Getting into the US
 

My wife and I are wanting to relocate to the US based on my engineering qualifications (BEng Hons) but currently cannot get any US Company to entertain my CV.

Is it purely down to the US economy as I can't believe every job I apply for there is somebody more qualified than myself?

Has anybody any advice that we could follow as we are desparate to get out of the UK?

Thanks

Carl

Re: Getting into the US
 

It's not just the economy... but there are already hundreds, if not thousands, of qualified engineers who are out of work and don't need sponsoring. It's an expensive proposition for the sponsoring company... and if you want to be taken seriously, you need to have superior qualifications to the next guy.


Find a job with a branch office in the US, work yourself up the chain for a few years, and then look at an L-1A/B visa. Alternately, if you have the dosh, look at any of the E investment visas.

Ian

Re: Getting into the US
 

Regarding your cv, did you realise that UK and US cvs can be quite different? - it might me worth getting someone to 'Americanise' it just so you are not discarded at the first filter.

Re: Getting into the US
 

I'm an engineer with a Master's and I've been out of work 6months. I can't even apply to jobs that would require relocation as most of those say they will only consider local candidates. It really is down to the economy and employers knowing that they have the pick of the workforce. If anyone stands out as looking just a bit difficult (i.e. requiring sponsorship or needing to relocate), they are just tossing your CV/resume into the rubbish bin.

And btw, I'm a native US citizen with all my education and professional experience in the US, and I'm still having trouble. You will just need to have some patience in finding the right company willing to sponsor you.

Just wanted to add, though, that if you have quite a bit of extensive experience in a specialized field, you may have an easier time an engineer that is less specialized. If this is the case for you, instead of only looking at companies that have current job openings, try researching companies that hire in your field and send them your resume/CV even if they have no current job openings. Also, check out linkedin to find people that may work in the companies you are interested in. A lot of times, it is still who you know in the US job market, so networking is important.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Maybe, maybe not but you can be sure that there are acceptable candidates that don't require sponsorship and can start immediately though.

Re: Getting into the US
 

You don't say which discipline you are; mechanical, electrical, etc?

Re: Getting into the US
 

Welcome to BE :)

Had a look at the wiki up top? You don't give enough details to get any specifics but read this - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

It's a good place to start.

Just one question, why desperate to leave the UK? If it is just the fancy of adventure and to try new cultures, you've got the rest of the EU where you don't have to worry about visas and your qualifications will have merit and meeting.

You really do have to have niche skills to get into the US these days on a work visa, just a massive expense other wise.

Also need to consider if your wife wants/needs to work, that'll rule out H1B so you'll have to find a company in the UK who'll eventually transfer you.

Re: Getting into the US
 

You are competing for an H1 visa, more than likely. Not only is there an added $5,000-$10,000 cost associated with this that the employer has to pay, but you are also up against every engineer from IIT in India and Tsinghua in China, not to mention those US-educated foreign nationals as well who have top grades from Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech. Many of these companies have multiple Indian or Chinese programmers and in some meetings are not even held in English.

Oh, and they'll work for a hell of a lot less money than you.

Now add to that the unemployed American citizen technology workforce, of whom there are many, and you'll start to see you really are up against quite a bit (did I mention that even if you get an H1 you can only stay 6 years?)

The easiest way in is probably through a corporate transfer--find a big UK-based company that will send you over to the US for awhile. This might be the best way in for you and your wife to come over and really get a taste of the US before considering other options to convert to permanent residence.

You should also check dice.com and see what leads you can find there. Again you'll have sponsorship issues but for tech jobs it's probably one of the best sites. Also look at indeed.com.

Good luck.

Re: Getting into the US
 

So corporate transfer is an easy option?

I work with a renown American engineering firm and we have offices around US, headquarters being in CA.

So in such corporate transfers, dont they ask any questions? like why not hire someone locally etc?

How about the cost? Is it still as high as $10K ? :confused:

Re: Getting into the US
 

I have just returned to the UK after 8 years in AZ. I worked as a City Planner and had dealings with a great number of Civil Engineering companies. During the boom, these companies were shipping in staff from their other offices elsewhere in the US, or contracting work out to overseas companies. It was crazy. When the housing boom went tits up, most of those companies either laid off huge numbers of staff or folded altogether. In many instances, it seemed to happen overnight. I can't even begin to imagine how many US engineers are probably out of work right now. I'm sorry, but at the moment, you face an uphill battle.

Re: Getting into the US
 

I was talking to our HR people the other day regarding visas - the company uses a mix of visas including a blanket L - and their stance is that a manager looking at bringing someone in should budget for a minimum of $6,800 for the process. Could be higher, depending how things go. So yes, could be $10,000.

