Infern0

Hi guys, just wanted to get a rough idea of the task ahead. Here is some information about me.

Age: 32
Job: Retail Buyer/Merchandising Manager for a large company(4 years at current position)
Qualification: Masters Degree in Business Management

I have never been in trouble with the police and have no disabilities etc.

I'm not sure what info you might need other than the above, but please ask away.

Thanks for any help guys.

ian-mstm

Well, first off... getting a job offer is the easy bit. To get an H-1B visa, not only do you need at least a Bachelors degree (no worries there since you have a Masters degree), but the job itself must also require a Bachelors degree. Next, you have to find a US employer willing to sponsor you for a visa, and spend many $$thousands for the honor of having you! In retail, in this economy... I'm not sure that's going to happen easily. It's not impossible, but it'll definitely be an uphill struggle.

Ian

Infern0

Hi Ian, thanks for the response. I have a couple of questions.

1) How would one know if the position "requires a Bachelors degree"?

There are people in my position who do not have a degree, but most of them are older and it maybe took them 20+ years to work up from store manager level etc. I guess you could do it without a degree, but it'd be rare. Is there any way to know how this is considered?

2) What is involved with "sponsoring" one for a visa? Does this cost the employer? if so, how much? and can I pay for it myself out of my own savings?

Is the many thousands of dollars my wages, or another cost?

Securing a job offer would be more a case of networking than anything else, If getting a visa is at all practical, we have many partner companies in the States, who I would look to put the feelers out to them.

Without blowing my own trumpet, I am quite versatile and employable in my field, and I don't think id struggle to get a job offer if there is a level playing field, and the restrictions due to sponsorship are not insane. (Apologies, don't mean to sound arrogant, just trying to be honest to clarify my situation)

ian-mstm

The job would need to be advertised as requiring a degree.


The employer must petition the US government for permission to hire someone from outside the US. It costs about $5000 for an employer to sponsor someone, and the law requires that they pay the full cost themselves. It's not something the employee is allowed to do.


Perhaps a different visa might be more suitable in that case. An L-1 perhaps? Google is your friend!


No worries... but it's not a level playing field, not where foreigners are concerned. Your first hurdle is demonstrating that not only do you have the skills for the job, but that you have superior skills or niche skills... something that no one in the US has. There are hundreds of thousands of unemployed USCs available to start work tomorrow and they don't need sponsoring (yes, many with Masters degrees in business)... so, as I said, you're facing an uphill struggle.

Ian

Infern0

Thanks for the help Ian, i have no doubt it'll be a struggle, but I have faith that I have a sufficient combination of qualification and specialized experience to separate me from the unemployed masses

I guess it's time to look into an immigration lawyer or some such.

thanks again.

AddyLaddy

And also remember that there are no H1-B visas left for this federal year Oct 2012 - Oct 2013.
So the next entry on H1-B will be in Oct 2013, assuming your employer can get you a visa next April, before they run out.

Orangepants

Also keep in mind that many companies are actually not allowed to employ foreigners however much the hiring manager may want you. They may have a moratorium in place which does not allow them to hire.. Of course this could be overcome at the senior executive level but lower down the food chain - it is a no go.. This especially true of the larger national companies. Good luck.

Hotscot

I don't like using absolutes but you have practically no chance, (using this route), not none, but very, very, very small......

1. There would need to be a job that is advertised.
2. You would need to be lucky to have your resume noticed in the pile of hundreds and hundreds. Not being American, HR would probably discard it anyway.
3. If, somehow, you could grab the attention of a hiring manager then you'd need to show that you have specialised experience/knowledge, that no-one else in the US applying for that job will have.
4. If they really, really want you specifically for some reason then they might even write the job spec to suit you exactly however you would need skills that are difficult for anyone else to offer. You know, like a neurosurgeon, top computer scientist, nano engineer.
5. As mentioned, it costs thousands for them to handle the paperwork and demonstrate to the Govt that YOU specifically are the only one for this job.
Given that there are already thousands of Retail Buyer/Merchandising Managers in the US it wouldn't be difficult for a hiring manager to find one.

That's the hard truth. However, all is not lost...there are indeed easier routes.

1. Marry a nice American girl. Paperwork and time, but really easy.

2. Intercompany transfer. If you work for a company that has other branches in the US. However there is still a burden of proving you're the only one for the job.

Lastly.....please don't think I'm being overly harsh but what you read here is just the truth and there aren't any loopholes. I've been where you are today. In fact I didn't even want to come to the US. However I was working for Adobe in the UK, I got a transfer over internally, then I met a cute American girl and got married, then citizenship.

To be honest I don't particularly want to be here but the job opportunities and pay are too good.

I'll be glad to answer any more questions you have.

Infern0

Thanks for the reply, Hotscot

I certainly understand that it's not easy, however i'm a persistent bugger, and will find some way to make it work.

Plenty of people have got over there on H1-B who aren't neurosurgeons or nano-engineers so i'm not giving up hope just yet

henryh

I know several people (self included) who got H-1Bs in engineering straight out of college. The standard is high, but not THAT high.

Hotscot

If only persistence was one of the skills that the US took into account

Ok I do admire that, but you have me curious now...can you tell us which skills you have that would be difficult to find in a US person? Remember it absolutely must be a specialty skill.

I am not here to knock you down and I wish you all the best.

Noorah101

I'm sorry, but I can't see it happening in retail. You say you have a degree in business management...how about if you get a job with a UK company (in the business development or business management department) which has US offices, work for them for a year, and then ask to be transferred? That would be the easiest route, rather than trying to job hunt for such a position in retail in the USA.

Rene

Infern0

Hi mate.

As far as "skills" that cannot be found anywhere else, yeah that's going to be a hard sell.

In my case, supplementary to education my experience would probably be quite difficult to find. I was one of four execs who took over a struggling company back in 2007, at a very young age. We have had major success in turning the company into one of the most profitable in the country, and have won award for best menswear chain for the past three years in a row. As a buyer I have contacts worldwide, a proven record of selecting profitable product and distributing correctly. I also have accounts and HR experience as well as marketing and web design which I took care of all of that for over two years during rebuilding, until we hired people to take over those roles. Basically running a company. There are not going to be many people under the age of 25 who can say that, and there will be absolutely zero University grads who can say that.

You might be able to find someone in the states who can "do the job", as for finding someone who can do it as well as I can, with a proven track record, that's another case entirely, and in our business, it's the track record that is the most important factor in hiring.

Like I say, it might be a case of applying for 5000 positions I could theoretically do, that are advertised as requiring my qualification and experience. over a period of a few years, eventually, i'll get a bite .I'm hard headed, i have had to be to get where I am today, and I will have to be to get where I want to in the future. Giving up? It just ain't me.

Infern0

My friend, this could certainly be an option.

Hotscot

Really? I'm curious..what sort of degree/grade? And did the employer process the H-1B in advance conditional on you graduating?

Honestly curious that's all...