Linguists Opportunities?
 

Hello all,
This is my first post. I currently live in France, working as a Financial Advisor (3 years). I would like to move to the states, as my girlfriend is American. I must stress that marriage is not something I would consider to obtain a Visa. I may sound idealistic, but I refuse and have refused, to allow Visa beaurocracy to dictate when, how and why I should marry. I will marry my girl when the moment is perfect.
That aside. I will be looking to obtain an H1B visa. I hope to try and find a job in the financial services and hope that my languages (French-fluent, Spanish-Advanced Level, German-Basic) will enhance my chances. I will be in the states for 1.5 months from October and look to move over to the states after a 6 month cultural visit to Asia (starting Jan 2006).
I have lived around Europe and my job prospects are OK in UK, France and Spain. However I have chosen the states, for various reasons, and would like your valued opinions as to my chances and any tips you may have? My girlfriend is in Vegas, would this be a problem in terms of job availability?
I am 26 by the way and British.

Look forward to hearing from anyone...

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I'm afraid I would put your chances of an H1B at slim-to-none, going on the information you've given.

1) Skills/Experience/Education. For a potential employer to successfully apply for an H1B for you, they must show that they have been unable to recruit a US candidate with the specific skills you possess. Financial Services is not an obvious area where this will be easy, given the number of qualified US candidates. You would have to find a job that specifically required your fluent French, and then hope that the BCIS believed that there were no Financial Analysts with fluent French in the area.

2) Finding an employer to sponsor your H1B. More difficult than (1) above, will be to find an employer who will even talk to you if you don't have permission to work already. You would have to be very lucky indeed to even get your foot in the door in most places.

3) The H1B quota. This financial year's H1B cap (only 65,000) was reached within the first day of processing in October 2004. H1B petitions for visas starting in October 2005 were being accepted from April 1st of this year, and although you have until October 1st of this year to apply, it's almost certain that there are over 65,000 applications already in the system. If this is the case, then the earliest you could re-apply for an H1B after October is April 2006, for a visa that would only be valid in October 2006!

So, as I said, I don't rate your chances. It's difficult enough for those of us in extremely unusual or in-demand fields such as high-tech engineering or sushi chefs (I kid you not!) to get an H1B since they cut the quota from 195,000 to 65,000 in 2003.

Your better bet would be to work for a company in Europe for at least a year (I believe) in a senior position, and then get them to transfer you to a branch of their operation in the US on an L1 visa.

Or get married ;)

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

God attitude there...but it will keep you out of the US ...so you will have to change it..unfortunately if you want to live here ...

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I briefly thought about that avenue when i was a London based Financial Advisor (I have FPC 1,2 and 3 plus Advanced FPC - and nobody would even look at me!). Get married, or become a student for a few years and see if you can get an H1 with a recognized US qualification.

Or get married..!

Or - you could get married.

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Wow. Who would have thought that there would be quite as many obstacles? After all, we are exempt from the Visa lottery.
Finance is not the only thing that I deal with.. there are a lot of property transactions, with all the Brits buying in France. I am also hoping that the area (not East Coast, or California) may bring some advantages? My girlfriend is hot on the case and we may consider a lawyer. NOT to deal with the Visa application. I have read enough to know that is not a service they can offer, but to present my case and demystify the process for potential employers.
I know that finance majors are aplenty in the states, but is it not the case that
the employer needs to prove that no US citizen in the local area could be found for the position.
Also the languages.... and the languages... and the languages...
Surely that would be a pretty big plus? Realistically fluent French and English mother tongue are pretty rare, throw Spanish into the mix and you have the makings of a strong proposition.
I am to be honest willing to consider many options.
Casinos seem to have many operations other than dealing cards (at which I am crap by the way).
Studying seems to be a very expensive avenue.. so maybe teaching.

Just out of interest is there anyone on this site, except the brain surgeons, who did not marry to get a visa? or have family ties?

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Didn't they extend the quota by 20,000? I think I remember reading on here that the extra 20,000 hadn't all been issued so there might be some chance of getting one before next October. Assuming that the OP can find an employer...

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Unfortunately, I can personally testify that this is not an option for H1.

Edit: I should say "in California". All states are different so you might have better luck in Nevada - who knows. Are you a qualified teacher?

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I have worked one year as a language assistant in a High School and in a Hotel Management School (after High School) both in Belgium. I could easily get a language teaching qualification to teach english as a foreign language (TEFL).
I have a batchelors degree in French? Good A-Levels (x 4)...
So what is the answer? There must be one... apart from marriage.

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I wouldn't think you're going to get an H1 in a school - they just don't have the available money to pay for the necessary lawyers. Plus, there are qualified US citizens available to do the job. Your best bet would be a university, but I would imagine they are going to ask for a masters degree at the very least. Do look into it, though - as I said, every state has different requirements and different available workforce so you never know. Make some enquiries with local Las Vegas businesses re: possibilities of applying for H1 and see where you get.

I'm afraid you might have to bite the bullet and make an honest woman of her ;) If it's any consolation, the fiance visa takes a while to process (and then you have a certain length of time to get married in after you have been granted the visa) so you have plenty of time to get used to the idea :D

I got married earlier than I would otherwise have done, simply because it was the only way to be together. I haven't regretted it... but then, it was only 4 months ago!

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Youre right - there must be!! America is crying out for Immigrants...

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

OK. I deserved that. So did you get wed too?
Any CEO's out there interested in Sponsoring a Tea boy?
But I will be checking out all possible avenues.. seriously. Must say that my girlfriend deserves credit for finding out a lot of information aswell. Obviously she is keen to find a solution too...

I must say cheers for the pointers anyway...
I will add any other ideas I have... would be interested to discover the actual quota and how long it takes...can you stay while it is processed? etc...

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Welcome!! <end of sarcasm - genuine advice to follow!>

I took the student route, and actually married for all the right reasons. I was very happy in London and just came for a few years to get a degree, but i met a lovely girl, and we decided the cost of living and my wifes desire to stay here in US meant going back to UK wasnt an option. Students can do a certain amount of work (such as Internship/CPT and OPT) which is interspersed with their studies, and you may be able to transfer your credits from the programs you have already carried out. You can stay for years as a student (and maybe by then will realise what a gem your fiancee is and decide to pop the Q!)..

Just a few ideas there for you!

Carl.

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

Cheers matey.
Plenty to think about. Will definately investigate further.
Luke

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I'm here on an L visa c/o my husband. He was transfered from the UK division to the US. The process took ages to implement and yes his company did have to prove that no US citizen could do his job. I have seen all the paperwork involved and it would put a yellow pages to shame.

Re: Linguists Opportunities?
 

I'm an intra-company transfer.

To be honest, I don't think your languages will count for much. When we do business with people from overseas, it's all in English.