My American Dream 🇺🇸

Since I was a little boy in elementary/primary school in the south west of England my dream has always been to move to the United States of America. Everything in America seemed more exciting to me. For someone who's passionately driven to work hard and explore every opportunity that's thrown my way. Where better to start than "The land of opportunity".

When I discovered the Lions Den and Mixed Martial Arts in 2009 at the age of 15 I had no idea I would fall in love with the sport and that it would be the catalyst and vehicle to bring my dream into fruition. MMA has brought me very small financial gain throughout my career. However by following my passion in the sport I have used Martial Arts as a vehicle of opportunity to drive me to the destination I've always had firmly set in my mind.

After tallying up a mixed professional MMA record of some wins and some losses I have always prided myself on facing tough opposition on the highest platform available to me such as BAMMA (now Bellator) and Cagewarriors. Competition on this level is the highest there is with these promotions frequently feeding fighters into the UFC. So I needed to mix up my training and get different looks. This is when me and my Coach Dave Matthews sat down and decided to send me off to fight camp and give me my first taste of the USA.

We decided Urijah Fabers Team Alpha Male was the best fit for me so we booked the flights and contacted their "Train with TAM" programme and I was set for a month in the USA. Flying internationally 5000 miles across the planet for my first time at 20 years old was nerve racking but I knew this was the step I needed to make for my career and ultimately to better my life.

The first thing I loved about landing in Sacramento in 2014 was the weather it was constantly hot and made training much more enjoyable opposed to the bitter English mornings. The second thing I noticed was the food was so diverse as California is melting pot different cultures and there is vast varieties of delicious foods to choose from but before I knew all my options I went for the California classic (Animal Style In N Out Burger). When I arrived at Ultimate Fitness the training was world class in all aspects of martial arts with plenty of high level training partners all in my weight class and all following the same passion. At this point I realized fast that California is where I want to spend the rest of my life. My dream was affirmed. Now it's time to put a plan to action.

Over the next few years I would make several trips to California and Team Alpha Male living frugally, working very hard and saving every penny in the uk. Stretching all my savings over 90 day trip in America. Back then the exchange rate was definitely more kind to me. I soon realized 90 days wasnt enough and I needed to take action. So I applied for a longer visa at the United States Embassy. I went to my visa interview ill prepared with insufficient documents to satisfy the woman taking my interview and I was swiftly denied a visa and subsequently denied all access to the USA. My heart sank as I teared up outside the embassy in London thinking I have let my dream slip through my fingers. At this point I could give up and accept my fate or find a way.

A few months after my visa denial my experience in MMA led me down a different path 4000 miles in the opposite direction in the Gulf of Oman where I would be selected to teach their Special Task force police self defence and close combat. This contract would last two years and allow me to save up enough financially to persue the immigration process in the USA. The unthinkable happened the day I flew home and my fiancée into the UK the whole nation was forced into lockdown due to the Covid Pandemic. We were scheduled to marry on May 16th so we could finally start our married life together in the USA but life threw yet another spanner in the works and cancelled the wedding. We did not give up and persevered through the harsh lockdown regulations getting a real preview for married life. The night of July 3rd we got a call asking if we wanted to get married the following day ironically on Independence Day for the United States of America (July 4th). Maybe it was meant to be after all? We jumped at the opportunity of a lockdown wedding of only 4 guests and fish and chips on the beach before immigration proceedings began. Thousands of dollars, plenty of doubt and many months later I finally got confirmation of my green card. On April 7th 2022 my American Dream truly began as I toached down in California once again amd have been here loving every day of the journey since.

Coming up on my two year anniversary as United States permanent resident and experiencing the best 2 years of my life I just want to encourage anyone following their dream to remain firm and no matter how difficult it seems to achieve there is always a way. I'm excited to explore what opportunities America has to offer me over the coming years and I'm grateful for all the friends I've gained and support I've received.

If anyone is having difficulty with any aspect of the visa process I'm always here for reassurance and guidance because I know how hard it can be. And I wouldn't of got through it without a solid support system of family and friends.