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Working in the U.S. - quick question lads

  • 08-08-2010 10:10AM
    #1
    Comordha
    Closed Accounts Posts: 562 ✭✭✭Comordha


    If I applied for a job and was chosen can the employer sponsor me to work over in the U.S.?


Comments

  • #2
    Magenta
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭Magenta


    If it was that simple we'd all have done it. Google USA immigration, it is a complicated process.


  • #3
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,732 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    Magenta wrote: »
    If it was that simple we'd all have done it. Google USA immigration, it is a complicated process.

    Seriously, who would want to go to a country with:

    - Poor health care system
    - Poor pension & retirement support
    - Poor labor laws
    - Hire & Fire mentality
    - Crazy working hours
    - No culture
    - .....

    I always enjoy my visits to the States, but nothing would convince me to move there! Don't get me wrong, I like Americans and most the time I actually work for American companies, but the quality of live there pales in comparison to Europe.

    Take the time to learn a foreign language and seek opportunities in Europe. There are still plenty of opportunities for someone with a good education and a basic knowledge of the local language.

    Good luck with that,

    Jim


  • #4
    tenchi-fan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,339 ✭✭✭tenchi-fan


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Seriously, who would want to go to a country with:

    - Poor health care system
    - Poor pension & retirement support
    - Poor labor laws
    - Hire & Fire mentality
    - Crazy working hours
    - No culture
    - .....

    Irish workers have to pay for private healthcare in addition to high tax to support the health care system!
    Our pension age is going up to 67 and a lot of people are currently not paying into a private pension.
    The recession basically encouraged employers to fire as many people as possible, as well as give paycuts.
    And do you really think Irish culture is that brilliant?? Young people getting pissed every weekend.

    If you are intelligent, educated and skilled I'd bet there are better opportunities in America than over here.


  • #5
    Comordha
    Closed Accounts Posts: 562 ✭✭✭Comordha


    Please answer my question. I don't want any opinions on healthcare, taxes etc. I can make those choices myself. The question is - If I apply for a job in Chicago which suits what I am doing and have a good advantage for the job, can the employer sponsor me to go over, especially if there are no other strong candidates locally for the job. I don't see how it is that complex really.
    Thanks, Ciaran


  • #6
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,474 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    Unless they can prove that there is no one in the whole of US who can do the job (this includes advertisement in suitable nation wide magazines etc.) no, they can not. Also keep in mind most companies do not care to sponsor you even if you'd meet the above requirements since it is far to much hassle to bother; hence ask them but expect a no.


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  • #7
    monosharp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,981 ✭✭✭monosharp


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Seriously, who would want to go to a country with:

    - Poor health care system
    - Poor pension & retirement support
    - Poor labor laws
    - Hire & Fire mentality
    - Crazy working hours
    - No culture
    - .....

    No culture is the big one for me. I honestly don't understand why people would go there, especially for travelling. The biggest part of why I want to go abroad and stay abroad is experiencing new cultures, new food, a different language, history etc.

    What can I actually experience in the US that I can't experience in Ireland or the UK ? Bigger portions at McDonalds ? A society so supposedly integrated but the most racist in the world at the same time ? A society so supposedly secular but home to millions of fundamentalist lunatics ?

    Saying that I've little interest in going to Oz, NZ, Canada etc for similar reasons. The culture, language and food is so similar to home that I don't particular see what there is to experience. Sunshine and hot women aside.

    As for living there, yeah all the above. Except the US is hardly alone in those respects. A lot of Asia is worse regarding working hours and the fire and hire mentality. But just about anywhere else is better then the US for healthcare yes.
    I always enjoy my visits to the States, but nothing would convince me to move there! Don't get me wrong, I like Americans and most the time I actually work for American companies, but the quality of live there pales in comparison to Europe.

    +1 a lot of people don't seem to know that.


  • #8
    EI111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭EI111


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    - Poor health care system
    - Poor pension & retirement support
    - Poor labor laws
    - Hire & Fire mentality
    - Crazy working hours
    - No culture
    - .....

    Anyone who is willing to actually work hard, earn their money and save...
    As for no culture you must be joking


  • #9
    Comordha
    Closed Accounts Posts: 562 ✭✭✭Comordha


    Thanks Nody.


