Moving to America (H1B and Green Cards)

aCA

Hey,
I’m currently in third year of a 4 year degree course in Computer Science. I’m really interested in trying to go to America and work when I finish. I have been doing a fair bit of online research on this (visas and jobs and stuff). It seems like my best/only chance (apart from winning a Green Card in that lottery) is getting a company to sponsor me for a H1-B visa.

Just wondering, if there are other people here on the boards who have tried this/are trying. Anyone succeed?

If you get the visa, can you start the process of applying for a green card straight away (if your employer agrees)? how realistic is this? Seems your employer has to sign that he cannot find a US citizen for your job.
Is it kinda the case you need some connection/sympathetic Irish American to help you out?

Really seems like most jobs that you can get sponsored for are in programming, which I would rather avoid. (I’m not asking for much am I?, eh)

Neway, I know there have been similar threads to this a few months ago. But I haven’t seen anything about people succeeding or failing or giving up, so if anyone has any experience/ideas/thoughts or general input, please post

Raskolnikov

Originally posted by aCA
Hey,
I’m currently in third year of a 4 year degree course in Computer Science. I’m really interested in trying to go to America and work when I finish. I have been doing a fair bit of online research on this (visas and jobs and stuff). It seems like my best/only chance (apart from winning a Green Card in that lottery) is getting a company to sponsor me for a H1-B visa.

Just wondering, if there are other people here on the boards who have tried this/are trying. Anyone succeed?

If you get the visa, can you start the process of applying for a green card straight away (if your employer agrees)? how realistic is this? Seems your employer has to sign that he cannot find a US citizen for your job.
Is it kinda the case you need some connection/sympathetic Irish American to help you out?

Really seems like most jobs that you can get sponsored for are in programming, which I would rather avoid. (I’m not asking for much am I?, eh)

Neway, I know there have been similar threads to this a few months ago. But I haven’t seen anything about people succeeding or failing or giving up, so if anyone has any experience/ideas/thoughts or general input, please post

About four years ago or so one of my cousins who had just graduated with a computer science degree got himself a very cosy job with Accenture in the US. The only reason they took him though was because he had a 1H degree, was near the top of his class and was an excellent programmer. Not to mention that, he had two other companies trying to snap him up. On a slightly related note, a friends brother who was looking for third year work experience for his computer science degree in the US had no luck whatsoever despite sending out truck loads of CV's. He was only on a 2.1H in college though and while being (apparently) a solid programmer was nothing special.

US companies seem to be only interested in taking the very best graduates (the 'brain drain' is often at the expense of the country that paid for his education, but that's a story for another day). Don't listen to what other people tell you about grades not being important. Unless you've got relevent experience behind you then it's your degree grade that matters most. Secure a 1H for your third year exams and you can point to that and increase your chances of finding a company to take you on.

casper-

Originally posted by aCA
Hey,
I’m currently in third year of a 4 year degree course in Computer Science. I’m really interested in trying to go to America and work when I finish. I have been doing a fair bit of online research on this (visas and jobs and stuff). It seems like my best/only chance (apart from winning a Green Card in that lottery) is getting a company to sponsor me for a H1-B visa.

Just wondering, if there are other people here on the boards who have tried this/are trying. Anyone succeed?

If you get the visa, can you start the process of applying for a green card straight away (if your employer agrees)? how realistic is this? Seems your employer has to sign that he cannot find a US citizen for your job.
Is it kinda the case you need some connection/sympathetic Irish American to help you out?

Really seems like most jobs that you can get sponsored for are in programming, which I would rather avoid. (I’m not asking for much am I?, eh)

Neway, I know there have been similar threads to this a few months ago. But I haven’t seen anything about people succeeding or failing or giving up, so if anyone has any experience/ideas/thoughts or general input, please post

Allright, my two cents here

- _If_ you get an H1-B visa (and believe me the situation is not nearly as simple as four years ago), then yes your employer may immediately start your petition for a green card which then can take 2-3 years.

- This is where it gets tricky; I was actually working in a company in Florida on a TN-1 for six months and there were other people there from Canada who had gone down the previous year (under different management) and were well on their way to getting a green card. Company took a U-turn, and all of a sudden they had three weeks to find a way to move all their belongings back home. Veeerrry tricky situation to be in.

- Getting the H-1B itself depends on how badly the company wants you. If you really stand out, they (well their lawyers) can come up with the appropriate "documentation".

- Yes, your best bet is to find a sympathetic Irish-American company

Don't get me wrong ... it's all well and possible; I just wouldn't get your hopes up. I've had friends from Canada who have been working in the US ever since they graduated with a Computer Science degree, and no company has ever offered to go through the H1-B/Green Card route. It's a big commitment for any small- to mid- sized company.

damnyanks

Sorry to hijack

Just curious. The sister has an American passport (Was born there). Does this make me eligable for an American passport ? Or is it irrelevant ?

aCA

Right, thanks so far, its the kinda input I was looking for. Hmmm, it doesnt seem pretty tough alright, especially as I dont have top of the class marks and would really rather not do a programming job.

Just curious. The sister has an American passport (Was born there). Does this make me eligable for an American passport ? Or is it irrelevant ?

Yes, it makes you eligable, but the waiting time is very long. I think it may be over ten years. Might aswell apply anyway though and set the ball rolling. There are details here.

http://www.familygreencards.com/eligibility.html
http://www.familygreencards.com/time.html

Right, anyone else have 2 cents to add? any ideas about who to apply to? Anyone got a h1b visa?

Raskolnikov

Originally posted by aCA
Right, thanks so far, its the kinda input I was looking for. Hmmm, it doesnt seem pretty tough alright, especially as I dont have top of the class marks and would really rather not do a programming job.

If you're desperate to get into the US then apply for the Green card lottery, it's a long shot, there's a good site here about a chap who's been through it all http://anthonyemigration.net/ Prehaps you could consider Canada or Australia as an alternative.

IrishMike

I finished up college in may
went off 2 US to get me a job
have tons of contacts n family over there
got a job inside 6 weeks (this was through knowing the
right people and **** all 2 do with how
smart/experienced/educated i was)

company agreed to sponser me and set the ball rolling
that was mid-june
so i went all round the us had a killer 3 month holiday
etc, no sign of the visa
came home end of august
they said another 4 weeks
by the end of february i got sick of it and so did the company
BCIS in the states hadnt even begun 2 process at that stage
Our systems n red tape here are bad but that country is
one hell of a joke
Im still back in Ireland visa less
just b warned unless u have an outstanding degree
or have good contacts u are goin 2 find it almost
impossible 2 get a visa
sorry 4 the bad angle but thats just my story