LukeS1994

Hi there,

Im new to the forum.

I have been trying to seek employment in USA and go on a H1b visa, alot of companies have displayed interest saying there is a skills shortage but then said there HR cannot permit this.

I have specialist skills in repairing print production machines, its a needed skill in the United States, Canada, and Australia and ironically England aswell.

I am wondering do I need employer sponsorship to gain a work visa or can I apply on a sole application?

If I need employer sponsorship what is the best way to explain this to the employer?

Apologies if I posted this in the wrong place direct me where I need to go.

Thanks

Pulaski

A work visa must be initiated by an employer. H-1B visas are capped at somewhere around 30%-50% of demand, so all applications go into a lottery in April each year.

The application window in recent years has been opened for just one week at the start of April. Then, if you're successful, the visa is processed for work starting in October. So you have to find an employer willing to stump up the $5,000-$8,000 of visa and legal fees for you, then wait until October before you can start work. ....Assuming you were selected in the lottery.

If you miss the April application window, or are unsuccessful in the lottery, you have to wait 12 months to try again.

If you want to explain it to an employer, those are the relevant facts to tell them.

Otherwise you could dive into the murky world of employment based green cards, where the processing costs are higher, the requirements to prove that there is no US citizen/resident to do the job are stringent, and the waiting time can be 2-3 years, or longer.

I don't know how Australia and Canada rate a printing press repair technician, but you might find it easier to get a visa as they both have visa programs for skilled workers. If there is a category that fits your occupation it should be easier, and they both still have, I think, "working holiday visas" if you're under 30, so you might be able to go over and "give it a try" before switching to a regular work visa.

LukeS1994

How does anyone do that? So many people emigrate to the states I would assume there was an easier way.

Is H-1 the same ad H-1b?

Thanks for your help

tom169

See Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA : British Expat Wiki

If the employor isn't a multinational then chances are that they have never dealt with the visa process.

Also, if it is in shortage in the uk, just stick put with what you know and what you're familiar with and get paid more due to basic economics.

tom169

You would think after reading a few news articles that moving to the US is a walk in the park. Reality is that it is bloody tough if you don't immediate family that are citizens.

Pulaski

You assumed wrong, it is extremely difficult to get into the US on a work visa. Most people transfer in with their employer (I don't suppose your current employer would like to start up a US subsidiary? - No, I am not joking), or are sponsored by a family member.

The reason so many Brits make it over is that there are so many companies have operations in both countries, and then that makes it possible, once they become US citizens, to sponsor their family members. ..... If you're not in a relationship, there is also internet dating. And I'm not joking about that either!

My fault, I should have said "H-1B".

fozzyb

By far the most common form of employment based emigration is transfers within multi-national companies. Everyone I know that has emigrated to the US by an employment route has been (at least partially) through a transfer (although there is selection bias there as almost my whole adult life I have worked in US multinationals).

I would guess the next biggest chunk come from personal contacts - eg someone you have worked with before who is now a hiring manager in the US - and is prepared to put in the extra cost and effort because (s)he knows the quality of your work.

Any situation where you are up against local competition for a US job you stand no chance.

fozzyb

Or get your current employer to be acquired by a US multinational.

The one time in my life I worked for a British company it got bought out by a US multinational within a year.

ian-mstm

Please forgive me if I'm not as up on things as I should be, but isn't this a dying industry? I don't doubt you're a specialist but is that because no one new is going into the industry?


In the grand scheme of things it's relatively easy to get a job offer; it's very difficult to get visa sponsorship.

Ian

christmasoompa

As you're only 21, I'm wondering how much work experience you have if you have only just finished a degree? I don't know if your occupation is in demand enough to convince and employer to sponsor you and pay thousands to get you over, but if it is then I'd imagine you'd need a few more years of experience under your belt first.

Best of luck.

retzie

Has OP got a degree, though? I don't see that anywhere.

Note that to be eligible for an H-1B at all, the job must be specialised according to specific criteria. This usually means requiring a Bachelors degree (or higher); 12 years' progressive work experience can be used in lieu of a degree.

From what has been written so far, it seems unlikely the OP would qualify (to say nothing of the chances of finding an willing employer, getting a visa number, etc.)

dj6372

I work in the print production industry, ex UK now USA and to say there is a skills shortage is IMHO utter rubbish

During my time in the industry in the UK (22 years) the few times we advertised we would be oversubscribed 10 times over, and this was with a high level of CV's

We kept a pool of previous applicants, so rarely had to advertise!

Here in Cali its the same, there maybe jobs available but they fill up quick and with a lot of excellent applicants

To say its a dying trade is true, but even so the digi world still needs to be printed/maintained

Perhaps you can expand on the 'lots of companies'

The usual advice from us at BE is focus on finding a visa you are eligible for then look at the employment situation

christmasoompa

Neither do I, but given that it's a requirement for the visa he thinks he's eligible for (as he wouldn't have the years of required experience to compensate for not having one), I just assumed that he knew of that and met the criteria.

So on the assumption that he does have the degree he needs, then he's only going to have a year or two's work experience at most, which could make it trickier when trying to convince an employer to hire him and do his visa app.

LukeS1994

That's because "cali" is the most populous state in America so I would expect that it also has the most immigrants in the United States so most skills shortages are met. If you define over subscription to jobs in the United States just using California as an example then you my friend are very foolish. The United States is a huge country.

I have the equivalent to a bachelors degree in my study field and I've had it valued in the form of a educational valuation assessment specifically doen for emigrating.

I've only just started hunting a month or so ago and I've had so many companies replying and asking for interviews and they know I have no immigration status in the states as I'm clear on it. I wanted some advise on how to explain the sponsorship process as most of them are newbies but companies with a turnover of $20 million +

A lot of your comments have just been demotivating and somebody has even suggested staying in this country which made me laugh, I hate England it's weather and it's bad politics and most of all miserable people and I always will, I know America is no amazing place but I've visited lots of states only met amazing people and the weather is better in most states in my opinion, rather snow than rain, rather sun than rain etc.

Go fish.

Noorah101

You are not the one who needs to explain the visa process to these companies. If they are newbies who have never hired an international worker, they need to consult with an immigration attorney. So, in the future, if a company says they want to hire you but don't know how, all you need to say is, "I understand. Please let me know when you've spoken with an immigration attorney and let me know what documents you need from me". Then you are out of the picture until they contact you to proceed.

Rene