Andybman

Yeah I guess the rain stops all play unlike here in the UK! I'm more than happy to have a short term visa say the summer and fall if I'm honest!

ian-mstm

Is Google broken today?

Ian

Andybman

Thanks Ian, and I did run a google search on a J visa but I did get much back from it. Also when people do help on here its written in English which is easier to understand.

Pulaski

That's probably because it is a "J-1 visa". If you Google that, without the "", you get a wealth of information on the first page of hits, including several US government web pages and a Wikipedia page.

J-1 visas cover a diverse range of occupations and circumstances, mostly of training, work experience, or cultural exchange type of activity. Just about the only common factor is that the J-1 visa is specifically and explicitly "temporary", and the J-1 visa holder must maintain a permanent home overseas and return to it at the end of the visa visit.

SanDiegogirl

The guys that I know definitely did not have O visa qualifications

All came over on the J-1 visa. All young - under 30's.

They had played in minor leagues or just local teams and SOME had coaching experience visa schools/colleges.

They came out on 3 to 6 months contracts with various organisations based in the UK (put soccer coaching in the US into Google and you'll come up with loads of company info). These companies sponsored said "coach"

They mainly worked in the US in local schools, summer camps and colleges.

Is your job being offered by an actual soccer club? This is a somewhat different situation. Probably the J-1 would not suffice? Then again an H2 visa might do it. An H-1 again, probably not.

As said the company needs to get a decent immigration lawyer.

Andybman

That's great thank you for the reply. I think it boils down to getting a decent attorney and I afraid I failed at that with the one I have got as he has not represented me at all very well!

It is a club that gave offered me a job coaching their coaches and coaching a few teams too!

I think the j-1 or the h2b could be a great option but I fear that they have run out of the h2b visas already!

SanDiegogirl

Think you are referring to H1-b's - most of which are obtained by skilled high tech folks.

Read the following link re: H2-b visa

H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers | USCIS

Andybman

That's great I'll have a read but worrying I think they have reached their cap for 2015!

Pulaski

H-2Bs are also capped, and though they don't run out as quickly as the H-1's, they do run out.

Andybman

Thank you! I'll try to find out if they gave any left!

ian-mstm

There are none. See here. Your only hope for this year is if the US entity is cap-exempt.

Ian

scrubbedexpat099

Next batch is in October.

SanDiegogirl

Wow, who would have thought the US needed so many seasonal non agricultural workers.!

Mind you the National Parks pick up a few thousand. Nearly every worker I come across in the NP's- apart from senior Rangers - is from abroad.

Pulaski

Hotels, resorts, and theme parks in Florida account for a large proportion of the seasonal non-agricultural visas.

Orangepants

MY OH has an O-1 visa and he is in the soccer world. He played professionally in the UK and has coached internationally, set up numerous development programs and helped several young guys to get to positions within the MLS. PM me if you don't want list your achievements here and I'll pass to my OH and see what he thinks you're missing.

Our lawyer had never done a soccer O-1 before but due to three referrals that we gave her - she now has 4 successful O-1 petitions and about $40K better off!