J-Visa for the USA!

Corrimbla · 10-11-2010 02:59PM

Congrats on the job Karbolt and best of luck with it! Glad to hear back from people who have ventured over and are getting on well.

I am planning to apply for my own visa next week – waiting on a copy of my degree from my college. I am hopefully heading to Boston in February - I’ve a lot of family there.

Only thing is my degree is property orientated and I’m not too optimistic that I will get a property job out there in that field. I’m wondering if I put my field of study as “Business – Real Estate” will I be able to get any kind of business job as it would have a broader spectrum of job opportunities.

I was planning to send an email with “resume” to a few companies before I got out there but I have told that many US companies would dismiss such emails. Alternatively I was going to just land out there and apply for paid internships but may now just apply for jobs as you have done.

Can I ask also who you went through USIT, Go4less, Sayit etc. and were they any good? I am thinking of going with the IIC (Irish Immigration Centre), I have been in contact with them already and they seem very helpful as well as cheap and they let you book your own flights!

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!!

lil_lisa · 10-11-2010 06:50PM

Just a word of advice to you both, make sure, if you are offered a full time job, that you don't sign into a two or three year contract. This can be a big issue over there.

Corrimbla, have you looked at craigslist.org at all? There are a lot of scams out there but at the same time, a lot of postings are legit and want you to email your resume and cover letter to them!

Good luck!

armadillo86 · 10-11-2010 06:59PM

lil_lisa wrote: »

Just a word of advice to you both, make sure, if you are offered a full time job, that you don't sign into a two or three year contract. This can be a big issue over there.

Corrimbla, have you looked at craigslist.org at all? There are a lot of scams out there but at the same time, a lot of postings are legit and want you to email your resume and cover letter to them!

Good luck!

I made my company fully aware of my situation and they were perfectly ok with me only having 12 months over here. Once you're honest with them then problems like that shouldn't occur. I agree, craigslist is great, i managed to find both this job and a gorgeous (and so cheap) apartment through that website. Like i said, it's fairly easy to identify what's genuine on there and what's not.

Corrimbla, why not apply for both internships and full time jobs? Just because the internship option didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. I went with go4less myself but i've heard great things about the IIC.

armadillo86 · 10-11-2010 07:15PM

Also Corrimbla (and i can only speak from my own experience), i have found that most companies will not be interested in hiring you until you are actually over here. They have so many unemployed Americans to choose from at the moment, why would they decide to hire someone who is currently living over 3000 miles away instead? Before anyone jumps down my throat, i can acknowledge that it might be different in other cities but i have definitely found this to the case in New York. You say that you have a lot of family in Boston, do they have any contacts for companies there who might be looking for staff or willing to offer you a job?

Corrimbla · 10-11-2010 07:54PM

Thanks both of you for your advice. Much appreciated!

Corrimbla, have you looked at craigslist.org at all? There are a lot of scams out there but at the same time, a lot of postings are legit and want you to email your resume and cover letter to them!

I was obviously aware of craigs.org but I was actually going to send my resume directly to a list multinational companies that I had compiled and take it from there depending on the feedback.

Corrimbla, why not apply for both internships and full time jobs? Just because the internship option didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you.

Ya, it would be a good idea alright to apply for both internships and advertised jobs. I have been in contact with my relations over there in the last few weeks and they asked me to send them on a list of companies that I’d be looking to work for, to see do they have any contacts with them, so I’m exploring that avenue as well but thanks for the advice anyway!

Also Karbolt may I ask If the pay is decent? Like in comparison to what is needed to have a comfortable standard of living or are most companies only offering min wage at the moment.

