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US is closed and that is it?

JasonJenova

I am a 23 years old and have been working in IT for the past year. I also have a bachelors degree in computer science. It's seems like the young people of this generation get screwed in absolutely everything, unaffordable houses, insane prices (try getting a car insured under 25 for a reasonable price etc).

What are the chances of me successfully moving to USA? Should I forget about it and move on with my life and try Australia or Canada maybe? I'd rather just stay in Ireland tbh than try either of these countries.

I work for an international IT corporation which seems to have many people working from other parts of Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Germany) in the European HQ if that helps. My specialization is systems admin/engineering. Should I change over to software development to improve my chances?

Also I do not know how often this happens that an employee gets transferred to another country. Should I only even attempt when I get like 10-20 years of experience?
Thinking I might get laughed out of the office for even asking.

Just wondering if I should keep dreaming or just move on. Basically, do I have a better chance of winning euromillions rather than get transferred by my own company on l1 or h1 visa?

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JackieChang

JasonJenova wrote: »

I am a 23 years old and have been working in IT for the past year. I also have a bachelors degree in computer science. It's seems like the young people of this generation get screwed in absolutely everything, unaffordable houses, insane prices (try getting a car insured under 25 for a reasonable price etc).

What are the chances of me successfully moving to USA? Should I forget about it and move on with my life and try Australia or Canada maybe? I'd rather just stay in Ireland tbh than try either of these countries.

I work for an international IT corporation which seems to have many people working from other parts of Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Germany) in the European HQ if that helps. My specialization is systems admin/engineering. Should I change over to software development to improve my chances?

Also I do not know how often this happens that an employee gets transferred to another country. Should I only even attempt when I get like 10-20 years of experience?
Thinking I might get laughed out of the office for even asking.

Just wondering if I should keep dreaming or just move on. Basically, do I have a better chance of winning euromillions rather than get transferred by my own company on l1 or h1 visa?

You sound like you already gave up.

NSAman

As someone living in the States, it may be easier to make a living but some of the stuff here, really fries your brain. Yes the money is better, yes the weather can be better (Mind you at the moment its -20C outside and pretty crap). Far away fields are green.

A few things to remember here. You don’t have the same workers rights here as you have in Ireland. You WILL be working longer hours and the holidays are ridiculously short. If you can balance the pros with the cons (same as any new country) it will be well worth it.

Always have enough in the bank for that emergency flight home (It always IS needed).

The States is no walk in the park, it can be a very tough environment to work in, especially if you are by yourself. BUT.....(always a but) It can work out beneficially.

[Deleted User]

JasonJenova wrote: »

Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa but going to Canada would defeat any purpose of moving.
While a minor reason for most, for me good weather is essential if I'm going to make such a big change in my life and I'd rather do it by going somewhere that I will really enjoy. I get great satisfaction out of outdoor activities. Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland. Even Vancouver which doesn't usually get snow puts Ireland to shame in terms of misery.
The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.
While Australia is also an option, it doesn't match with my interests (nanny state, stupid laws...) so weather again is not the only thing.

Your a being very short signed and to be honest naive OP.

If you really would like to go somewhere just go, don't be ruling places out because of weather.
The weather in North America in general is fantastic.
Sure they get cold snowy winters, but they are also guaranteed hot dry summers, something we don't get here.

I would not put too much stock in your opinions of places regarding "stupid laws", "nanny state" etc.

Go live there for a while an then decide if they have "stupid laws", or are a "nanny state" etc

[Deleted User]

ReturningForY wrote: »

If you're working in sales or HR in these companies, sure you can't do this, but the OP would be working there as a software engineer. Software engineers in big tech companies are basically guaranteed to get transfers they ask for.

It's really not. I know employees at big tech companies who have made these kinds of transfers in the last 3 months.

That's a different problem. The problem there is that the work authorization on STEM F-1 is relatively short, at 3 years. I don't think this has anything to do with companies being able to get L-1 transfer visas, like the OP would be getting.

