Amanda

Neil,

IT is hopeless: I see my friends with US Citizenship find IT jobs,
those without Greencard (the ones I know are on F-1 stident visa) has
no luck to get sponsored for H-1 right now.

Experienced IT people like you are teaching at 2 year colleges or
university (as part-time which is called adjunct) and also as far as I
know, schools don't do H-1 for employees. So usally, it's either US
citizen or GC holder or the person with work permit.

You know? You also (not just your wife) can get teacher's
certification in US, say, to teach Math in high school. Don't do it
for computer science as science teachers other than IT are more in
demand.

For teacher's certification for those with a Bachelor degree or more,
(called alternative track in Texas), here are some info.

In CA, Teacher Credential Program is called "Project Pipeline".
Website: http://www.projectpipeline.org
Email:[email protected]
Ph: (916) 924-8633
Fax: (916)924-8664

I talked with someone from the office of a district in CA: It's a 2
year program in CA - seems you take courses part time while teaching.
I was told that the Project pipeline program helps you to land a job
with school while you are doing certification; though not guaranteed,
it sounded to me that it wouldn't be a problem. And, you can pay
tuition fees in 20 months installments over 2 academic years; most
school district offers an automatic payroll deduction plan. Enrollment
fee is due upon enrollment into the program. Application fees is due
by May 14, 2004.

I don't know about the work permit part in your case. You might be
able to email and ask them.
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In Texas, it's one semester program (full load) or part-time over a
year. A lot cheaper than in CA but you are on your own to get hired by
the school. Usually, the schools - this is true for schools all over
US - let you start working at their schools with the agreement that
you will get certifcation done in an academic year (for Houston) after
starting at their school.

Here is info for Texas: www.esc4.net
Ph: (713)462-7708

Again, I do not know about work permit.

By the way, in Houston, Texas, some of my friends from University (on
F-1 student visa; F-1 student are allowed to work up to 20 hrs on
campuses; I don't know whether they get separate work permit for high
school) teach part-time at high school (some as substitute teacher)
with no teachering certification. I think it is referred to as
Substitue teacher.

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Your (and your wife) issue would be about work permit/work visa, I
would say, if you are interested in teaching.

You can come to US on F-1 student visa and teach classes in 2 year
colleges or even University as part-time adjunct instructor instead of
spending money for Teacher's Cert but college/university tuition fees
would kill you, unless you get departmental assistantship (university)
which would give you in-state tuition fees and a salary. To get
departmental assitanship, most schools but not all requires you to be
in grad program. Then you won't have time - you'd would be too busy -
to work in high school.

supernav

If you have half a million US cash -- perhaps you should invest in a business, broker a deal with a US company -- and come aboard as an L1A. Change your career to an executive, and you'll have a better chance.

Or apply to indian IT companies who can send you to the US in a week's notice on an L1B ("bodyshopping"). They'll pay you minimum wage tho.

-= nav =-

Amanda

Neil,

Just because IT market is slow, don't avoid trying though especialy
since you have so much experince. You may be still be able to get
something or able to do consulting work as your won business.

Also, I want to correct my statement of "schools don't do H-1 visa".
When I think about it, universities must be doing H-1 for Ph.Ds.

For 2 year colleges, since they usually employ part-time instructors,
they may not want to mess with H-1 cost but for high schools, I
would't be surprised if some do H-1. Best is to contact schools and
look for schools that would do.

For Houston area, use key word "Houston Independent School District",
"Clear Creek Indpendent Scchool District". Your wife should definitely
try contacting high schools.

Good luck!

Amanda

I meant try primary schools , for your wife.

Englishmum

There are a few British primary schools in the US for expat children.

They're located in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and Houston:

http://www.britishschool.org

Newamanda

fathermike <member22694@british_expats.com> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > When I moved to Florida in July 2001 my wife, a tecaher with 12 years
    > experience came as my dependednt, with an R2 visa. She was offered a
    > job in a private school, where state certification is not required.
    >
    > She
    > applied to adjust her status to work as a teacher, we used an attorney
    > and it cost abouT $1200. It took about four months for her to receive
    > authorization to work. The following summer she returned to England and
    > applied for a H1-B based on the previously obtained authorization. That
    > visa is good until October this year.
    >
    > This may seem a complicated way,
    > but it worked out fine. She can extend her H-1 simply by mailing it to
    > Washington 90 days before its due to expire as she still works at the
    > same school, that should take us through to our Green Cards finally
    > arriving.
    >
    > Hope that help,
    >
    > Father Mike


Ah..so the school does do H-1 for teaching professional. I think
Neil's wife has a good chance. The school might even sponsor for Green
card after the employee working on H-1 for a while unless the school
offers to do it earlier. Never hurt to askbut might be wise to just
get H-1 first.

H-1 visa has limit of 6 years maximum, I think.

sweimm

IT not entirely dark. I won a green card and decided to go to Seattle and try to find a job. When I knew my arrival date I got I a one year assignment at Microsoft, two weeks prior to my arrival. Two telephone inteviews and it was done. I wasn´t a dream job but it is a start. I also got an interview for a good job a Microsoft.

Without a Greencard it is a lot harder but not impossible. If you have some special knowledge it can be done.


Good Luck!