Regarding working in “your field of study” does anybody know how strict/ lax there are about working in your exact field? :cool:

Hairy Nipples 87 · 19-11-2010 10:59AM

Hey guys, im a student in my final year in college and after i finish in May i want to start working in America for a year maybe, im wondering if there is anybody out there woh can give me useful information on how i should get started with planning? Thanks

Harpy · 19-11-2010 06:16PM

hey, there's a few companies you can go through I went through the IIC cause it works out cheaper then going through usit, you can book your own flights and get your own insurance.. With the IIC you only have 90 days to get a job, but in fairness unless you have a lot of money saved up you wouldnt really be able to afford to stay much longer then 90 days without a job..As far as i know usit dont have a time limit on when to have a job you just have to be able to prove that you have enough money to suppport yourself..

lil_lisa · 19-11-2010 07:12PM

Hairy Nipples 87 wrote: »

Hey guys, im a student in my final year in college and after i finish in May i want to start working in America for a year maybe, im wondering if there is anybody out there woh can give me useful information on how i should get started with planning? Thanks

You'll be looking at the 1 year J1 visa. There are several options within this visa and several companies to go through. (Note: not all companies offer all visas)

The visas available are the 1 year internship visa, the (up to) 18 months training visa and the 1 year IWT visa. The IWT visa is the only one available where a job is not required before heading out. Although, there are other requirements with it (such as proof of funds and back up etc).

The most popular companies are SAYIT, USIT, Go4Less and IIC. I recently received the internship visa from INTRAX who are quite quick and efficient.

I would work out a job first, if you can get one before you go over you it will be better. Or you can do what I did and carry out the summer J-1 for a few months until you find a job and then come home and get the 1 year internship visa. That will give you a bit more time over there.

Hairy Nipples 87 · 19-11-2010 07:16PM

lil_lisa wrote: »

You'll be looking at the 1 year J1 visa. There are several options within this visa and several companies to go through. (Note: not all companies offer all visas)

The visas available are the 1 year internship visa, the (up to) 18 months training visa and the 1 year IWT visa. The IWT visa is the only one available where a job is not required before heading out. Although, there are other requirements with it (such as proof of funds and back up etc).

The most popular companies are SAYIT, USIT, Go4Less and IIC. I recently received the internship visa from INTRAX who are quite quick and efficient.

I would work out a job first, if you can get one before you go over you it will be better. Or you can do what I did and carry out the summer J-1 for a few months until you find a job and then come home and get the 1 year internship visa. That will give you a bit more time over there.

I was actually planning on getting the j1 visa at first and then return and get the one year internship. Will it be easier to get the one year internship by doing this? Or is it possible to find a way while over in america to stay longer?

lil_lisa · 20-11-2010 08:54PM

No, you have to return to Ireland, the J-1 visa is very strict on not extending it. Depending on when you graduate, you could opt for getting two year long J-1s back to back, but you still have to return to Ireland to apply for them.

Hairy Nipples 87 · 20-11-2010 09:20PM

lil_lisa wrote: »

No, you have to return to Ireland, the J-1 visa is very strict on not extending it. Depending on when you graduate, you could opt for getting two year long J-1s back to back, but you still have to return to Ireland to apply for them.[/QUOTE

well i finish college in may this year for good but my graduation wouldnt be until october/december next year, are the 18 month internships hard to get and do the likes of usit/sayit etc help u find work with regards to the internship or must you look for it yourself?

lil_lisa · 21-11-2010 06:36PM

There's a 12 month internship and an 18 month trainee visa which can be pricey. The likes of SAYIT and USIT offer help but Intrax Internships actually find one for you. It does cost a bit more money but at least you'll have a job going out.

Dicksboro_man · 24-11-2010 06:39PM

Hey guys,
im currently in 6th year in school but really wanna go to the US after my first year in college. the only thing is that i dont hold an irish passport. me family moved from ukraine when i was like 10. do you think i ll have any problems getting a J1?? cheers lads

lil_lisa · 24-11-2010 07:32PM

Dicksboro_man wrote: »

Hey guys,
im currently in 6th year in school but really wanna go to the US after my first year in college. the only thing is that i dont hold an irish passport. me family moved from ukraine when i was like 10. do you think i ll have any problems getting a J1?? cheers lads

No you shouldn't have a problem. Once you study in Ireland you're fine. The first summer I went my friend had a Turkish passport, the second summer, another friend had a Spanish passport. They were fine. However, you can only go on the summer J-1, not the 1 year J-1. If you want to go on the 1 year J-1 you will have to get an Irish passport.

