A fresh start in Alabama thanks to the Green Card Lottery!

One of our Green Card Lottery winners has made a name for himself in the Southern US under the pseudonym "Ex-Ösi." The USA fan from the Danube region of the Alpine republic entered the Green Card Lottery in 2006 just for fun and won immediately. In this interview, he tells us about the highs and lows of his immigration.

Should I immigrate or not? "Ex-Ösi" needed some time to think about it before he decided to apply for a Green Card and move to the Southern states of the USA.

Dear "Ex-Ösi", do you remember the feeling when you received your winning notification?

Yes! I was stunned to be a winner on my first try with The American Dream. It was overwhelming and exciting, but also scary. I was suddenly faced with a decision: should I leap into the unknown? I was 20 years old at the time and had just finished school. I had planned to study economics at Johannes Kepler University in Linz, but since it's best to immigrate as soon as possible so your Green Card does not expire, I quickly changed my plans.

What had you tried before to achieve your American dream?

Nothing. I was actually brought up with an anti-American attitude. Friends, relatives, and teachers always emphasized that we should never strive for "American conditions" in Austria and portrayed the USA as quite extreme.

Fortunately, I later had the opportunity to do an unpaid summer job for six weeks at a company in Atlanta, and everything was completely different than I expected. The people were incredibly friendly, the pace of life was more relaxed, the weather was great, and despite the cultural differences, I realized that even in the US, people put their pants on one leg at a time.

The people were nothing like the negative stereotype I had been introduced to. After this wonderful stay in the USA, I could imagine living there for a while, but there was no intention of actually immigrating — I had completely different plans.

At home, however, I created a little piece of America for myself: my room had American-style decorations, I had bought an American car (a 20-year-old Buick), and I went to the American car meeting south of Vienna once a month. So I had already internalized some American way of life. The fact that I entered the Green Card Lottery at the age of 19 was more of a joke, and of course, I didn't expect to win.

How did the time between winning and moving to the USA go?

Once I had decided to make the move to the United States, the biggest hurdles were the many formalities. For example, I needed several vaccinations, which were mandatory in the USA but not common in Austria.

The US government also required proof of financial security, a medical examination, school certificates, and a police clearance certificate. All of this can be overwhelming if you are not used to such processes.

I had to sell a lot of my personal belongings to raise some money. However, many of the things that you've accumulated throughout your life you can't take with you anyway. Saying goodbye to the familiar and stepping into the unknown was quite emotional.

My parents' initial lack of understanding didn't make it any easier. They were unable to comprehend the reason behind my desire to depart from everything. It seemed to them that I was running away from something. But in fact, I just wanted to live in the US for a few years "on trial" and see how things went. When you're 20, it's a lot easier to go on an adventure like that – unattached and flexible. As soon as you have children, for example, it becomes more difficult.

Despite their concerns, I received an enormous amount of support from my parents — also financially, as apart from some savings from my youth, I didn't have sufficient funds to set up an apartment in the USA, for example. In addition, my relatives in New York offered their contact information, as you need an address in the USA to receive the physical Green Card.

Do you remember your interview at the US embassy?

Yes, I was super nervous, but the whole interview process was very professional. Everyone was very friendly, and it was the first time I had met so many people from different backgrounds who also wanted to immigrate to the US. It was at that moment that I realized what a privilege a Green Card actually is!

The Southern state of Alabama is the center of "Ex-Ösi's" life. He lives here with his wife and children.

You chose the Southern state of Alabama as your place to live in the USA! What is it like to live there?

Alabama has six months of summer a year! If you like sunshine and still want a nice green environment, you're in good hands here, although the hot and humid climate will take some getting used to. Winters are short and temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

Although income tax is levied here at the state level, which is not the case in all US states, other things such as homeownership are taxed less.

Alabama's business-friendly environment has also attracted many international companies that offer high-paying jobs compared to the local cost of living. These factors also influenced my decision to come here.

And of course, there are the oddities: some counties prohibit the sale of alcohol, while others allow it (except on Sunday mornings). But gun ownership is allowed and practiced everywhere.

What was it like for you to be a new permanent resident in the USA?

My father accompanied me for the first two weeks and then flew back to Austria. Being on my own for the first time at the age of 20 was quite a shock. I suddenly had to do everything on my own, from looking for a job to shopping.

I finally appreciated everything my parents had done for me up to that point. In addition, the language barrier was a challenge. The English I had learned at school was of course very different from "everyday English" in America.

Despite everything, I had to quickly set up an apartment and take care of an American driver's license, a bank account, and a car including registration. And although I had received a lot of advice from various people, most of it was not very helpful.

Car lover "Ex-Ösi" drives an American cult car: the Chevrolet Suburban!

Were there any particularly intense experiences?

I had moved to another city for a job and had just settled in well when the recession hit in 2007/2008. That's when the downsizing began. Although I had done a good job, my US employer informed me that they no longer needed me.