Re: Getting into the US
 

In the case of corporate transfers, they have normally decided to relocate that employee for business reasons. It's all in house, which is massively different from someone applying "off the street", as it were.

Re: Getting into the US
 

There are still hoops to jump through and it's not "easy" but it is generally easier than bringing in a new hire on a visa.

Re: Getting into the US
 

From my perspective, corporate transfesr are either of

- you are really really good at what you do OR
- you know someone who can jack you up

It's as simple as that. Unless of course you are talking about the dodgy Indian consultancies.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Well you would probably love to be in my shoes as my company want to send me to America for 2yrs but the Americans want me to relocate :)
Lots of factors made me turn down the ..dream job. Read penguinsix's reply as this is me.

Medical..you have to pay 10% everytime either of you need treatment.
Dental &optical :ohmy:
It's a "work at will state" ...no job security
Pay for education..expensive
Wife cannot work..visa
Visa..visa ..visa's :ohmy:

Not easy even if you get invited..world of hurt if you don't know what could go wrong. I am a mechanical engineer no degree just 20yrs experience i have now pushed for assignment for 2yrs as hopefully i still maintain my uk rights and have a job back here if it doesn't work out. I keep my uk pension intact and don't have to resign from my uk job.
I have had a email back from hr north america saying they are pleased to let me know assignment has now been agreed and i should get offer soon. Lets see.........
Search this forum for advice you will need it :fingerscrossed:

Re: Getting into the US
 

Everyone's advice on here is correct............you face an extremely difficult task firstly getting a visa and then finding a job in this economic climate.
I have been trying for a year to move from PA to New England and it has been really hard to secure an interview and I have to say that most of the jobs I applied for had a bias towards local candidates.
I will be sarcastic one point............we have such an idiot in the White House that your best bet maybe to come over here on a visa waiver and wait it out for an amnesty.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Sorry, that was the last guy!


I suggest you refrain from offering advice that could land you deep trouble. US conspiracy laws will make bamboo shoots under your fingernails seems like a pleasant manicure!

Ian

Re: Getting into the US
 

Welcome to BE fellow Yorkie. :)

*cough* I know you were being sarcastic but..."messages describing anything against the law is not allowed and will be removed. "

Re: Getting into the US
 

Sadly all that is true - I was hiring earlier this year (not engineers I must say), and we were snowed under with applications - almost 1,000 for what was eventually just 4 (four) positions.

I tried interviewing the "best" candidates, but when time for salary negotiations arrived, my employer wasn't paying enough to get people to relocate themselves because we weren't paying relocation!

Then we switched to interviewing the "best qualified" local people based on their resumés ..... and I soon discovered that US masters degrees aren't worth the paper they're printed on! These people weren't even dynamic and motivated - I'm not sure how they summoned the enthusiasm to get out of bed every day, much less to obtain a masters degree! :unsure:

Finally we settled on finding a couple of good people who were already with the company, and a couple of people who already had some experience in a related are having worked for us as contractors. I am pleased to report after 5 months they are all performing well and gaining experience and confidence as each day passes.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Corporate transfers usually involve a lot more cost than just the visa processing. My company's standard relocation package included shipping, accountants fees, tax gross-ups, temporary accommodation, rental car and more. The budget my boss signed up for moving me was roughly equivalent to a year's salary, as it happened.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Yes, but you are special!:D

Re: Getting into the US
 

Indeed. I was simply talking about the costs associated with the visa itself.

Total costs are far greater, though some of them would apply equally to transfers / relocations of a US employee within the US. Admittedly, some wouldn't, and some would be on a different scale, which is why it is almost impossible to talk numbers. However, the original question was regarding visa costs, which are more able to be quantified.

During the same chat with our HR folks they mentioned that the 'usual' cost of a relocation within the US should be budgeted as around $75,000 and up, but every case is different. I managed to get a relocation package to move just over 100 miles up the road, as it were. We were a cheap relocation due to the circumstances, but it was still a hefty 5 figure sum in the end.

Re: Getting into the US
 

Have you tried looking at other countries such as Canada or Australia to see if they have easier ways of getting a work visa legally?

Re: Getting into the US
 

Not a criminal offence.

Could be a strategy to consider.

Re: Getting into the US
 

I dont mean to start a debate but some of the rubbish I have seen move from UK to Australia (where I worked before), is not worth 5% of the money they spend on relocation. I mean these executives claim the most remote of the expenses are relating to the move. They pretty much suck up as much blood out of the organization as possible.

Apart from being nasty (!!) the point is - the six figure moves are not norm. One can easily move for less than that...It's when the executives move (or very high calibre people who deserve it) with hefty demands.