Enigma368

Hi All,

I am very keen to move from London to Los Angeles and having done my research it seems like H1B is my best bet (L1 not an option for me unless I get a new job and wait a year). I have a degree and 7 years experience as a Software developer.

I have being applying the past three weeks to companies who have a record of sponsoring H1Bs but have got little in the way of a response. The past week I have been focusing on Hospitals as this is where my experience is and also most of them are cap exempt which means that I would not need to worry about H1B lottery. Still have not really had a response.

Just wondering if anyone had any tips as to improve my chances? Would being over in the US help a lot, or not really? Am I limiting myself too much by sticking to one (allbeit large) city? I am an Irish citizen if that makes a difference(I have entered DV lottery!) Any tips that may improve my chances would be greatly appreciated!!!

I have spoken to some Indian consultant companies but they seem very dodgy. Should I avoid?

Noorah101

Definitely don't limit yourself to one city, or even one state.

My belief is that most people get their H1B job offers through networking within their industry, rather than cold-calling or sending in resumes (which probably don't make it beyond the front desk).

Are you on Linkedin? I've seen a lot of people use that as a resource.

Rene

Enigma368

Well I am very keen on Los Angeles, but I am willing to open myself up to other locations if I absolutely run out of options there.

Yes, I really do get the impression that my resume/applications is just getting rejected outright because of need for sponsorship even though for many jobs I think I may be ideally qualified. I wonder if I should be less immediately forthright about needing a visa. I don't want to spring it on them at the end, but maybe not right at the beginning so at least they have a chance to look at my resume and not reject me without even considering...

I am on linkedin but not really sure where to go after creating a profile? Not sure how to work on the networking either.

Maybe someone has some experience of how they got their H1B?

Sally Redux

My husband did at a university in LA but he had been collaborating for many years with a research group there and has specialist skills.

Why LA in particular?

christmasoompa

I'm only going on my husband's experience, but certainly he's been headhunted for positions that would have entailed a H1-B, not the other way around (we've never gone for it as we have no interest in living in Texas or California, which is where all the jobs have been as he works in energy).

I don't know if a company would be willing to spend thousands and wait 6 months for you unless they need you enough to come and find you, but all you can do is try.

It's worth noting that the vast majority of headhunters that have contacted my husband have seen him on LinkedIn first, so I think that's definitely the way to go.

Best of luck.

SarahG

My husband came over to the US on a H1b visa in 2009. He is a web designer/Interactive Designer. He applied for literally HUNDREDS of jobs. He applied to companies over the entire company. Initially he looked at Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. (He ended up working in Indianapolis, IN and is now in Charleston, SC) He paid no attention to lists of companies that had apparently previously hired people who needed H1b visas. He developed niche skills and gained extra experiences in the UK. (He actually did work for free as well as working his full time job, just to gain extra skills and experience. He completed more training and courses and obtained more qualifications. It took 3 attempts to actually get the visa as the first 2 occasions the quota was met immediately. We got our green cards in the mail this past weekend after being in the US since October 2009. Company 1 would not apply for GC for us and he had to find Company 2 who were willing to file, after working for them for a year.
I would not limit yourself to one location when applying. Network and make contacts. Obtain more skills and experience. Continue to look for companies in the UK who have offices in the US and could transfer you over after working for a year. Look at it as a long term plan and that it could take a few years to come to fruition.

ian-mstm

This isn't surprising. If you don't have a US address, your CV will likely end up in the trash. It's not that you wouldn't be well-qualified, it's that you're perceived as more trouble than it's worth.


It would help a lot... but you're still going to have to overcome the need for visa sponsorship.


Great! However, so do many others... others who are already in the US, who don't need permission to work, who don't need to be sponsored (at no small cost to the employer), and who can start work tomorrow if asked. They are your competition... so unless you have superior skills or know something that puts you in a niche market... well, there's really not much hope that this is going to work for you.

