Emigrating to USA

[Smithy]

I know some people here have done it so I'm after some general advice. (the embassy website is hopeless for this)

Take an example of 25 year old British citizen who has a bachelors degree in physics (might be relevant) and wants to move to USA for full time residence and work.

Initial investigations lead me to believe it's not possible unless you're a relative of someone who already is a citizen. However I know that not to be true as I've witnessed people emigrate without that link. Further investigation lead me to believe that it might be possible providing you have accumulated 5 successive years of legal residence already (which brings the paradox of how to accumulate periods of legal residence if you're not already legally a resident).

What visas should one be researching?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Short answer? Forget it - focus on Canada or Australia instead because you have significantly more chance of getting into either of those (And to be honest, even they are far from easy for permanent residence).

Long answer? There are other ways into the USA that don't involve family - you can invest certain amounts of money in certain areas of the country although the minimum is $500,000.

Another is a job offer from a US company who can demonstrate that there isn't an American citizen who can fulfill your role - if you had longterm history with the company this is far more likely than if you were a fresh applicant.

 

[Smithy]

Is it unheard of to apply as a foreigner to a US company in the hope that they accept to aid in the emigration process? (physics is quite multinational as roles tend to be filled by people of a particular skill set rather than a bias toward the local population pool)

 

[[TW]Fox]

Is it unheard of to apply as a foreigner to a US company in the hope that they accept to aid in the emigration process?

It's not unheard of but put yourself in the companies position.

If they want a 25 year old Physics grad then there are likely to be many in the USA already who will:

a) Also apply
b) Be permanent residents with no visa issues
c) Able to start reasonably soon
d) Are not in risk of arriving, having culture shock and leaving

Why, in the companies position, would you not choose from that pool instead?

If you had particularly rare experience then the chances are higher.

 

[Destination]

Usually they will take grad students by inventing a PhD post, but the wording of the application will be specifically written for the person they want (as in you) very specifically written so no one else can fulfil every single criteria on the application - else their law insists they must employ a US citizen first.

If you are just looking for a standard live and work visa, no chance. You could go there on a business visa, but you'll have to make a Canada or Mexico run every so often to refresh it.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Usually they will take grad students by inventing a PhD post, but the wording of the application will be specifically written for the person they want (as in you) very specifically written so no one else can fulfil every single criteria on the application - else their law insists they must employ a US citizen first.

You would need to be quite exceptional and posses something very few other people have for this to be worth the bother for the employer, though. It's not as if the USA is particularly short of smart Uni grads.

You could go there on a business visa

But you can't take a job on one of those.. so?

 

[McDaniel]

It is REALLY difficult to be honest - it will be easier in Canada though and that is my plan and in some ways is better then the USA anyway

I am going on an IEC Visa to Canada which will allow me to work for 12months, I can apply for a 2nd IEC next year also; having 1 years work experience is good for trying to obtain PR Status in Canada also and if you get a decent enough job on your IEC it will help even more. I am going to talk to an immigration lawyer once I am settled there and in work (I leave for the USA tomorrow to travel before hitting Toronto in July).

I think 5 years PR in Canada allows you to go for citizenship; I think Canadian citizens have an easier time visiting/working in the US also

 

[Clipsey]

Good luck McDaniel! Should be all exciting!!

I came over here on a student visa to begin with (I was lucky in the fact I could still earn money in England), did a lot of back on fourth. Became a PR 4yrs ago or so, and now in the midst of applying for my citizenship (will have dual citizenship). My naturalization exam is on April 29th
It's a lot of paperwork and interviews, just depends how serious you really want it, i.e your commitment to it all.

 

[D.P.]

I know some people here have done it so I'm after some general advice. (the embassy website is hopeless for this)

Take an example of 25 year old British citizen who has a bachelors degree in physics (might be relevant) and wants to move to USA for full time residence and work.

Initial investigations lead me to believe it's not possible unless you're a relative of someone who already is a citizen. However I know that not to be true as I've witnessed people emigrate without that link. Further investigation lead me to believe that it might be possible providing you have accumulated 5 successive years of legal residence already (which brings the paradox of how to accumulate periods of legal residence if you're not already legally a resident).

What visas should one be researching?

It is actually pretty easy to emigrate to the US if you have a Bachelors degree and some work experience. What you are looking for is called an H1B visa, which is petitioned by a company in order to get you into the US for work.