That's a bit of a generalisation

Lots of factors in why people do and don't get transfers

[Deleted User]

cr-07 wrote: »

I am in a very similar position as OP. I'm a software developer working in a multinational company. They have offices all over the world and I'm very interested in moving to London within the next year. I only recently graduated and have been working in this company since July. I'm on a probationary period until January 1st, but everyone I spoke to has told me they keep everyone on after the probation period. What do ye reckon my chances are of getting a transfer?

I honestly don't think anyone here would be in a position to answer that

We have no idea what sort of a company you are working in

Whether they have a need for your skill in the London location or not

What your individual organisation within the company does etc etc

It's way to board a question

The answer is in the place you work, not here

ReturningForY

jme2010 wrote: »

False - Any Canadian citizen may work for any American employer without the need for sponsorship / greencard / hoop jumping. All you need is a job offer. Simply nail an interview and boom you're living your American Dream.

I presume you're talking about the TN Visa here. If so, I personally wouldn't take it for granted too much; it's known to be pretty delicate for software engineers in particular: https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/9yhujn/tn_visas_denied_for_canadian_software_engineers/

Saying that, definitely with you about Canada being a good choice. I didn't realize the weather was so mild in Toronto. I heard great things about that city but am always frightened about moving north

PhilOssophy

5 years time jme2010 on the Irish Times, as a returning emigrant!
I thought when I left Ireland 10 years ago it was a kip, etc like you think now, but times change. I have relations in Canada who don't think much of the place as well.
Everybody's experience is different I guess.
As somebody who returned to Dublin, I don't see the skangers. But I guess sometimes we see what we want to see.

circular flexing

JasonJenova wrote: »

Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa but going to Canada would defeat any purpose of moving.
While a minor reason for most, for me good weather is essential if I'm going to make such a big change in my life and I'd rather do it by going somewhere that I will really enjoy. I get great satisfaction out of outdoor activities. Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland. Even Vancouver which doesn't usually get snow puts Ireland to shame in terms of misery.
The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.
While Australia is also an option, it doesn't match with my interests (nanny state, stupid laws...) so weather again is not the only thing.

You sound pretty naive. Vancouver has decent weather, sure the winters are a bit rainy but the summers are good (aside from forest fires) and there's plenty to do outdoors in summer and winter - for winters I live 20 minutes from a ski slope and often head up after work. You say California has nice weather but did you miss the part about the wildfires that have caused PG&E to start rolling power cuts? Also California is probably one of the most expensive places to live, not just in terms and housing but in terms of fuel, groceries etc...

And Canadian citizens do get special privileges, they can apply for a TN visa which they can get at the border and only requires a job offer from a US employer.

Vancouver is a good option, salaries have increased significantly in the last couple of years and there's plenty of SV companies opening or expanding offices here.

boreder

shesty wrote: »

And do you also realise that the housing market in SF is one of the most expensive in the world?

And you do realize why that is, right?

jme2010

JasonJenova wrote: »

1 - Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa

2 - good weather is essential - Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland.

3- The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.

Listen carefully OP. It is yourself from the future here. I had an identical post to yours just a couple of years ago. What if I told you, that you could be living in America, sipping margaritas on a sunny southern Californian beach in 5 years time?

I worked as a Software Engineer (not developer). I thought devs had a better chance at getting transfers. I did all my research and asked the question on Boards 'why the F*** can't I work in America ....blah blah blah.'

The responses on here were similar and they said 'why the obsession with America why don't you try blah blah blah.' Of course I dismissed their silly notions immediately as I was gonna live the 'American Dream'. I felt cheated that a lovely, educated, Irish man would be denied the land of the free home of the brave. After all I had spent thousands vacationing every year in most big US cities, come on, just let me in.

Two or three years passed along with visa lottery applications etc. Keeping my eye on all the US visa news and posts. Still visiting the US each year. Then funnily enough in 2017 I was watching 'bowling for columbine'. All the gun violence and mass shootings in the news still stood up to the 2002 movie. One of the next scenes changed my life. The camera pans across a Sh*ty Detroit street and over the Detroit river to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 'There was zero gun deaths in Windsor last year, just across the US border' the voice over says. A few light bulbs went off for me. Firstly how much safer and saner the Canadians were. They owned more guns per person than America. That city suffered worse unemployment than the neighbouring US city. And you could see America.

'Wow' I thought, 'If I lived there I could visit America all the time. Now to address some of the points above.