Dicksboro_man · 24-11-2010 07:56PM

lil_lisa wrote: »

No you shouldn't have a problem. Once you study in Ireland you're fine. The first summer I went my friend had a Turkish passport, the second summer, another friend had a Spanish passport. They were fine. However, you can only go on the summer J-1, not the 1 year J-1. If you want to go on the 1 year J-1 you will have to get an Irish passport.

oh yea thats great, thanks a million, the 3-4 months is all i wanna go anyway.

hopefully will have an irish passport by the time i finish my course or if not its not too hard to get a green card or a working visa with a degree in medicine ( i hope) :rolleyes:

lonestargirl · 25-11-2010 12:30AM

Dicksboro_man wrote: »

hopefully will have an irish passport by the time i finish my course or if not its not too hard to get a green card or a working visa with a degree in medicine ( i hope) :rolleyes:

If you want to practice in the US as a doctor you need to do residency training there. There is a special class of J1 (alien physician) for undertaking residency and the process for getting one is pretty straightforward.

lovechem · 29-11-2010 10:32PM

hello

i was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of visa would be best for me? im 21, haven't gone to college but have my leaving cert!

thanks!

lonestargirl · 30-11-2010 06:02AM

lovechem wrote: »

hello

i was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of visa would be best for me? im 21, haven't gone to college but have my leaving cert!

thanks!

Unfortunately for you the US is not really open to unskilled migration unless you have an immediate family member to sponsor you, your best option would be to stick your name in for the diversity visa lottery and hope you are lucky

Magog86 · 30-11-2010 10:55AM

Hi

As some people are helpful and is alot of pages. Does anyone know if that J-visa, the 1 year one if I'd be eligible as I am currently in my second year of an Open University degree and would like to take a year out abd work/live in america. But I don't know if the USA recognises it

Thanks very much for any info

JohnMearsheimer · 30-11-2010 02:24PM

Magog86 wrote: »

Hi

As some people are helpful and is alot of pages. Does anyone know if that J-visa, the 1 year one if I'd be eligible as I am currently in my second year of an Open University degree and would like to take a year out abd work/live in america. But I don't know if the USA recognises it

Thanks very much for any info

I think you have to be in full time education to qualify for the visa.

Magog86 · 30-11-2010 04:16PM

Yeah, what I feared. Part time/distance learning is still considered the distant cousin of brick universities. Thanks though

irlman · 03-12-2010 11:29PM

Hi. Has anyone changed their internship after they get one?
Ive read on the USIT site that you can do as many internships as you want.
Im just wondering what the story is if, say, you have an unpaid internship, and then get offered another job in the mean time.
Anyone done this??

DGM · 14-12-2010 11:26AM

Very good thread.

My question is this: if you are lucky enough to obtain an internship, do you have to work a minimum number of hours per week? I know in the previous visa, you had to work 32 hours but I'm unsure if it's the same for this one...

Harpy · 14-12-2010 07:08PM

yeah its a minimum of 32 hours per week on this visa as well..

sleepyescapade · 17-12-2010 12:27AM

lil_lisa wrote: »

Depending on when you graduate, you could opt for getting two year long J-1s back to back, but you still have to return to Ireland to apply for them.

How can this be done, out of interest?

lil_lisa · 17-12-2010 02:39AM

In most colleges, you finish the college year usually in May, meaning you can go on the year long J-1 straight away in May or June. Graduation usually happens in November (again depending on the college).

So, lets say you go in May or June of 2010, you graduate in November 2010 and come back from your J-1 in May or June 2011. You still have roughly 5/6 months before the 1 year from graduation is up which means you have 5/6 months to take up another one.

Does this make sense?

mark4747 · 22-12-2010 04:17PM

Hi Gus I'm applying through the ICC in Boston at the moment for the visa.

Did anyone on here pay the extra $500 to be placed by them with an internship?

If so was it worth the extra payment and what kind of internship did they set you up with etc.?

