Working and Living in California -Sponsorship...

Bass Cadet

Hello all...

Okay, I know the chances are very, very slim and I know companies only sponsor people in sectors that can't be filled by a legal American who can do the job aswell or better than you but I'd appreciate any help at all on trying to find a company to sponsor me for a visa to work in California. In other words, where do I start? Are there recruitment companies who offer a service to find you companies say in the Bay area who may be willing to employ people from abroad and sponsor them for a working visa?

I have friends working in San Fran who got sorted straight out of college in an interview, set up by the college here in Ireland so despite their help, I'm still left a little in the dark about it all.

i have about 6 years experience in a highly specialised road engineering consultancy and would be looking to try to get work in a similar sector. Failing that, I'll be trying to source sponsorship with the company my 2 mates are working for (more general construction based). Anyway, any help on links and/or advice is very much appreciated.

Feelgood

Hey Bass,

Have you got a degree?. There a a number of ways that you can get to the states though I don't know about San Fran in particular.

The most obvious one is the annual DV lottery where 55k people are randomly selected to get green cards. Happens in December each year and is free to enter!. Know a good few people living in the states now via the DV lottery.

Second thing is called the Walsh visa, you can live in the states for up to 24 months if you are from a bordering county in Ireland, that is a county that borders northern Ireland.

You can also just apply to the American embassy for a visa, but it would greatly help if you had a degree behind you. People don't actually know about this but there are plenty of cases where some people just wrote to the US embassy, told them they were pi$$ed off living in Ireland and wanted to work in the US for a couple of years and got temporary work visas. Though again you really need a degree.

You can try to get a company to sponsor your visa, though after Sept 11th this route has become virtually impossible, unless of course you know the CEO or MD of a company in the US?.

You could get a job with Google?. They will allow you to work in any Google HQ around the world (depending on the position), but one of the HQ's is in San Fran.

If you heart is really set on it then just go and don't worry about the Visa, you only live once. There are a million and one Irish over there without visa's. Have about 3 mates living in San Fran at the moment that are making a killing (chippies, driving diggers) and they have been there for about 7 years now. I say just go for it...

Black Swan

Have you seen this one, just posted yesterday (22 April 2008)? Link.

Bass Cadet

Thanks for that info Feelgood. I have an Engineering Degree from NUI Galway and about 6 years experience since I qualified. I didn't know that about just applying to the US Embassy. I'll definately give that a go. All they can say is no or ignore me I suppose! Have you got any more information about that? As in, what people said in an application letter, any additional info they supplied, etc?

I have fiends in San Fran alright who are working as chippy, one as a painter and one working for an engineering company (legally) who I'm hoping can help me out. I know that one of the guys could sort me for a labouring job (if I can't get a visa) but I'm gonna try to exhaust all possibilities before that. If its possible at all I want to work legally and come and go without the risk of not getting in again. Failing that I suppose I could just come home and go back every 3 months?! bit mad I know.

I was looking at the DV lottery alright but it looks like they've closed applications now for 2009.

Your final bit of advice is very true...you do only live once! I have a decent job here but feck it, there are a whole host of reasons I want to live and work in San Fran for at least a couple of years and the best things worth having in life never come easy!...cheers!

Feelgood wrote: »

Hey Bass,

Have you got a degree?. There a a number of ways that you can get to the states though I don't know about San Fran in particular.

The most obvious one is the annual DV lottery where 55k people are randomly selected to get green cards. Happens in December each year and is free to enter!. Know a good few people living in the states now via the DV lottery.

Second thing is called the Walsh visa, you can live in the states for up to 24 months if you are from a bordering county in Ireland, that is a county that borders northern Ireland.

You can also just apply to the American embassy for a visa, but it would greatly help if you had a degree behind you. People don't actually know about this but there are plenty of cases where some people just wrote to the US embassy, told them they were pi$$ed off living in Ireland and wanted to work in the US for a couple of years and got temporary work visas. Though again you really need a degree.

You can try to get a company to sponsor your visa, though after Sept 11th this route has become virtually impossible, unless of course you know the CEO or MD of a company in the US?.

You could get a job with Google?. They will allow you to work in any Google HQ around the world (depending on the position), but one of the HQ's is in San Fran.

If you heart is really set on it then just go and don't worry about the Visa, you only live once. There are a million and one Irish over there without visa's. Have about 3 mates living in San Fran at the moment that are making a killing (chippies, driving diggers) and they have been there for about 7 years now. I say just go for it...

Bass Cadet

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Have you seen this one, just posted yesterday (22 April 2008)? Link.

cheers for that! I'll check it out. They probably don't want anything to do with having to sponsor someone but its a start! Job description seems to tick the right boxes anyway. Thanks