Where to begin?

[MelissaCary]

Hey everyone. I'm so happy I came across this site, its pretty great. I'll try to keep this as short as i can. Basically, I'm at a time in my life where I'm not sure what my next move should be. I currently live in Toronto, Canada, where I was born. For as long as i can remember I've wanted to move away from here, my childhood dream being Los Angeles. Of course, i now realize that just packing up and moving isn't as easy as i would have hoped. My dad died when i was 5 and my mom abandoned me, leaving me with my aunt who was a heavy drug user.

Ive had to overcome a lot but i recently graduated from high school.something that i am extremely proud of considering my circumstances. Everyday, i think about things i would want to do living in LA. Its actually helped me to continue to struggle each day. I just turned 19 and I'm working 3 jobs trying to save up enough money to go to college, even though i don't know what ill be studying. I wish i had some resources to help me pay but i have to do it all myself while paying my rent. ugh. Anywayss enough of that. My dream is to move to LA and become an actress.easier said than done. i feel so trapped where i am right now. I just wanna get out of this city and away from some terrible memories in my life. I wanna start fresh and i wanna do it in LA. I'm rambling now I'm sorry.

I want to know where do i start in this process. Its very frustrating because i feel sooo ignorant. Ive read all the pages in this forum and i don't seem any wiser to the process in fact, i feel pretty stupid right now so any help would be great. What are some of my options for starting the process of moving to LA? Where do i go next? should i contact an immigration lawyer or would that just be wasting money that i really don't have?

Again thanks for reading i know its a little much but.i don't know :S thx for any help it is verry much appreciated.

Melissa

[Reba]

Well, there is unfortunately no "aspiring actor" visa to the US. You can't just pack up and head to Hollywood to starve with the rest of them. You have to have some sort of eligibility for a visa, and unfortunately at the moment, you do not.

You could try for a government loan and apply for a student visa to some University in California.

Try these websites for info on student loans and stuff
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/canadian.phtml
http://www.fastweb.com

However, I will say that it would be a lot easier to break into the biz in Canada first, *then* head to Hollywood after you've got a few credits under your belt. If you're dead set on getting out of Toronto, head west to Vancouver. There is a HUGE industry there, and probably open calls all the time for several TV shows and movies. Most of which are "Hollywood" American productions that shoot in Canada because it costs less than Hollywood. (Ahnold hates that).

Best of luck to you, but it ain't easy, not by a long shot. Even accomplished actors find they have a tough time once they've crossed the border.