Basically you need to get a job offer form a company willing to sponsor the H1B visa. They will have to sort out all legal work and expenses. You are guaranteed to be paid at least the average rate for the jobs in that local area for that job title e.g. if you are a software engineer with 5 years experience and a BSc getting a job in silicon valley you will get 6 figures like everyone else - you legally cannot be exploited).

What you cannot do is turn up and walk into any work placement and then apply for a visa. you need the job offer to get the visa before you can start working.


I did this at the end of 2011, was pretty painless really. I applied for about a dozen jobs over a few weeks and got a few hits. I booked 3 months in the summer to visit the US and be available for interviews - had a few interviews and got a job offer form my favorite choice. Flew back home and let the lawyers file the paperwork. Short interview at the US embassy was all that was needed.



Downsides to an H1B visa is it is tied to the employer. Quit your job or get fired you re starting again, although you are in a better standing having already worked for a US company. Your spouse and children also don't get a working visa but an H4 visa that allows them to stay in the US. Your spouse would need to get her own job offer and get her own H1B visa in order to work.
Once you are in the US and have the visa then you can start applying for permanent residence (Green Card). Your employer is legally obliged to support this process and will typically pay the legal fees as well. With a green card your spouse and children can work and you are free to chop and change jobs.

 

[Chris1712]

D.P. did you apply for those jobs in the same way you would a UK company? Ie CV spamming? I guess you made a nice cover letter explaining you were specifically looking for work abroad or some such?

 

[D.P.]

Short answer? Forget it - focus on Canada or Australia instead because you have significantly more chance of getting into either of those (And to be honest, even they are far from easy for permanent residence).

Long answer? There are other ways into the USA that don't involve family - you can invest certain amounts of money in certain areas of the country although the minimum is $500,000.

Another is a job offer from a US company who can demonstrate that there isn't an American citizen who can fulfill your role - if you had longterm history with the company this is far more likely than if you were a fresh applicant.

"who can demonstrate that there isn't an American citizen who can fulfill your role"

that is actually a myth, the employer petition doesn't have to prove that no American can do the job, only that they have advertised the position within the US and allowed Americans to apply. Basically the company cannot discriminate against Americans but in general there are easy ways around that. e.g. there are big software firms that only hire Indians, part of the job description will be to speak Hindi because that is the team language and these companies will freely higher Americans citizens who were Indian, but of course get most of their employees straight from India.


If the employer had to prove no American could do the job then it would be impossible. They just have to prove that they hire anyone who is good enough.

 

[[TW]Fox]

You make it sound very easy (We've had this debate before I think ) but what you forget is that you have an exceptional work history (I think you've worked in Switzerland too?) in addition to a bacholers degree. It was likely easy for you because you are the sort of candidate the employer would have had a very hard time finding domestically. It was therefore well worth it for them. Otherwise there is no real incentive for them to go the trouble of going through all the faff of sponsoring etc surely?

A degree and a year or so's work experience that mirrors that of many other graduates isn't going to make it quite as easy as your situation did

 

[D.P.]

D.P. did you apply for those jobs in the same way you would a UK company? Ie CV spamming? I guess you made a nice cover letter explaining you were specifically looking for work abroad or some such?

I applied the same I would an company in any country - but that is not CV spamming. I took my time to find appropriate job offers, researched the companies and the roles, took the time to modify the CV as appropriate and write a specific covering letter. CV spamming is a quick way to get your CV in the bin, something that is tailored towards the job role and company is much more likely to get you on top of the pile. E.g. we had a CV form a guy who's CV stated that he want to work in the gaining industry - so why did he apply to us, why didn't he spend the time editing his CV?


The only thing I did do specifically for the US was Americanize the text - so it wasn't a CV but a Resume, etc. just so it would read more naturally and comfortably.


If you work in technology and are genuinely skilled and smart there is a high chance of getting an H1B visa with some persistence and effort. Other professions are even easier to get (teaching, legal, medical).

 

[glenimp617]

My friend did it

Not sure what Visa he had but his dad applied about 18 years before it was granted. Think his uncle moved out there decades ago, then his dad, then him. Probably not relevant at all to you though

Getting into America is as hard as its ever been, and it was never easy. They have economic troubles the same as we do so it will be almost impossible to get in.

The only thing I can think of is save up and move out there on 'holiday' then look for jobs. If you can find a company willing to sponsor then you've hit the jackpot.

any reason why America? The reason why I ask is because I wanted to do the same thing at 18. Luckily I had family friends out there. Went over to stay with them so got a proper feel for the place, rather than the feel you get on your jolly holiday. It changed my mind and I gave up on the idea.

MUCH prefer it here.

I also know someone who worked in Canada for thirty years and he told me he actually preferred the UK.