JasonJenova wrote: »

2 - good weather is essential - Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland.

False - Toronto hit 40C this summer. You can wear shorts+t-shiirt from start of June till end of September. On average temps are mid 20's and weeks of 30's weather are normal. Basically Spain during the summer here in Toronto, think jet skis, beaches and babes.

JasonJenova wrote: »

3- The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.

False - Any Canadian citizen may work for any American employer without the need for sponsorship / greencard / hoop jumping. All you need is a job offer. Simply nail an interview and boom you're living your American Dream.

JasonJenova wrote: »

1 - Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa

You should get one. It's easy to be approved but not "easy" to get as there is lots of paper work but the online wizard keeps track of everything. Google 'IEC visa'

My buddy from Ireland has citizenship now - 5 years after leaving Ireland. Could work in the states if he wanted but loves Alberta too much now.

I'm starting PR application because I'm sick of Dublin scanger, junkies, kip holes and nanny state bollocks.

Any questions?

cr-07

I am in a very similar position as OP. I'm a software developer working in a multinational company. They have offices all over the world and I'm very interested in moving to London within the next year. I only recently graduated and have been working in this company since July. I'm on a probationary period until January 1st, but everyone I spoke to has told me they keep everyone on after the probation period. What do ye reckon my chances are of getting a transfer?

shesty

And do you also realise that the housing market in SF is one of the most expensive in the world?

granturismo

JasonJenova wrote: »

...It's seems like the young people of this generation get screwed in absolutely everything, unaffordable houses, insane prices (try getting a car insured under 25 for a reasonable price etc).
...

JasonJenova wrote: »

... The thing is, I am getting paid fairly well ... I also work for a us multinational who's headquartered in silicon valley which might be my ticket to US.
...

Have you looked into the cost of living where you want to move to?

ReturningForY

JasonJenova wrote: »

Is Google and Facebook the only ones doing it? Or is it uncommon for other companies to do it?

Why don't you tell your manager that, in the near term, you're interested in moving to the US and if it would be possible to do that within your company? If they say yes then you can try to push it through. If they say no then you can look for positions in other companies that will do it.

Worth pointing out that right now, late 2019, the US economy is the strongest it's been in 50 years, the world economy is doing pretty well, and the tech sector in particular is really really strong. This is a good time, as a tech employee, to be asking for things like immigration benefits. In 2 or 5 years time when the downturn inevitably comes, you'll be in less of a strong negotiating position.

PhilOssophy

Cost of living in SF is not that much higher, dream on pal.

ReturningForY

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

And obviously not every one in Google or Facebook get the opportunity.

If you're working in sales or HR in these companies, sure you can't do this, but the OP would be working there as a software engineer. Software engineers in big tech companies are basically guaranteed to get transfers they ask for.

srsly78 wrote: »

The stuff above is outdated. Even big companies are finding it difficult to transfer employees now.

It's really not. I know employees at big tech companies who have made these kinds of transfers in the last 3 months.

srsly78 wrote: »

A few years ago this was easy, but now there are people being forced to leave USA after their student visa expired - even tho they work fulltime for an american company.

That's a different problem. The problem there is that the work authorization on STEM F-1 is relatively short, at 3 years. I don't think this has anything to do with companies being able to get L-1 transfer visas, like the OP would be getting.

srsly78

The stuff above is outdated. Even big companies are finding it difficult to transfer employees now. A few years ago this was easy, but now there are people being forced to leave USA after their student visa expired - even tho they work fulltime for an american company.

Somedaythefire

JasonJenova wrote: »

Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa but going to Canada would defeat any purpose of moving.
While a minor reason for most, for me good weather is essential if I'm going to make such a big change in my life and I'd rather do it by going somewhere that I will really enjoy. I get great satisfaction out of outdoor activities. Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland. Even Vancouver which doesn't usually get snow puts Ireland to shame in terms of misery.
The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.
While Australia is also an option, it doesn't match with my interests (nanny state, stupid laws...) so weather again is not the only thing.

No it doesn't. Toronto also has gorgeous and warm summers with mild Springs and Winters.

Oh "nanny state", right I can see why you only want the US. Nothing to do with your actual quality of living.