The job search that followed was frustrating: I applied for 200 positions and didn't get a single response. During this time, I was on the verge of giving up and returning to Austria. I kept myself afloat with part-time jobs and support from my parents. In 2008, I had the opportunity to work for a German company in Alabama. I still work there today, although the ownership has changed. I have now completed my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and I am studying for my MBA.

Most importantly, during those tumultuous early days, I met my wonderful wife, who has helped me through everything and with whom I now have a nine-year-old son and six-year-old twins. As part of my "American Dream", we fulfilled the dream of owning a home in Alabama, which was quite a challenge in addition to work, studies, and family life.

Milestone: "Ex-Ösi" has achieved homeownership in Alabama as part of his "American Dream".

In the meantime, I have taken American citizenship and given up my Austrian citizenship. That's a step that many of my colleagues don't take, even though they've been here since the 1990s. They prefer to have their Green Cards extended again and again.

For me, however, accepting citizenship is the decisive step. After 15 years in the USA, you should know whether you want to continue on the path you've taken or turn back.

Been there, done that: "Ex-Ösi" has created a relaxed life for himself and his family.

What do you like most about your new life? Do you see any major differences between Austria and America?

The best thing about my life in America is the economic opportunities, which are much better than in Austria. Many things are easier here, whether it's buying and selling houses, studying, starting a career, filing a tax return, or equalizing taxes.

It starts with the little things. For example, in Alabama you don't have to have your car inspected every year — there's not even an emissions test. That's not what we're used to in Europe.

The tax burden is also much lower (you have more net from your gross salary) and there are many tax allowances and write-offs, especially for "middle-class Americans", which have provided relief for families with children, especially since the 2017 tax reform. All of this allows for a standard of living that would not be possible in Europe.

There are also more opportunities for personal development. Studying while working is not a problem and is much more flexible in the US than in Austria, where you can study almost "for free" but there are restrictions on the admission process.

Many employers (even some fast food restaurants) now have programs as part of their benefits that provide financial support to employees to enable them to study. There are also big differences between universities in terms of cost. Smaller local/public universities are easily affordable.

The biggest difference, however, is in the mentality of the people: there is a strong emphasis on personal responsibility, as opposed to delegating responsibility to the state, as is often the case in Austria. This means that you have to take risks, but it also means a lot more freedom and opportunity.

A good example of this is pension provision. Of course, Germany and Austria also have approaches to private retirement savings, but the US offers far more flexible and tax-advantaged options. Here, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow you to set aside money monthly or annually and invest it according to your preferences and risk tolerance.

401(k) plans are another popular option. Both the employer and the employee make contributions, and within this retirement savings plan, you can choose funds according to your personal risk tolerance. Thanks to legislation such as auto-enrollment for new employees, it is easier than ever to join these plans. You can also decide whether the tax burden is immediate (Roth option) or deferred, allowing for flexible life planning and long-term savings. I have not seen such a flexible system in any other country.

Health insurance and healthcare costs are also frequently discussed topics. It is important to know that all hospitals in the US are required to provide life-saving care regardless of insurance status. For the indigent and poor, "Medicaid" covers the costs, and retirees are covered by "Medicare." Since the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," there are also government-subsidized health insurance policies, ranging from very cheap to subsidized premiums for high incomes.

However, most Americans are insured through their employers. So while the issue is often portrayed as a pressing problem, it is less dramatic on a day-to-day basis. In almost 20 years in the US, I have never met anyone who did not have some form of health insurance.

Finally, the USA is a very large country with an incredible variety of landscapes and climates. You can settle where you like — there is something for everyone. Of course, basic principles like gravity and spending less than you earn still apply.

Things are much more relaxed in Alabama than in Austria. However, there is also more personal responsibility.

How has living in the USA changed you?

My personal growth developed along with my responsibilities. The more responsibility I took on, the stronger I became mentally. This happens automatically, especially when you have responsibility for others, such as in my marriage or as a father of three children and a disabled stepdaughter.

Over time, I have learned to be more relaxed about many things than I was 20 years ago. Especially what others think about me or the country I live in and am a citizen of. Many people who feel strongly about America have never been here, or have only visited briefly.

Looking back, would you do anything differently?

Looking back, I could have made a lot of things about my immigration easier. For example, I could have owned less furniture from the beginning to make moving easier, which naturally happens more often in the US.

I also learned some important lessons while immigrating, because although I had read twenty books before coming to the US, it wasn't enough. Even after a year of intensive research, it is almost impossible to fully grasp the reality on the ground and the actual economic opportunities (or deficits). Therefore, I would recommend everyone to do their homework and live frugally in the beginning. Second-hand furniture and minimalist furnishings will suffice for the time being.

By the way: Contrary to the popular belief that you need to get into debt quickly and have a high credit score after moving to the USA, it is possible without debt. The goal should be to build assets and become financially independent. It is better to earn interest than to pay it.

What advice would you give to others who dream of a Green Card?

It is not impossible to start a new life in the USA without a Green Card. If you are lucky, you can apply for an adjustment of status, which can turn a temporary visa into a Green Card.

So the Green Card is the best option, but not the only one. Where there's a will, there's a way!