Corrimbla · 22-12-2010 06:23PM

They do not do this program any more as they cannot guarentee an applicant an internship in the current climate!

drei · 20-01-2011 11:42AM

Hey there,

I am currently applying for the 1 year IWT intern visa through USIT and i have a couple of concerns which I would be very interested in hearing other peoples views on. I noticed that the whole point about this visa is that it is an "internship" visa and it is specifically not designed to fill a "labour need". Also as the employer has to fill out a training programme for the duration of my employment, it seems like it will be pretty hard to convince an employer to pay you a good salary!

I plan on using this visa to get a job in the US and i am concerned that in reality i will be filling a labour need of a potential employer as oppose to an internship position.

Has anyone been on or is on one of these visa's and can let me know how this works in reality? apprecaite any replys.

drei · 20-01-2011 12:16PM

rtom wrote: »

I would like to give everyone an update on my own experiences with this visa, I checked out this thread regularly when applying for my own visa so its only fair that I give something back.

I officially graduated from college with a masters degree in December 2008, but was actually very lucky to secure a job when I finished my final exams in June. As I was on a 1 year contract in work I decided to apply for jobs elsewhere - mainly the UK & US. I was visiting the US in March 2009 and was lucky enough to have a job interview lined up before I went over. Anyway I did the interview and was offered the job pending me getting this 1 year visa. I had made it clear in my application letter that I would take care of all the visa issues and that the company had nothing to worry about on this front. This is important as when companies see you need a visa they will more than likely disregard your application.

When I returned from the US I applied for the visa immediately through the Irish Immigration Center (IIC). Great people to work with, very helpful and significantly cheaper than USIT/SAYIT etc. Also, you have a lot more freedom with regard to flights etc if you go with the IIC.

After about 6 weeks I got my visa and booked my flights to the States, Boston to be exact. I was lucky in that I had spent a summer in Boston while at college and had a lot of contacts/friends here. I finished up work in Dublin on June 30 and arrived in Boston on July 7, 2009, started work the next day. Hairy enough few weeks as I had no car, social security number etc but I have to say my new company were great. I put the head down and worked very hard for the next few months.

In January of this year my company asked me would I consider staying on with them after my visa expired. Of course I said yes and was relived that they agreed to sponsor me for a H1B visa, which has dual intent meaning you can apply for the green card anytime after getting the H1b visa. My change of status application from the initial J1 visa to H1B was approved last week so I now have a full time state job, full medical and dental benefits, drive a car I could have never afforded in Ireland and have an unbelievable quality of life over here. The best thing is that I have work authorization for the next 3.5 years and can apply for the green card whenever I want which is the first step to becoming a U.S. citizen. I also got promoted in work which I would find it hard to imagine happening in Ireland this soon out of college. I have to say if you are willing to work hard over here and have a bit of cop on you will be laughing.

I would encourage anyone thinking of applying for this visa to try and have interviews/jobs lined up before coming over. Makes it so much easier. Go with the IIC, as I said they are great and way cheaper. Even if you don't have interviews/jobs lined up, give it a go. What have you got to loose? If everything doesn't work out at least you will of had a go and gained valuable experience from it.

Best of luck to anyone applying. I know you will have heard this a million times but being Irish is a huge advantage in the north-east of the US. As soon as I open my mouth in meetings etc the amount of goodwill I get is amazing!

Hey there, you seem to know your stuff about this visa. I plan to apply for the 1 year IWT visa and similar enough to yourself i qualified with a post-grad type qualification (grad date - December 2010). I have a couple of concerns about this visa though:

1. As its an "internship" visa and strictly speaking not a work permit (as in its not designed to fill a labour need), will this restrict the kind of jobs i can apply for? I will be applying for jobs within my field of study but the kind of positions i will be applying for will be filling a labour need and typically will not be a traineeship or internship position.

2. Again because its an internship visa, is this going to have an effect on what employers are willing to pay?

3. Is it easy enough to transfer from this visa to a much longer visa if my potential employer decides to sponsor me?

In reality i am using this visa as a method to approach employers in the US and make it as easy as possible for them to employ me! Any input from your experiences would be a great help!

J-Visa for the USA!

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