent and can find a sponsor like the American Field Service or Rotary. Other organizations may have exchange programs (perhaps Goethe Institute or Alliance Francaise) but I know people who have done AFS and Rotary exchanges.

In the past, there have been programs for foreign nationals to join the US military, but they were only for people 18 and older. Contact the US Embassy in your country for the current status.

The main thing to do now is make sure you keep a clean legal record in your own country. Drug arrests in particular, even as a minor, will make it difficult for you to travel here, much less stay.

Can you come on a student exchange program? Or apply for a college here?

I don't think anybody under 18 can just go to the US - if for a short visit, can you get a room in a hotel? If for long - can you rent an apartment? Probably not.

Who will support you financially? Will your parents pay for your trip? If you plan to work, you will need a permission to work.

You don't want to post too much information about yourself on the Internet, so maybe there is a US embassy or consulate near you - this would be a better place to start.

Um - no one can just come to the US to live - no matter what their age. To do so you would have to go through a lengthy process of approval - differint depending on your nationality - or else be an illegal immigratn subject to deportation when found.

And no - at 17 - I don;t believe you can come at all except with family or for school. (Not sure how emanicpation works n other counries - if yuo are emancipated at home you might be able to come as a tourist - but only for a verylimited time),

<if you come to America be able to speak fluent English and not go onto the welfare system and expect everything to be handed to you>

What a horrible and totally unhelpful post. Who said anything like that? Sheez.

For simon, No I don't think you can move here as a minor. But even for adults you can't just up & move to a new country. For example I couldn't just decide I wanted to go live in Europe permanently. There are many legal requirements and hoops to jump thru. It's easiest if you have an employer at the other end who is guaranteeing you paid work.

There are some situations in which a 17 year old could VISIT the US for a specific period of time. "Living" in the US is quite a different situation altogether.

It is incumbent on OP to do the research him/herself.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html

I would refer him/her to the J visa type to investigate.

Welcome your "pioneer" spirit - and now - find a way to get here.

I think that coming here for university is probably the easiest way to get to the US to live. You'll be here on a student visa, so that will cover you while you are in school. There are work restrictions at first, but you can get those lifted after some time. When you finish school, there are other options - if you study a field that is in demand, then you might be able to get an employer to hire you and sponsor you with a work visa.

In the US if a child under age 18 but is an emancipated minor then they have full contractual capacity. Once declared to be emancipated, minors have the same rights, privileges, and duties in society as adults. Although the specific rules vary among the states, emancipated minors can typically do the following:

•Enter into contracts and leases
•Be a party to a law suit (either as a plaintiff or a defendant) in their own name
•Buy or sell real estate or other property
•Write a valid will
•Inherit property
•Enroll in school
•Get married
•Agree to various types of medical treatment
Emancipated minors can also vote and obtain a driver's license, but only if they are of sufficient age to do so.

Why do you want to come to the US to live?

Suzie: That law refers to emancipated minors who are already U.S. citizens (it refers to the emancipation of under 18's who are citizens of the U.S. from their parents and/or legal guardians). It does not provide for the rights of 17 year old foreign visitors.

Anyone know what other countries actually have citizens designated as 'minors'? I'm sure there are more than a few but I was curious which ones provide for minors' rights and protection.

Is the OP seeing asylum? That's a different kettle of fish entirely, but I can't offer any help at all in that case. That would be the U.S. State Dept. and that's not me.

That's seeKing, not seeing, asylum.

Obviously if the OP is seeking asylum that is a different issue. But the original post didn't sound like that - it wasn;t I have to get away from here it was I really want to go to the US.

And yes, you can be admitted to college at 17 (if you qualify and can pay - many kids start college at 17 and even quite a few at 16) on a student visa. But not sure if you will be allowed to leave your own country without parental consent if legally a minor there.

We may never know, she hasn't come back.

I'm surprised any one would waste their time trying to seriously respond to a post like this.