  • #10
    fds
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 ✭fds


    The quick answer to your question is "Yes". Your employer can sponsor you to work there.

    The long answer however is that unless you do something very highly skilled and are educated to at least MA level in that field or have exceptional experience the process will be long, arduous and possibly pointless.

    I worked in Chicago as part of the J1 trainee/internship programme for 2 years (which by the way is pretty easy peasy to get onto and is very quick, if you have graduated recently you should consider it).

    In the place where I worked there were a few Polish guys who were being sponsored by my employer to get their work permits. The whole process took 7 years.

    They were lucky enough that they were able to live and work there while the application was going on, but the rules have since been tightened up so much that if you were to go there and attempt to change your visa status you would automatically be told to leave.

    Also while they were able to live and work there for those 7 years, they weren't allowed to leave the country with their application pending. One of them missed his grandfather's funeral because of it.

    We worked in a highly skilled field, all of the project managers were either English of Irish or Continental European because there is no higher education offered in the states in my field, so these guys would have been in a pretty good position to qualify and it still took 7 years.


  • #11
    Magenta
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭Magenta


    Comordha wrote: »
    Please answer my question. I don't want any opinions on healthcare, taxes etc. I can make those choices myself.

    I did answer your question, but you ignored it.
    To continue answering your question would involve Google searching, which I am sure you are able to do yourself.

    If not:

    http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=usa+immigration


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  • #12
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,732 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    First of all let me point out that I was suggesting that people consider mainland Europe when considering where to seek opportunity, not just stay in Ireland!
    tenchi-fan wrote: »
    Irish workers have to pay for private healthcare in addition to high tax to support the health care system!

    You have to pay for health care in all countries, either via taxes or private insurance, but as the Americans say, it is about the "Bang for the Buck". On average Americans top the league when it comes to cost, but fall well behind when it comes to measuring the services provided.
    tenchi-fan wrote: »
    Our pension age is going up to 67 and a lot of people are currently not paying into a private pension.

    The age limit is going up everywhere, but the point is that saving levels in Europe are much higher, and companies are required to make equal contributions to pension funds, where in the use they can get away zero.
    tenchi-fan wrote: »
    The recession basically encouraged employers to fire as many people as possible, as well as give paycuts..

    The recession has been hard everywhere, but in mainland Europe the majority of people are employed by medium sized companies that are family owned with strong connections to the local community and as a result layoffs were low although short time and pay cuts did happen. In fact most of the people who lost their jobs around here worked for the large multinationals.
    tenchi-fan wrote: »
    And do you really think Irish culture is that brilliant?? Young people getting pissed every weekend.

    A limited definition of culture and definitely not my idea of it.....
    tenchi-fan wrote: »
    If you are intelligent, educated and skilled I'd bet there are better opportunities in America than over here.

    In an Irish context possibly, but in a European context not at all. Pay, conditions, opportunities and in particular quality of live are much higher in mainland Europe! To say nothing of the fact that there are no permits required, your qualifications are recognized and your social contributions plus pension benefits are transferable within Europe.

    Some of the things that alway strike my American colleagues when transferred over here include:

    - You get holidays in your first year (normally none in the first year in the US)
    - 5 weeks holiday as opposed to 2 weeks
    - Your are required to take a min. break of 2 weeks each year (in US long breaks are discouraged)
    - Sick leave is not taken out of your holidays
    - It is normal for parents to send their children public schools
    - Health care is not tied to your job and thus you do not have to find a new provider when you retire.
    - No overtime, a friend of mine who used to work at the SEC said it took her months to get used to the fact that the weekend was really free!

    And the list goes on.....

    Good luck with that,

    Jim.


  • #13
    D-Generate
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,946 ✭✭✭D-Generate


    Yes it can happen that a US employer will sponsor you for a new job but this is incredibly rare. More often the easiest way would be to work for a US multinational and then get relocated after being within the company for a while.

    What field are you trying to get in to OP? It is easier to get into positions that request someone with a Science/Maths/Engineering background than to get in to positions for those with a Business or Arts background I find.