Go on some ex-pat forums and talk to them rather than us

 

[D.P.]

You make it sound very easy (We've had this debate before I think ) but what you forget is that you have an exceptional work history (I think you've worked in Switzerland too?) in addition to a bacholers degree. It was likely easy for you because you are the sort of candidate the employer would have had a very hard time finding domestically. It was therefore well worth it for them. Otherwise there is no real incentive for them to go the trouble of going through all the faff of sponsoring etc surely?

A degree and a year or so's work experience that mirrors that of many other graduates isn't going to make it quite as easy as your situation did

Yes we have had this discussion before and I don;t want to make it sound like a walk in the park but you come across as if it is impossible, which it isn't. You need a degree (and preferably in sciences and engineering), but even then 5 years of work experience in the same field is counted as equivalent.


You don't necessarily need any particular skills but you do need to be a good candidate. I didn't have any work experience when I applied, but I did have a PHD which the company looks favorably upon bu was by no means the sole reason I got the job.

There is a large lack of software developers in the US, this is what drives companies to accept foreign applicants. Some companies have higher standards of candies they consider, as soon as they push the bar up slightly then the pool of available graduates and experienced engineers rapidly disappears.
You also have to put the costs into perspective. My visa cost around $8K to sort out but that is at the high end, the fees are around $2-3K all in. A software engineer in the bay area with some years experience will be earning well over 100K, throw in all the expenses such as bonus, health, vision, stock, office space and the annual cost for an engineer is easily around 200-250K (the project I am working on has around 4-5 engineers and we burn 150K a month).

Spending a few K on visa expenses is a drop in the ocean compared to general employee expenses. Any smart company should happily spend a few K to get a candidate that is capable of doing their job to high standards. The companies also simply pay some immigration lawyers to file all the paper work, so there is no time cost to them really.



If you have a degree, some work experience, and you re good at what you do you have a fair chance if you try. If you think it is impossible and don't try you wont get anywhere. Throw your CV at Google, Apple, linkedin, facebbok, IBM, MS, Oracle and see where you get.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I just think your posts end up giving hope to people who, realistically, don't have a chance. I suspect your first step on the road to US Citizenship was not to ask OcUK, for example

For most people, it is as good as impossible. Whether that attitude is defeatest or realistic I guess depends on your point of view. It's certainly more difficult than other similar countries.

Unless, it would seem from my visits, you wish to work in a gas station and not speak English, and then it becomes quite easy

 

[Traffic_Warden]

Canada is ****.

USA IS THE WAY TO GO.

 

[DIABLO]

Canada is ****.

USA IS THE WAY TO GO.

Yeah god forbid i ever visit that **** hole Canada

 

[D.P.]

I just think your posts end up giving hope to people who, realistically, don't have a chance. I suspect your first step on the road to US Citizenship was not to ask OcUK, for example

For most people, it is as good as impossible. Whether that attitude is defeatest or realistic I guess depends on your point of view. It's certainly more difficult than other similar countries.

Unless, it would seem from my visits, you wish to work in a gas station and not speak English, and then it becomes quite easy

I feel like I need o give people hope because there is a fairly straightforward process that opens doors for lots of young educated people when all too often you hear people like you saying it is impossible, give up.

if you have a BSc, a little work experience and you are good at what you do then you have a greater than zero chance. The US issues around 100K H1B visas a year. It is worth a try at being one of those 100K.
All you need to try is to get your CV up to scratch, which should do anyway for applying within the UK. spend some time looking for jobs and apply to those that take your fancy. maybe you don't get anything positive for a year or more, but sending out CVs once a week or 2 is not a big chore. Who know what will pop up? The only expense might come if you pass any per-interviews by skype you might have to pay for a US flight (or might not)

 

[Haircut]

I just think your posts end up giving hope to people who, realistically, don't have a chance. I suspect your first step on the road to US Citizenship was not to ask OcUK, for example

For most people, it is as good as impossible. Whether that attitude is defeatest or realistic I guess depends on your point of view. It's certainly more difficult than other similar countries.

Unless, it would seem from my visits, you wish to work in a gas station and not speak English, and then it becomes quite easy

I know several people myself who have gone to the US via the H1B visa route and am actually going to visit a mate in New York next month who has done exactly that.
Yes, as DP says, you need to be pretty smart, have experience and generally be good at what you do, but I'm sure there are quite a few of those people on OcUK.

Plus, based on my experience of working with software developers in New York, the chance of there not being anyone suitable over there to do the job may be higher than you think