MANDE

Hi,
I am considering a move to Boston MA and just wanted some advise, from those of you who have already made the move, as to where I should start.

I've been browsing the internet for a couple of weeks and really am not getting anywhere with what I should do and when.

Visa - I don't have a degree and therefore won't qualify for a H1B visa. I assume therefore that I will be looking at H2B or sponsored by a company. How difficult is this?

Employment: I am currently working as a Clinical Application Specialist using Meditech software, in a private hospital. I would be looking for a similar role or a customer support position within a software company. I looking for some info about salaries/benefits of such positions (It would be great to hear from someone who has or is currently working for Meditech).

Housing - Unsure of whether it would be better to buy or rent at this stage. Is there any advice this and on the costs/taxes involved.

Any other advise in regards to the whole process would be great.

All posts will gratefully received.
Elizabeth

Brat1

Welcome to BE. Firstly, it is still possible to get an H1-B without a degree if you have 12 years relevant experience and can prove this and find an employer here willing to sponsor you. You really would need to research that first to see if that was possible for you before you would even start looking in to accomodation etc. There are loads of threads on here about H1-B's and the process, have a look through using the search function and see if there's anything in there. Is your position you hold at present a specialised occupation?? Hope you find the answers you're looking for on here, and once again, welcome to the forum.

meauxna

It's all about the visa, your conversation has to begin there. Without a valid way 'in', housing etc doesn't matter.

H-2B is primarily for seasonal work. It is sometimes called the ski-bum visa, to give you some context.
It's very unlikely, given the costs and timeline, that an employer will petition to sponsor you in a customer support position.

Please read or re-read the 'Really Really Read Me' thread pinned at the top of the forum. The US is extremely difficult to move to just because someone wants to. Absent close family members here, you're realistically looking at employment as your way in, and that is left mainly to the specialized worker.


It would be a good idea for you to share what you learned in your couple of weeks of browsing; people will know what you already know and it may spark other information for you.

Bob

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

Welcome to BE, but read that.

If you don't have a yes, then it won't be happening to be blunt, so the rest of the questions are irrelevant.

Best bet would either get a degree, or work yourself into a position with a company that has a US presence and get specialist skills/knowledge for a company transfer.