Pistol

It`s true i will stick to it as its a dream, if it all turns out to be rubbish i`ll come running home to London.

Also if i go LA for example for 2 weeks and knock on IT companies doors or agenciesand give them my CV face to face and beg them to sponsor me?

Do you think this route is worth going for?

srefre

Personally, I don't think you will get very far doing this, unless you already know some people out there. I feel you will do better getting in with a company over here first and then moving.

By all means go on holiday, feel things out and try make contacts, but don't rely on anything happening straight away.

Jerseygirl

The US economy is bad...firms are laying off employees and cutting back as much as possible. Why would they go to the trouble and expense of hiring you? Look at this as a long time plan...move to a company who have offices in the US...then try to secure a company transfer.

Octang Frye

Brush up on your spelling, too. (I'm not being a dick, here. You need to sell yourself and I'm not going to hire someone who spells so poorly. Your resume would be straight in the circular file.)

And that's not necessarily true re: the bulk of immigration being on L1 or K visas. Most of the people I know, including myself, came on H1b.

Weebie

Mate try living in America or Australia and you'll find that the UK is ****ing thailand to these countries. You can't afford a place in London??? well your unlikely to afford one in LA.

avanutria

Maybe I'm mistaken, but it was my understanding that you're not allowed to seek employment while on the VWP. That means no passing out your CV while on holiday.

I might have it backward and be thinking about the tourist visa to the UK, though.

Bob

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

No one mention that link yet?

Reasons for moving to the US so far are pretty weak and superficial, rose tinted, buckets full of shit, I'm pretty sure you can see how that sentence might go...

Bob

You didn't move in a economic glut with a mass surplus of bodies lying around though?

But, if the OP had some especially niche skills, he might have more of a chance than most IT bods who are a dime a dozen.

Also massively limiting yourself when selecting a specific location, much more chance if open to where ever you can find a job to just get out here.

chrisfromusa

Oh yeah, forgot the H1B too.

Yeah seriously that's what I said previously houses in L.A. that your neighbors are not members of drug cartels, and probably a smaller house run at least 200k-300k and up.

I'm gonna revise what I said cause I just looked it up on city-data, but plugging in random suburbs around L.A. and L.A. itself, it seems like houses below $300,000 are probably in a not-so-good neighborhood

But Bob that sunshine and warm winter is oh-so vital for your everyday life and the bikini-clad señoritas

Bob

You can look, can even interview, but you can't accept a position etc.

Then again, if you've got stacks of CV/Resumes, POE fella might think your not going to head home and say bye bye right there.

ian-mstm

With respect, you can look, you can interview, and you can accept a position. You can not, however, sign any papers to that effect.

Ian

Pistol

Thank you all for the advice, i`m very grateful.
I will defo research into all options now, and see if my friends in LA can help me in any way.

Krittersg

Hiya - my 2 cents

1. LA area - is wicked expensive - sure it looks okay when you're thinking about the pound or euro compared to usd - but when you're living in an area - you're paid in accordance of what that area has to provide. When I moved from the Boston area to the LA area - I had to get a 20% increase in pay just to be making *the same* in terms of quality of life. Do tons of research before moving to a new area even inside the US.

2. Vacation time here does kinda suck - average company the first year you get one week - then it moves to 2-3 (eventually it moves up - Once I've been at this company for 10 years I'll get more time). Of course mileage may vary but - if you like your home at all you'll find all of your vacation tends to start going just to going home - not to going on adventures and exploring. Then imagine transferring your hard earned usd back home .

3. I agree - find another company and try doing a transfer. The company I work at has a TON of transfers - I know one person who wound her way here as her final goal - through that very method. It took her time but - she made it.

4. LA area - is hot - and doesn't have real seasons - some like it some don't. That is completely personal preference

Good luck!

davidw76

Your most realistic options are either finding a UK job with a company that has US offices then one day requesting a transfer, or coming here on a student visa.

If you come on a student visa then you can look for an H1B sponsor but the job market is not great right now so you might find it difficult. An F1 visa does give you the option of work experience for 12 months (once you've completed at least 2 semesters of study), so that will help you.

If immigration reform ever happens, it +might+ include a provision giving automatic green cards to anyone who gets a masters degree in a science, tech, engineering or math related subject from a US institution. That would then be an easy way to come here if you can afford it.

Remember that getting here with either of those options is only stage 1.. you then face a long and uncertain wait to try and get your permanent residency and it can easily go wrong and result in you having to return to the UK.

Sally Redux

You won't get much of a house for $200-300,000 here. But I'd say it's cheaper than London.