H1B Visa
 

I know the USA is struggling as the UK within this recession but I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me any information about how to apply for a H1B visa. I am a recent Graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Computing also I have family based in Los Angeles so it's mainly finding work. I have visited Los Angeles various times and I have a love for the place so any help with finding work , visas , etc would be much appreciated thank you

Re: H1B Visa
 

You don't apply for the visa, the company that wishes to hire you does.

Getting a company prepared to wait several months for you to be able to start work, and spend $5k or so on fees, is going to be a tough sell if you are a recent graduate with no experience though when they could get a US citizen that can start straight away for free. It may be something that you have to look at as a longer term plan, get yourself some specialist skills so that you stand out from the rest and then try, or alternatively find work at a company with both UK and US offices and then work towards a company transfer.

What family do you have in LA? I assume they can't sponsor you?

Re: H1B Visa
 

thanks for replying my mistake for the visa misunderstanding my family in LA are my Aunts and Uncles

Re: H1B Visa
 

Ah, ok. So no, they can't sponsor you.

:)

Re: H1B Visa
 

thought so lol :(

Re: H1B Visa
 

All very good points from christmasoompa, also be warned that if you do manage to get here with 'just' a BSc then there is around a 6 year wait, post H1B, to get a Green Card in the EB3-ROW category.
You need a Masters or Phd, or 5 years post BSc experience (earned outside the USA) to qualify for the EB2 GC category which is normally 'current'.

New H1Bs will be issued starting in April 2013, for employment starting Oct 2013. Last year they were all gone by June. So you would need to find a company willing to sponsor and apply for you by April, and then wait for you to enter the US by 1 Oct 2013.


Hope this helps and good luck.

Re: H1B Visa
 

Hi thanks for your reply, guess I will have to do some hardcore research by April thank you so much for the advice

Re: H1B Visa
 

Welcome to BE.

I have moved your thread over to the US Immigration and Visas forum.

Re: H1B Visa
 

Yes it's really hard to achieve with the current H1B quota and restrictions. I had a friend fly over for a couple of interviews in CA and WA last summer. He is an experienced and talented software expert, but once the interviewing company found out he could not start for ~18m it was a non starter.

I managed it by getting my sponsoring company to allow me to work in the UK for 3 months or so, whilst I waited for 1 Oct. This was possible as I have a lot of experience and work in software too, so remote working was possible.

To be honest, your best bet is to get more experience and/or qualifications in the UK, and perhaps work for a company that would allow you to transfer over on an L1 visa.
Otherwise, marriage to a US citizen is another route!

Re: H1B Visa
 

My OH got his H1B on the 3rd attempt due to quota being met. He has a BSc and 11 years experience by the time we moved over in 2009. Our GC process has just started this month.

He got the job by applying for stuff online (Monster.com was were he found the job that led to the H1B application. He is a web designer.) and was not headhunted but that does not happen very often.

It is very, very difficult but it is positive. You'd perhaps be best to try to get a job with a big multinational and after a few years, whilst also gaining experience and more skills, try to get a transfer over to the US.

Re: H1B Visa
 

Also there may be some good news in Obama's address tomorrow - perhaps a doubling of H1Bs ? Or automatic Green Cards for graduates of US universities?

Re: H1B Visa
 

If Obama proposes it, you can be sure that House Republicans will oppose it.

For something to have a chance it will have to come from the bipartisan Senate group.

Regards, JEff

Re: H1B Visa
 

Didn't senators from the bipartisan senate group just announce their proposition for immigration reform?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21233355

Re: H1B Visa
 

Yes.

From what little I've heard about it on the radio, H1-B is not the focus. May not even be mentioned at all? I haven't read your link, either, but I will.

Regards, JEff

Re: H1B Visa
 

Well one of the proposed changes that may be useful to the OP is 'attaching a green card to every advanced degree in STEM'.

I'm far from up-to-scratch with how bills gets passed or the likelihood of this happening, but it seems there's a long road to go down before this could be passed.