  • #14
    Sergeant
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,362 ✭✭✭Sergeant


    D-Generate wrote: »
    Yes it can happen that a US employer will sponsor you for a new job but this is incredibly rare. More often the easiest way would be to work for a US multinational and then get relocated after being within the company for a while.

    What field are you trying to get in to OP? It is easier to get into positions that request someone with a Science/Maths/Engineering background than to get in to positions for those with a Business or Arts background I find.


    This is how my brother got to work in the states. Started with a large IT multinational in Ireland, and got the opportunity to work over there.

    That said, he mentioned that they do give visas to workers from outside the US, the industry is angry because of the amount of work being given given to Indian programmers on a skilled visa, when there is considerable unemployment in the area in question.


  • #15
    Lia Refined Alternator
    Posts: 0 ✭ Lia Refined Alternator


    monosharp wrote: »
    No culture is the big one for me. I honestly don't understand why people would go there, especially for travelling. The biggest part of why I want to go abroad and stay abroad is experiencing new cultures, new food, a different language, history etc.

    What can I actually experience in the US that I can't experience in Ireland or the UK ? Bigger portions at McDonalds ? A society so supposedly integrated but the most racist in the world at the same time ? A society so supposedly secular but home to millions of fundamentalist lunatics ?

    I think it's really narrow minded to say the US has no culture. It has plenty of culture. Just because they speak English there and it's a newer country than most doesn't make it a bigger version of Ireland. You can't really generalise about a 'society' like that either. The US is an enormous country. Would you advise people against moving to Ireland because there are neo-Nazis in some German cities? There are some great museums in New York and Washington D.C where you can learn about the history of the country, and if you want to encounter other cultures and languages, there's nowhere better than my old neighbourhood in Queens where I spoke French, Spanish and English every single day, where I could get Korean BBQ for lunch and authentic empanadas for dinner and then go to an Irish bar for a nice pint.
    As for living there, yeah all the above. Except the US is hardly alone in those respects. A lot of Asia is worse regarding working hours and the fire and hire mentality. But just about anywhere else is better then the US for healthcare yes.

    Healthcare in the US is the best in the world if you have insurance. My American family are appalled at the level of care over here. Sure, it might be cheaper in Ireland, but they consider it crazy to spend months and months on a waiting list for urgent treatment, for it to take weeks and weeks to get test results back etc. My aunt went to her GP on a Monday, had results back in 2 days, was referred to a specialist and had an operation booked by Thursday morning for the next week. Good luck with that in Ireland.

    Look, sure, the US is no paradise, but plenty of people have emigrated and are much better off there than they ever would have been here.


  • #16
    EI111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭EI111


    Lia Refined Alternator wrote: »
    I think it's really narrow minded to say the US has no culture. It has plenty of culture. Just because they speak English there and it's a newer country than most doesn't make it a bigger version of Ireland. You can't really generalise about a 'society' like that either. The US is an enormous country. Would you advise people against moving to Ireland because there are neo-Nazis in some German cities? There are some great museums in New York and Washington D.C where you can learn about the history of the country, and if you want to encounter other cultures and languages, there's nowhere better than my old neighbourhood in Queens where I spoke French, Spanish and English every single day, where I could get Korean BBQ for lunch and authentic empanadas for dinner and then go to an Irish bar for a nice pint.



    Healthcare in the US is the best in the world if you have insurance. My American family are appalled at the level of care over here. Sure, it might be cheaper in Ireland, but they consider it crazy to spend months and months on a waiting list for urgent treatment, for it to take weeks and weeks to get test results back etc. My aunt went to her GP on a Monday, had results back in 2 days, was referred to a specialist and had an operation booked by Thursday morning for the next week. Good luck with that in Ireland.

    Look, sure, the US is no paradise, but plenty of people have emigrated and are much better off there than they ever would have been here.

    Basically all of the above is so true.

    If there is no american culture how can people complain about americanization of other countries.
    Just because you are so used to it doesnt mean it doesnt exist. Hamburgers and hotdogs believe it or not are american food just like tapas are spanish, you're just more used to them.
    Would you rather go to hospital in america or that joke of a place in Louth.

    American cities are a conglomeration of nearly all cultures from around the world

    Rural america may not be to everyone's taste but anybody who has spent time there will detail the culture. Actually think about it, it's impossible for a place not to have a culture, not all of them are as exotic as some would like though


  • #17
    Magenta
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭Magenta


    Lia Refined Alternator wrote: »
    Healthcare in the US is the best in the world if you have insurance.