JasonJenova

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Probably not

And obviously not every one in Google or Facebook get the opportunity.

It all depends on the the company and the internal organisation within the company

But as another poster suggested why not try Canada for a start, you can get a working visa pretty easily at your age.

Yes, I could easily get a Canadian visa but going to Canada would defeat any purpose of moving.
While a minor reason for most, for me good weather is essential if I'm going to make such a big change in my life and I'd rather do it by going somewhere that I will really enjoy. I get great satisfaction out of outdoor activities. Most of Canada gets worse weather than Ireland. Even Vancouver which doesn't usually get snow puts Ireland to shame in terms of misery.
The only way I would move is if I had a guarantee that I would end up living in US at some point but I don't think Canadians get any special privileges.
While Australia is also an option, it doesn't match with my interests (nanny state, stupid laws...) so weather again is not the only thing.

[Deleted User]

JasonJenova wrote: »

Is Google and Facebook the only ones doing it? Or is it uncommon for other companies to do it?

Probably not

And obviously not every one in Google or Facebook get the opportunity.

It all depends on the the company and the internal organisation within the company

But as another poster suggested why not try Canada for a start, you can get a working visa pretty easily at your age.

JasonJenova

ReturningForY wrote: »

If you really want to go to the US, here are two concrete options for someone in your position:

1. Get a job at Google Dublin and after a year ask for a transfer to Mountain View. If you're good at your job you're basically guaranteed to get it. The Google case I know from the ~10 friends of mine who work there, but I think the same also applies at Facebook.

2. Go to the US for a masters in CS. The tricky thing is paying for it a good University, though if you need a loan you'll pay it back pretty quickly given that the gross salaries in SF are double those in Dublin, the taxes are quite lower, and the cost of living is not that much higher. After your masters you can work for 3 years in the US on your F-1 visa, which is enough time to get on H-1B or far enough in the green card process to have work authorization from that.

Is Google and Facebook the only ones doing it? Or is it uncommon for other companies to do it?

JasonJenova

Thank you all for responses. I've seen that some of you suggested internship/college. The thing is, I am getting paid fairly well and would lose this opportunity. I also work for a us multinational who's headquartered in silicon valley which might be my ticket to US.
Another thing that may be an issue. I fill in an important position in the company for where I'm based and I'm the only one doing this work unlike a team of software developers.
Would this matter? Me moving to US would make my current position empty and a replacement would be needed, therefore the request to be relocated would almost certainly be rejected as without me, there is no one else to do the job in here unless they hire someone else? I guess if I was part of the software development team, it wouldn't matter because they could get a replacement easily and it wouldn't affect things too much. Or this does not matter?

Stenth

ReturningForY wrote: »

If you really want to go to the US, here are two concrete options for someone in your position:

1. Get a job at Google Dublin and after a year ask for a transfer to Mountain View. If you're good at your job you're basically guaranteed to get it. The Google case I know from the ~10 friends of mine who work there, but I think the same also applies at Facebook.

I did this with Apple. Plenty of people here in Cupertino have been transferred over from Cork.

ReturningForY

If you really want to go to the US, here are two concrete options for someone in your position:

1. Get a job at Google Dublin and after a year ask for a transfer to Mountain View. If you're good at your job you're basically guaranteed to get it. The Google case I know from the ~10 friends of mine who work there, but I think the same also applies at Facebook.

2. Go to the US for a masters in CS. The tricky thing is paying for it a good University, though if you need a loan you'll pay it back pretty quickly given that the gross salaries in SF are double those in Dublin, the taxes are quite lower, and the cost of living is not that much higher. After your masters you can work for 3 years in the US on your F-1 visa, which is enough time to get on H-1B or far enough in the green card process to have work authorization from that.

antix80

What's so special about the US?
They are plenty of opportunities in Europe and even Canada. You might even find work in Canada that will give you more opportunities to get to the states.

If you want to go to the US you could try the J1 or the internship program for grads and young professionals. You could marry an american (if you're not already in a relationship, this is quite a decent option if you can work legally in the US while searching for "the one".) You could get a job in a company based in the US and try your best for a transfer - at least temporarily. And you could try the greencard lottery.