Desperately looking at any options possible to move to the U.S

amybabes

Hi - I have done a bit of searching so apologies if this has been done before.

I'm 25 and living in Australia 3.5 years. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business (major in Marketing) and have been working in marketing in Sydney since I got here.

I am currently on a 4 year sponsorship visa here but have been feeling with a long time that I would prefer to be in the U.S. I spent a week in New York in June on holidays and haven't stopped thinking about it since. I also did a j1 in 2007 which I think was when I fell in love with New York.
I have a great life in Sydney but there's just something about NY that I'd leave everything I have here behind for in a heartbeat. As well as only being a 7 hour flight from home as opposed to 23 hours.

I am aware of the Green Card lottery and fully intend on applying next month - however realistically I know that my chances are super slim to even non existant.

From my situation, can anyone provide any solid advice on any way to move to the U.S? I've seen a bit about H-1B visas and H-2B visas but I guess I'm not clear on which is better for me, how you find jobs that have these visas attached/find an employer to sponsor you?/has anyone used an agency to arrange this? etc. etc.

Realistically, I would need a job arranged before leaving Sydney - I would have to sell my car, furniture, belongings etc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

silja

Work visas are difficult to get in today's economy, where most employers can get a person already in the US and they won't have to pay the $5000+ for the visa processing. Do you have any specialist qualifications that could help you? In your case, I would probably look in trade publications and on the websites of large US based PR firms for job openings.

Two other options you may look into:
- Get hired by a multi-national marketing/ PR firm, then once you've proven your worth, ask them to transfer you on a L1 intra-company transfer visa.
- If you have money saved, maybe do an MBA or Masters of some sort in NY on a student visa- those visas are very easy to get if you have the funds (cannot work while there).

yew_tree

I would love to live there myself and have applied for the Lottery a few times with no luck. One thing that somebody maybe able to answer, if you are rich (which I am not) you seem to be able to live in the USA.

We all see that some bankers including Mr.Drum have moved out to the states and are working and renting huge properties in massachusetts.

I know of a guy who bought a bar in the boom times in Florida and moved out last year with wife and kids (they are not american citizens) - seems all wish wash to me anyway.

silja

Yes if you have capital you can move to the US there are investors visas available- they start at $500'000 invested in a company that hires American workers.

marxo

Im planning on moving to New York in late November/early Decemeber. I graduated last December so I qualify for that 1 year visa. Im pretty sure though that there is a visa you can obtain of when you have worked in a certain field for a year or two, so three years work experience in marketing would more than cover that.

amybabes

Thanks all for your advice....

An MBA is out of the question... firstly i really have no desire to go back to full time study, and if i couldn't afford to do one in Ireland then I definitely couldnt afford it in the U.S!

I am working for the Australasian head quarters of a global pharmaceutical company here in Sydney, however I have just started with them (july) and already checked where they are based in the U.S (Ohio and San Jose). Could be an option down the line I guess, although the HR department here are pretty slack!

As I have done in Australia - I would be happy to pay for all of the costs associated with "sponsoring me" - not sure if that is correct practice - but I know it is widespread here for alot of Irish and English people who want to get sponsored - they approach their employers offering to pay for the legal and application fees.

Marxo - best of luck with your move. I'm pretty sure that year long J1 visa for those who have finished a degree came in the year after I left for Australia. Would have taken that up in a flash instead! And if you have any more information on that visa you speak of above please let me know!

Can't stop thinking about it, I want to relocate there more than anything! Would happily give up my job here, friends, sell everything I've worked so hard to build up....can't explain what it is!

avalon68

Your best bet is to stick with your current company and get an intra company transfer. Also, don't know about oz, but in the states it's illegal for you to pay for sponsorship costs. It must com from the company

Corrimbla

amybabes wrote: »

Thanks all for your advice....

An MBA is out of the question... firstly i really have no desire to go back to full time study, and if i couldn't afford to do one in Ireland then I definitely couldnt afford it in the U.S!

I am working for the Australasian head quarters of a global pharmaceutical company here in Sydney, however I have just started with them (july) and already checked where they are based in the U.S (Ohio and San Jose). Could be an option down the line I guess, although the HR department here are pretty slack!

As I have done in Australia - I would be happy to pay for all of the costs associated with "sponsoring me" - not sure if that is correct practice - but I know it is widespread here for alot of Irish and English people who want to get sponsored - they approach their employers offering to pay for the legal and application fees.

Marxo - best of luck with your move. I'm pretty sure that year long J1 visa for those who have finished a degree came in the year after I left for Australia. Would have taken that up in a flash instead! And if you have any more information on that visa you speak of above please let me know!

Can't stop thinking about it, I want to relocate there more than anything! Would happily give up my job here, friends, sell everything I've worked so hard to build up....can't explain what it is!

Here is some info on the PCT visa http://www.usavisa.ie/pct sounds like you could qualify but you have to get a job lined up before going over. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!