scoooooot1

I'm in the UK and I've just come out of a long-term relationship with a US citizen - we were to get married in the summer and move there, but that's not going to happen now.

However, I'm now at a point of time in my life where I want to try and move to the US myself. I'm 32, have a degree, completed half of a postgraduate masters and - once I've sold my house - will have approx £120K in assets. I've searched and found about obtaining H1B visas through employers which would suit me - if I like it in the US, I can try for citizenship at some point in time, if not I can come back home.

What I'm not too sure of is the actual process - there are numerous websites who, for a fee, would reputedly find me work with "H1B-friendly" employers. Is this the way to go? Are there some that can be recommended, as I'm sure that there are a fair few rip-off merchants out there.

Additionally, what the normal length of time from starting searching to actually leaving for work? I do realise that this is probably a "how long is a piece of string" type question.

Ray

Your a bit late for a H1B this year...the number of visas available for this year is reputed to run out in about 6/8 weeks ...forget Agents, come over yourself and Job hunt..

scoooooot1

Yes, i've heard that about the H1B's for this year. Problem is, as I see if you come on a tourist visa for up to 90 days, you're prohibited from seeking work for the duration of your stay. Where on earth do I start looking? I've trawled through website after website and I can't any starting points, aside from using Agents. Towards the end of the year, I'm opting for redundancy from my current job so spending time looking isn't the issue - it's where do I look!?

Hnchoksi

    >Subject: Re: Moving to america...?
    >From: scoooooot1 member20767@british_expats.com
    >Date: 2/1/04 2:14 PM Eastern Standard Time
    >Message-id: <[email protected]>
    >Originally posted by ray6
    >> Your a bit late for a H1B
    >this year...the number of visas available for this year is reputed to
    >run out in about 6/8 weeks ...forget Agents, come over yourself and Job
    >hunt..
    >Yes, i've heard that about the H1B's for this year.
    >Problem is, as I see if you come on a tourist visa for up to 90 days,
    >you're prohibited from seeking work for the duration of your stay. Where
    >on earth do I start looking? I've trawled through website after website
    >and I can't any starting points, aside from using Agents. Towards the
    >end of the year, I'm opting for redundancy from my current job so
    >spending time looking isn't the issue - it's where do I look!?


Try monster.com for a start

Ray

You are not forbidden to LOOK for a job on a visa waiver..

Jb

Have you thought of an E2 visa? Try this guy he's good at that sort of
thing and does'nt charge a fee! www.usa-immigration.co.uk

JB

Lucy

"scoooooot1" <member20767@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Problem is, as I see if you come on a tourist visa for up to 90 days,
    > you're prohibited from seeking work for the duration of your stay. Where
    > on earth do I start looking? I've trawled through website after website
    > and I can't any starting points, aside from using Agents. Towards the
    > end of the year, I'm opting for redundancy from my current job so
    > spending time looking isn't the issue - it's where do I look!?

Well, I did it the old-fashioned way. I wrote a resume and sent it off to
companies with a cover letter. I also sent it to some headhunter companies.
In total, I sent around fifty letters.

To find these companies and headhunters, I just looked through trade
magazines in my field and identified companies in the geographical area that
I wanted to move to.

It took about nine months from beginning my quest to actually finding an
employer willing to sponsor me. Got my H1B visa in my passport a couple of
months later.

Lucy

scoooooot1

OK, I re-read what I had! You can look for work but not accept an offer type thing. Wouldn't the authorities be concerned if you said you were wanting to stay for 90 days to look for work?


Good job! (well I hope it is)

Ray

I don't think I would say I was coming to look for a job ..Have a read of the rules relating to a visa waiver
http://travel.state.gov/vwp.html Even if you was offered a job it would still be a while before a visa could be obtained..

Lucy, well done and congrats ..that takes some doing..