airwin15

Hi all

It has always been my dream to move to New York to work in the fashion industry. Im currently in my final year of uni in Glasgow and when I graduate i'll have an honours degree in Fashion Marketing. I have been looking at your posts and understand that I would probably have to go job searching in the hope that an employer may like me enough to want to sponsor me... am i correct?

alsooo... are you better to travel to the US under the waiver programme and job search when you're in the country or sort a job from home before you apply for a visa? moreover, I'll be 21 when I graduate so lack extensive experience (other than yearssss in retail), I've got a feeling this might hinder my prospects?

If I haven't bored you all yet, I am in LOVEEE and my boyfriend also wishes to move to America (yes with me) however, he has an HND and doesn't meet any of the other requirements such as specialised, child genius etc. will it be impossible for him to move with me? I don't want to say buhbye to him just yet...

sorry folks, I know its an essay but any advice I could receive would be awesome

meauxna

hi there,

First, I'd recommend you read the pinned 'Really Really Read Me' post at the top of the forum, which explains the various routes in.

Then take a closer look at the J visas for Exchange Programs. There are some open only to recent graduates for interning and gaining the type of experience and exposure you want. That J-1 time can be an excellent time to network, job hunt, etc.

Try to work on it in a set of steps vs "I want to move permanently to NY and only NY". You will find a LOT more opportunities that way.
Same thing for the BF. Worry about him when the time comes. However, if he doesn't qualify for his own move, the only way to be a dependent of yours is marriage. This is all some time in the future yet. In the meantime, spend some time reading here weekly, and you'll learn a lot.

airwin15

thank you veryyy much for the reply. I really appreciate your advice and I was also so worried I would be ignored so I'm happy to have had your post so sad I know!

I will keep researching and hopefully I'll get it sussed,, plenty of time yet!

Pulaski

That is a chicken or egg problem - you are highly unlikely to get any prospective employer to pay you any attention unless you are IN the US, whereas to seek employment while on a Visa Waiver is, technically, against the rules too. Realistically, the latter is the only viable option, but it has potential risks to it if the INS discovers that you are seeking employment while here on a VW (they won't much care if you try to tell them you are going home to arrange the appropriate visa).

I experienced exactly the problem you face, though my wife is a USC, so getting a greencard was not an issue. But getting an employer to give me so much as an interview, much less a job offer, while I was in the UK was a thankless task despite me having a degree, professional qualifications, and several year's experience.

However, no sooner than I booked a ticket to visit the US and I had interviews with five good quality businesses in one week! ..... which just about killed me.

airwin15

thanks for the reply thats really helpful.

its so complicated with the whole employer thing, it's really hard to sell yourself or show enthusiasm via a CV especially as the industry i want to work in is so cut throat.

i really dont want to risk anything, i totally want to do it by the book but i was going to use the waiver time to network and try seek advice from people out there..send some emails while im actually on the same continent. argh, think im going to speak to my uni advisor when term begins to review my options for final year and steps to take from there.

thank youu again!

igotheesta

I think your highly unlikely to get a job out of the gate not against American girls from FIT and FIDM. Your best bet is probably an internship with Mountbatten or someone like that. As for your boyfriend you will have to get married to take him with you or he will have to make his own way over.

scrubbedexpat099

How about continuing your education in the US?