jjacoba

Hi there,

I've been reading several threads and have not found anything that answers my questions so i'm starting my own thread.

Background

I'm a British Citizen born in the UK with British parents and i'm looking to move to the US for work. I have a BA (hons) degree in Media Studies 2:1 - but my working background is all based in Shipping/Logistics. I have over 7 years experience working for freight forwarders and shipping lines between Liverpool and London.

For the last few years I've been looking to move over to the US for work but unfortunately it's not been possible to get a transfer with the companies I've worked for.

I have now decided to make my first steps to move over to the US by travelling out there to stay with a friend in New York in April (on a tourist visa).

Question

I have checked out a few different visas (H1/J1) and believe J1 may be a good option granted this is only a trainee visa with a max stay of 18 months. The programme that I'm looking at using is Cultural Vistas. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge using them? Or if not just general information about them (that's not on their website)?

What is a 'specialised job'? Does Shipping/Logistics fall under this category?

Is there any other advise anyone can give me? At the moment I have been applying for jobs on recruitment websites such as Indeed.com but to no avail. Is there a better tactic than just sending a CV/Cover note?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Jacob

Noorah101

Do you actually have a B-2 tourist visa? Or did you mean the VWP (no visa)? I'm being picky here because terminology is of utmost importance when dealing with immigration, so the sooner you use the correct terms, the better.

[quote]What is a 'specialised job'? Does Shipping/Logistics fall under this category? [k/quote]
Probably not in such a broad sense. But if you do something very specialized for the job, something that very few people can do or know how to do in the world, then maybe. But my first guess is no.

Read our Wiki Guide article called "Pulaski's Ways..." It lists all the available visas to the USA. See if you fit into any of those categories.

No, there's no better tactic. Part of the problem is that you don't seem to be doing a job that requires a degree, although you do have a degree. In order to get an H1B visa, for example, the job position must require a degree, and you must have a degree in that field. So since your degree is in Media, even if you found a job in logistics that required a degree, your degree is not in logistics (or whatever degree that is...if there is one).

I'm not sure if a J-1 applies to you, but it would be up to any potential employer to figure out what kind of work visa you need, not you.

Is your friend that you're going to visit a potential love interest? Most people move to the USA via an intercompany transfer through work, or by marrying a USC (or having other USC family who can sponsor them).

Another possibility would be an F-1 student visa to do a Masters degree in the USA, if you can afford it.

Rene

Twinkle0927

The trouble with applying for jobs is that without the required permission to work in the USA the whole thing is futile. Unless the employer is prepared to shell out thousands for your visa fees and paperwork they are not going to be interested in even interviewing you when Joe Bloggs has also applied for the position and is a US citizen, lives in the same town already and can start work tomorrow at no additional cost to the employer (save the usual background checks, etc).

I understand you *want* to move to the USA to work but employment-based immigration is not based on the wants of the foreignor, but on the needs of the country. If you fancy a change of scenery, why not try one of the EU countries while you still can? No visa required!

jjacoba

Hi Rene,

Yes sorry for my lack of terminology. I meant a B2 visa which allows up to 90 days in the country. Understand these are applied for online and in general terms easy to obtain.

I had already read the 'Pulaski's guide' which is where I saw the terminology about the skilled jobs. My most recent/current job is 'Vessel Operations' which I didn't think would be very common hence why I wanted to know if it fell under the category.

On the 'Pulaski's guide' it mentions "Recruitment agents will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US". This makes me think applying for jobs online, whilst in the US, is a better option than trying in the UK.

It also states about finding the US equivalent of my degree. Do you know how I would go about obtaining this?

My understanding of the J-1 Visa and having spoken to the company Cultural Vistas is that I qualify for a visa and would just need to seek employment, show them a job offer and they would then do the checks on both myself and the company. There is then a fee involved if both checks are passed. But again, this may be naive which is why I was asking if anyone had first hand experience obtaining a J-1 Visa.

No, not a love interest, but can you explain more about a USC family sponsoring?

Thanks again,

Jacob

scrubbedexpat099

Get a job with a company that will transfer you.

Pulaski

Sorry, no, they are very hard to obtain if you are allowed to use ESTA/the VWP. It is very common for B-2 visa applications to be rejected for British citizens unless you are either (i) retired, (ii) have a specific need to be in the US as a visitor for longer than 90 days e.g. hiking the Appalachian Trail or (iii) are not VWP eligible e.g. have a criminal record. Good luck with your visa application if you tell them that you want to look for work! (Ironically looking for work actually is permitted while on the VWP or a B-2 visit.)
Do you have a parent, sibling, or child (age 21 or older), who is a US citizen? If not, it doesn't apply to you. BTW It takes 10+ years for a parent or sibling to sponsor you for a visa/ green card.

