deadshoppingmalls

Worked in Biotech IT in Spain. Parent company took over a biotech firm in the US. They needed my skills, I wanted to move. So they sponsored us for L1b/L2 visa. 4 years later to the day of my job offer coming through...our green cards were approved.

Redwing

I worked for a small company in the UK, who did business with companies in the USA in the glass industry. I would assist with start ups, and one company offered me a job. That was in 1977, and I started working for them in 1978.

civilservant

Marriage to my now ex-wife. Divorced after just over a year in the US (3 years married).

fathermike

Moved from the UK on a R1 Visa in 2001.

Self petitioned for GC in 2003. GC received in 2005.

Became a citizen in 2010.

Moved back to the UK in 2015.

plums

I have a degree in Animation and ran my own freelance business for 5 years after graduating. I was approached by a US non profit association looking for a certain type of animation for their video and wanted to replicate something similar to what I had on my website. Worked with them freelance from the U.K. . They loved my work and offered to take me on as an intern/trainee in their design department.

I was sponsored for a J1 moved to the US for a one year training plan.
They extended the training plan to 18 months. Impressed with my training and work ethic.

Towards the end of my internship I was offered a job and they sponsored me for an H1b visa, I was very fortunate to intern with a non profit as they are H1b cap exempt and were able to file at any time.

I currently work for this associations publications department as a graphic designer and digital content creator.

No perminant plans in my future, but enjoying my time here.

I haven't read many design related profession visa routes. Thanks for allowing me to share my journey.

ZoeT90

Hi - Thank you for sharing. After reading many other stories of their journey to the US it would seem that my best bet is to gain entry via a job transfer. My plan is to move in 10 years when my daughter finishes primary school, so I am hoping that this is possible

MsElui

hubbie worked in the uk for a large American bank in their it dept. (snr manager in network storage). Transferred to US on an L1A. got a green card - moved jobs

Bermudashorts

I see from your other thread you are planning to use accountancy as a route to USA. I have been an accountant for 23 years and have a good CV having occupied a number of senior positions in multinationals. I always wanted to move to the USA (when I was younger, not now, I think the time has passed) and I got close but I never managed to pull it off.

These options do not drop into your lap, although having said that I know a few people that did secure a transfer over. They were all experienced accountants, say 15-20 years in the business, working for multinationals and transferred on the L1 visa to take up senior roles. I cannot think of any newly or recently qualified accountants that moved over.

I think chances of getting a H1b visa are extremely remote. There are plenty of accountants in the U.S., it simply is not a niche enough occupation for any employer to need to go through that process. So yes, I agree a transfer is the best bet, although still far from a sure bet.

Qualifying as an accountant is not easy, these are degree levels exams which you need to pass whilst holding down a full time job. So I would conclude with the advice to only pursue this as a career if it is something you would be happy to do in the UK, not because of a small chance that it would lead to a US visa.

SarahG

Applied for job.
Accepted job offer.
Company apply for H1b visa. Quota met. Unsuccessful in lottery. (2007)
Company apply for H1b visa. Quota met. Unsuccessful in lottery. (2008)
Company apply for H1b visa. Successful. (2009)
Visa transfer to new company. (2012)
GC process starts 2014.
GC approved 2015.

Ash UK/US

Initially a K1.

ZoeT90

Hi, thank you for your reply.

Accountancy and business - Going back to Uni to get my Ba (Hons) Business Management degree while getting my ACA through the ICAEW student scheme. I realise this is going to be a long process, at least 6 years in education as I have a friend who has just completed hers. Because I am doing a business degree also I am open to what career will follow, whether or not it will predominantly be accounting, I don't know. This is definitely not just to gain entry into the US this is me actively seeking a new career path for myself that I have recently become interested in since starting a new job - its all very exciting!

I now understand how hard it is to get in to the US from my own threads and others, I think my 10 year plan may be a little too ambitious now, but I don't see any harm in asking the questions now just for my own info.

Thanks again for your response

Z

ZoeT90

Hi Sarah, thanks for your reply.

May I ask what job? Sorry to be nosey - its just nice to find out all the different jobs that people have applied for.

How did you apply for the job?

Thanks,

Z

S.F

Software Engineer on an O1.

I'm 24 and have no degree in my field which made the process of getting a visa a bit tricky to say the least.

ZoeT90

Oh wow!

But you got in....congratulations!

mproudfoot

I've been a consultant with a US software company for several years now (indirectly via a UK partner at first, and now directly), working remotely from the UK but covering clients around the world. They sponsored me for a H1B this year - paperwork went in by end of March, selected in the lottery in within a few weeks (mid-April), and the application was approved by UCSIC by the first week of May. Was quite surprised at how quickly it happened given that I have no degree education (but over 16 years of experience in the field).