Ian

MarylandNed

I'm a software developer who came over on H1B about 17 years ago so much of my experience of the process may be outdated - maybe not. I'm also an Irish citizen but that only helps with DV lottery eligibility where chances are still slim - but still better to apply than not.

If you want to increase your chances, definitely broaden the search beyond just LA. It's hard enough getting in without limiting yourself to one city. I had no particular area in mind when I started looking. In fact, I was actually looking to return to Canada (more on that later) from the UK but heard about several opportunities in the US instead. It also helped that I had a niche skill - programming in a language that was widely used in healthcare at the time but not much elsewhere.

As others have said, you need to network and also use the internet (linkedin.com, monster.com, dice.com, etc.) As someone already mentioned, look for companies in the UK that also have a US presence, because you could join in the UK and then move over to the US later via L1 or H1B. You need to be upfront about your immigration status - you can't hide the fact that you need a visa. Employers will likely ask upfront anyway.

I would avoid recruiting and consultant companies in favour of your own research first. Then try recruiters next - i.e. someone who will try to place you into a full-time position. Consulting companies would be my absolute last choice if at all.

Also consider Canada. It can be a long term gateway into the US. The Canadian immigration process isn't as daunting and most Canadians live within easy access of the US. If you obtain Canadian citizenship (which means you would have stayed there long enough to make a contribution; not as much guilt about leaving later), you open up the possibility of working in the US on a TN visa. If you find a Canadian employer with a US presence, then even better. To go this route, you need to accept a more long term outlook regarding your goals.

Good luck!

big_j

I moved over on an H1-B 15 years ago as a software developer ... but the landscape was very different then.
I searched (and applied) for job openings that stated they would sponsor immigration and which were looking for my skill set, and I did eventually get a job offer and moved over.
However, in 1999, there were a lot of vacancies and high employment; technical people in the US were hard to find. I don't think that's as true today.
Good luck!

Hotscot

FYI

Have a look at Dice.com

(Wow...looks like IBM is laying off thousands...)

Enigma368

Thanks guys. Lots of really useful tips here. I think the consensus is that H1B visas are expensive in time and money for employers and to have a chance, I need to work hard at getting noticed and making people feel it is worth their time going down that route.

Working for a US company in Canada or London is definitely an option too as L1 visas seem a lot simpler for companies. I guess it would be nice to find a company that could promise me the option to move to the US after one year, but that may be unrealistic.

Finally, does anyone know anything about this option below(Professional Career Training). Not sure if it is for Irish people only, but it is a visa I am eligible for. It does not require a company to sponsor me, but it does require a company to offer me a position that is structured as a training position before I can go. Not sure if this would pay particularly well even if I did convince a company to do it:
Professional Career Training - Professional Career Training Programme

Bob

It's a tool best used to get around HR and contact who you need. Search company, go through the folks and find someone who has publicly listed their work email, it's probably a HR bod...now you've got the company email structure (first.surname@company or initials@co etc). Find the likely hiring manager or person you'd be doing the daily work with and contact them directly.

As for how to network, contact everyone you know. Search out people at companies you have worked with. Join occupational groups and associations.

Pretty basic stuff really.

Hotscot

Indeed.

You need to be able to actively sell yourself and outline what contribution you can specifically make to the potential employer. Be able to say what you've done and what impact it had. Results focused.

Avoid vagueness and in-vogue buzzwords.

There is a lot of hungry competition.

http://socialnewsdaily.com/21034/the...avoid-in-2014/

Enigma368

Thanks Bob. Obvious stuff I guess but actually useful to have it spelled out for me, as I am new to this. Appreciate the response

BTW does anyone know is it a similar timeframe for H1B visas when sponsored by cap exempt organisations? Do they still have to file 6 months in advance?

Bob

Depends if they want to stump for premium processing or not as to how quick the visa processing is.

The 6 month thing is in regards to applying for visa in April for that following Oct start, which doesn't apply for cap exempt positions.