Moving to Houston
Jan 27th 2014, 3:41 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Moving to Houston
I have a job offer from the company that i work for in Aberdeen but they cant sponsor me. Is there any other way to get a visa to work in Houston
Any help would be great
Thanks
Tommy
Any help would be great
Thanks
Tommy
Jan 27th 2014, 3:49 pm
#2
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Moving to Houston
"Can't" sponsor you? Why not?
If your employer can't/ won't sponsor you, you're left with investment based visas (think $200,000-$500,000) and family based visas. Sponsorship by parents or siblings can take many years, a spouse around 8-9 months. Are you single and looking for a US spouse?
Honestly though, if your employer isn't going to apply for a visa for you, your job offer is worthless.
If your employer can't/ won't sponsor you, you're left with investment based visas (think $200,000-$500,000) and family based visas. Sponsorship by parents or siblings can take many years, a spouse around 8-9 months. Are you single and looking for a US spouse?
Honestly though, if your employer isn't going to apply for a visa for you, your job offer is worthless.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jan 27th 2014 at 4:01 pm.
Jan 27th 2014, 3:59 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Moving to Houston
Didn't they know you required a visa before they made an offer?
How on earth did that not come up during your interview?
Was HR asleep?
How on earth did that not come up during your interview?
Was HR asleep?
Jan 27th 2014, 4:02 pm
#4
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Moving to Houston
There have been some recent threads on this:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...glish+engineer
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ing+to+Houston
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...glish+engineer
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ing+to+Houston
Last edited by Bink; Jan 27th 2014 at 4:22 pm. Reason: links weren't working
Jan 27th 2014, 4:05 pm
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Re: Moving to Houston
Its the same company i work for in Aberdeen and offered me before they went to HR. The job is open for a while as they cant find no one. They don't see my job as skilled
Jan 27th 2014, 4:11 pm
#6
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Moving to Houston
But does the US immigration service see your job as skilled? A case can be made for many jobs, but without more details it sounds more like they "won't", rather than "can't", apply for a visa for you.
Jan 27th 2014, 4:16 pm
#7
Just Joined
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Re: Moving to Houston
I work for a oil company. The head office is in Houston and i work offshore as a field Service tech.
Jan 27th 2014, 4:20 pm
#9
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Moving to Houston
What is the job in Houston they've offered you?
Going through your previous posts it looks like you have offshore experience with BOPs (presumably as subsea engineer) and are looking to move into an office based job. Can your existing employer offer you the office based job in the UK first and then transfer you after a year? It sounds though as though they don't want to pay for your relocation...
Going through your previous posts it looks like you have offshore experience with BOPs (presumably as subsea engineer) and are looking to move into an office based job. Can your existing employer offer you the office based job in the UK first and then transfer you after a year? It sounds though as though they don't want to pay for your relocation...
Jan 27th 2014, 5:04 pm
#11
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Re: Moving to Houston
What is the job in Houston they've offered you?
Going through your previous posts it looks like you have offshore experience with BOPs (presumably as subsea engineer) and are looking to move into an office based job. Can your existing employer offer you the office based job in the UK first and then transfer you after a year? It sounds though as though they don't want to pay for your relocation...
Going through your previous posts it looks like you have offshore experience with BOPs (presumably as subsea engineer) and are looking to move into an office based job. Can your existing employer offer you the office based job in the UK first and then transfer you after a year? It sounds though as though they don't want to pay for your relocation...
Going by HR in Houston, they are saying to me that the only option i have is to get a sponsor and they cant do that
Jan 27th 2014, 5:06 pm
#12
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Re: Moving to Houston
I can send my CV to see it anyone thinks it would help
Jan 27th 2014, 5:09 pm
#13
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Moving to Houston
The job they have offered me is offshore on rotation Month on/ month off. I didn't think it was that hard to get a working visa for the USA. I have over 9 year experience in the oil & gas working with BOP systems.
Going by HR in Houston, they are saying to me that the only option i have is to get a sponsor and they cant do that
Going by HR in Houston, they are saying to me that the only option i have is to get a sponsor and they cant do that
Jan 27th 2014, 5:47 pm
#14
The worse half of Weeze
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Back in TX
Posts: 3,231
Re: Moving to Houston
Taking the text from the wiki on visas, you're screwed.
In US Immigration's view (not mine) it's "just" a service techs role. The degree counts for a lot, or the 12 years of experience. Sorry. Just trying to be honest. We've got people with 4-5 years of experience who have come over on an intra-company transfer no problem - that's the power of the degree.
From Pulaski's Ways:
You have skills that are in short supply, e.g. scientific or medical training. A university degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience ( 3 years experience for each year of a 4 year degree missing of study). Recruitment agents will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is often futile, and US employers have no idea what many foreign qualifications mean, so it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent. You need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your employer will be your sponsor at a cost to them of $5k and up. They may also have to prove to the Dept of Labor there is no American to do the job if the position is to be permanent. Your dependent spouse may not work. Employer can apply to sponsor you in April for an Oct start of the fiscal year, but there is a limited number of visa's issued, current cap of 65K visa's, which fill up quickly, unless the position is exempt from the cap, such as a university position. Dual-intent visa. Search in forums for: H1B Visa
You have a multinational employer who is willing to transfer you, but even then the employer has to make a good case for you. Your dependent spouse may work. Dual-intent visa. Search for: L1 Visa, intra-company transfer.
You have a multinational employer who is willing to transfer you, and the company you work for has significant trade between your home country and the US. You also have specialist skills which are essential to the operation of the company. Your dependent spouse may work subject to approval. Search for:E1 Treaty trader. This category is designated for persons engaged in international trade between the U.S. and the aliens’ countries of nationality.
In US Immigration's view (not mine) it's "just" a service techs role. The degree counts for a lot, or the 12 years of experience. Sorry. Just trying to be honest. We've got people with 4-5 years of experience who have come over on an intra-company transfer no problem - that's the power of the degree.
From Pulaski's Ways:
You have skills that are in short supply, e.g. scientific or medical training. A university degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience ( 3 years experience for each year of a 4 year degree missing of study). Recruitment agents will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is often futile, and US employers have no idea what many foreign qualifications mean, so it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent. You need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your employer will be your sponsor at a cost to them of $5k and up. They may also have to prove to the Dept of Labor there is no American to do the job if the position is to be permanent. Your dependent spouse may not work. Employer can apply to sponsor you in April for an Oct start of the fiscal year, but there is a limited number of visa's issued, current cap of 65K visa's, which fill up quickly, unless the position is exempt from the cap, such as a university position. Dual-intent visa. Search in forums for: H1B Visa
You have a multinational employer who is willing to transfer you, but even then the employer has to make a good case for you. Your dependent spouse may work. Dual-intent visa. Search for: L1 Visa, intra-company transfer.
You have a multinational employer who is willing to transfer you, and the company you work for has significant trade between your home country and the US. You also have specialist skills which are essential to the operation of the company. Your dependent spouse may work subject to approval. Search for:E1 Treaty trader. This category is designated for persons engaged in international trade between the U.S. and the aliens’ countries of nationality.