Twinkle0927

Not really. You still wouldn't gave the permission to do the job. Anyone can apply for a job. Being eligible is the hard part. What Pulaski means is that because you are not yet eligible to live in the USA you don't stand much chance of even being given a second glance by an employer. He doesn't mean send an email from Liverpool and you're out, send an email from New York and you're in. You are still the same person and still not eligible to work.

It sounds like you've never even been to the US since you didn't even know about the entry procedure for visitors. So why is it you want to work here? Whatever you are trying to leave behind in the UK will still be here but you'll work more hours with less holiday time for it. It's not all sunshine and theme parks.

Noorah101

Jacob,

It sounds like you may still be confused about the B2 vs VWP for visiting the USA.

The VWP (Visa Waiver Program) allows you to stay up to 90 days in the USA without a visa. To get permission to travel on the VWP, you first apply for ESTA. This is done online by answering several questions. Once ESTA is approved, you can then board a flight to the USA without needing a visa in your passport.

The B2 visitor visa is an actual piece of paper affixed to your passport. This is obtained by applying for the visa online, going to the US Embassy in London, and having an in person interview. The B2 visa allows up to 6 months in the USA, but if you are eligible to use the VWP, it's very difficult to get a B2 visa approved. If it gets denied, you have to declare the denial on ESTA, such can lead to denial of ESTA for some time.

Personally, since you mention 90 days in your post, I think you are referring to the VWP, but you still mentioned B2, so wanted to make it clear what the difference is.

Rene

jjacoba

Hi Rene,

Yes sorry I was confused. I did mean VWP rather than the B2. My parents applied for the ESTA last time I was in the States but I was confused when you mentioned the B2.

It seems as though H1 Visa isn't going to be possible without a company transfer, which is also unlikely with the firm I work for.

When you say you don't think a J-1 Visa applies to me what makes think this?

Jacob

Noorah101

The H visa is not a company transfer anyway, that is an L visa.

I didn't say I don't think it applies to you. I said I'm not sure....because I don't know a lot of details about the J-1 visa when it's for employees rather than students.

Rene

ian-mstm

No, you didn't.


What you're describing is the VWP = Visa Waiver Program. There is no visa. The US allows UKCs the visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa.


With respect, you were the first one to mention staying in the US on a tourist visa. Rene simply put the correct name to it.


I suggest you are still confused. An L visa is for a company transfer. You said you read Pulaski's Ways... but did you actually understand what you read? If you didn't, you need to go back and read it again.


Yes - but, to be honest, it'll be a complete waste of time until such time as you actually have a job offer. If you really want to spend the money, though, start at www.wes.org.

Ian

H Bomb

To me it seems like your best approach is to find a global shipper or retailer that has localised shipping departments that has offices in the UK and the US who transfers people internationally.

Work for them in the UK, be excellent at your job, then ask to be transferred on an L visa.

This is still a long term plan and has no guarantees - but at least it is a route.

jjacoba

Yes sorry, confused with the different types of visas but I've re-read the guide and have gained a better understanding. It seems most working visas are not possible in my case however I still don't have any answers on the J1-visa.

Does anyone have any experience using Cultural Vistas? or any other J1 programme? My understanding, and I could be wrong, is that I would be valid to work up to 18 months in America, granted the host company found a suitable job etc.

Appreciate any advice on this.

**I have searched J1 visa using the search engine but most of the threads seem to be about Au Pair work or Summer camps which doesn't appeal to me**

Thanks
Jacob

H Bomb

From Wikipedia on J1. I may be wrong - but cannot see you fitting into any of these categories

Different categories exist within the J-1 program, each defining the purpose or type of exchange. While most J-1 categories are explicitly named in the federal regulations governing the J-1 program, others have been inferred from the regulatory language.[2]

Private sector programs:[6]

Alien Physician
Au pair and EduCare
Camp Counselor (summer camp)
Intern
Student, Secondary School
Work/Travel
Teacher
Trainee
Flight Training (J-1 privileges terminated effective June 1, 2010)[7]
Government and academic programs:

Government Visitor
International Visitor
Professor and Research Scholar
Short-Term Scholar
Specialist
Student, College/University

glowie

I had two J-1 visas through Cultural Vistas and while they seem to be a bigger organization that does J-1s a lot, it also depends which case worker you get. I had a very responsive one the first time, which was a J-1 for 6 months, and a very lazy/hardly responsive/new hardly nothing agent the second time (12 months).

To be honest though, the only reason why I "chose" Cultural Vistas is, because my company used (still uses) them for their trainee/exchange program. I got the contract from my company and then at some point Cultural Vistas contacted me to set up the visa.