    If you have insurance that are willing to cover you for your treatment***

    I have worked in US health insurance companies, and also have been a customer of them, trust me they can and do stop at nothing to avoid paying out.
    You were taken to hospital in an ambulance that was called on your behalf, you didn't call your insurance company in advance (!) and get your ambulance and treatment pre-approved?
    Your bill is not their problem.

    You needed massive surgery which required 2 doctors present during the op, but the insurance company decide you only needed one. Enjoy your bill!

    "Sicko" summed it all up perfectly.


  • #18
    tenchi-fan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,339 ✭✭✭tenchi-fan


    EI111 wrote: »
    Hamburgers and hotdogs believe it or not are american food just like tapas are spanish, you're just more used to them.

    named after Hamburg in Ohio and Frankfurt in Texas, no doubt ;)


  • #19
    lonestargirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭lonestargirl


    OP, there are 4 basic paths for you to possibly move to the US
    1. If you are a recent university graduate there are a number of J1 programs that will allow you to move for 12-18 months and you are free to find your own job (must be related to your area of study).
    2. Work for a multinational and hope for the option of transfer in the next few years.
    3. Get a skilled worker visa (H1B), you need to have a degree and the job must be advertised in the US first with no suitable applicants. It will cost the employer in the region of $5k so you really need some specific skills/experience to qualify for this visa.
    4. Look at doing a graduate program in the US, depending on the field many come with a stipend and some visa options give you a year of working post-education, further education will only make more competitive for option (3) also.
    I came to the US a year ago with my husband who is doing surgery residency here. Despite having a BSc + MSc I found it hard to get a job (I am in a small but specialised field) I am now about to start a 5-year PhD program which comes with a stipend + healthcare.

    Regarding the quality of life here, the US is not a good place to be unemployed or an unskilled worker however the healthcare is excellent with good company health insurance. I am expecting my first baby and even counting the cost of my premiums (am paying into my husband's plan at the moment, his employer pays for him) I will pay out far less than I would for private maternity care in Ireland (my share of the consultant's bill has been estimated at $215, blood tests have cost $40 so far).

    The US is vast diverse country, some parts are nicer than others. Most people wouldn't think that Houston has culture yet we have a large museum district, permanent opera and ballet companies and a huge variety of restaurants/cafes.


  • #20
    dan_d
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭dan_d


    fds wrote: »
    The quick answer to your question is "Yes". Your employer can sponsor you to work there.

    The long answer however is that unless you do something very highly skilled and are educated to at least MA level in that field or have exceptional experience the process will be long, arduous and possibly pointless.

    I worked in Chicago as part of the J1 trainee/internship programme for 2 years (which by the way is pretty easy peasy to get onto and is very quick, if you have graduated recently you should consider it).

    In the place where I worked there were a few Polish guys who were being sponsored by my employer to get their work permits. The whole process took 7 years.

    They were lucky enough that they were able to live and work there while the application was going on, but the rules have since been tightened up so much that if you were to go there and attempt to change your visa status you would automatically be told to leave.

    Also while they were able to live and work there for those 7 years, they weren't allowed to leave the country with their application pending. One of them missed his grandfather's funeral because of it.

    We worked in a highly skilled field, all of the project managers were either English of Irish or Continental European because there is no higher education offered in the states in my field, so these guys would have been in a pretty good position to qualify and it still took 7 years.

    I'm not an expert on US immigration, but is Poland a good example? I know from working with Polish people here in Ireland they cannot travel to the US the way we can. They have to go to the embassy here for visas and interviews etc, and nothing is guaranteed for them - seems to be a throw back to the old "Eastern Block" thing.

    I think OP, there's a couple of options, as mentioned below. And another one might be, do you know anybody over there who might be able to get you a job with a company that would sponsor your Visa? That might be easier again.

    As for the views on American culture, the Americans simply believe that you should never get something for nothing and if you're poor, it's your own fault.They're fairly black and white that way, no shades of grey.I like it, and have spent a lot of time there (not just shopping trips to NY) but it's a country of extremes.


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