pauljohno

Hi everyone,

I'm an IT worker looking to live and work in the USA. The USA appears to offer a much better standard of living compared to the UK. I'm hoping to flee the UK at the first possible opportunity!

First of all, I'm wondering if my qualifications will automatically be recognised? I already have a degree in IT (BSc 2:1 Hons) and I'm due to complete my second degree (PhD in Engineering) within the next few months. In addition to this I also hold GCSEs, A-Levels, and a few other lesser qualifications. I also have three years experience as a university lecturer and one years experience as a company director.

Secondly, are their any states in the US that would be more beneficial for me to target? An obvious one would be CA, Silicon Valley, but I suspect these jobs are super competitive?

Thirdly, are their any websites I can use that list US jobs open to international applicants? I assume if they are open to international applicants then they sponsor my visa application?

Thanks for listening! I'm looking forward to reading your responses.

Awesome Welles

At risk of popping your balloon, there are many thousands of unemployed and highly qualified IT workers, who are already in the country and searching for the same opportunity that you elude to.

You are going to have to identify a potential employer who is willing to go to the expense and hassle of importing you, rather than picking a candidate who is already available for work and does not come with the additional cost and headaches associated with sponsorship.

There is no 'magic' list of US employers, crying-out for foreign workers either.

pauljohno

Thanks Awesome Welles. You're not popping my balloon at all, this is exactly why I posted here... to get feedback and info on anything I may be overlooking.

I wasn't looking for a "magic list" of employers haha, just maybe a well know job website?

traceym

My husbands a Software Engineer in Silicone Valley and they all use linkedin to network, it's not a job website but a start to see whats about.

Easiest way is to get a job with a UK company with US offices, work for them for a year or so then hope to get a transfer.

pauljohno

Thanks Tracey, I'm already on LinkedIn, I'll see if I can tie into any IT groups in the area. I'll certainly look into UK companies with US offices too.

Michael

Although the Silicon Valley is very competitive, that would be your most likely avenue to getting a H1-B visa. Many of the companies in the Silicon Valley (especially the larger ones) have hired foreigners on H1-B visas so they understand the process, requirements, time constraints, and costs associated with hiring someone on a H1-B visa.

You shouldn't have any problem with your qualifications being recognized in the Silicon Valley unless your are working in a department of a company that is working on government or military contracts (highly unlikely since most of those require US citizenship). It is highly unlikely that anyone during the interview process would even ask about the specifics of your degrees except possibly areas of study when they are looking for specific expertise (eg. encryption, graphics, networking, etc.).

chartreuse

Is that like Silicon Valley, but with tits?

traceym

I was off school the day they did spelling!

robin1234

That's interesting I didn't know about these two spellings.

According to yourdictionary.com,

No: silicone | Yes: silicon
Silicon is the material they make computer chips from but implants are made of silicone.

So..... are silicon and silicone two different things? How come they sound so similar?

discoviking

You might also want to look at the major financial firms in London, as many of them also have a large presence in New York and in the other financial hubs around the world.

chartreuse

I suspect that silicone is made from silicon. Though I'm too lazy to look it up.

sir_eccles

Silicon = element
Silicone = polymer containing silicon

chartreuse

Woot! Ignorant assertion triumphs yet again!

traceym

Well if I ever get round to buying a nice new pair I'll make sure I spell it right when looking for the surgeon

chartreuse

I dunno, there's possibly something to be said for being the only woman in the world with a pair of strong AI knockers that exhibit weakly godlike intelligence...