Working in the US
28 Aug 2011 - 7:37pm
12 replies
762 reads
Christina Li
2004
Hi all
I'm considering relocating to the States and really not sure about the visa issue. Does anybody know if it's very difficult for British passport holders to get a work visa in the states? What is the procedure? Can we apply by ourselves or must have a company to apply for us?
Any advice and sharing of experience will be much appreciated.
Regards
Christina
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Hello Christina,
Where are you coming from? I moved here from Hong Kong some years ago and found it prohibitively difficult to initiate the visa process from HK, so I arrived on a tourist visa, found a job and got sponsored by that employer. I have since received a green card (which is actually kind of orange) and I'm a 'Legal Alien", with is a very cool title anyway. :)
There are really many variables in this process and you may want to talk to someone in your country who is more familiar with US immigration policies. BTW, did you know that Canada has much more favorable immigration policies?
Good luck!
Herbert
On Aug 28, 2011, at 9:11 PM, Christina Li wrote:
> Hi all > > I'm considering relocating to the States and really not sure about the visa issue. Does anybody know if it's very difficult for British passport holders to get a work visa in the states? What is the procedure? Can we apply by ourselves or must have a company to apply for us? > > Any advice and sharing of experience will be much appreciated. > > Regards > > Christina > > >
Hi Herbert
Thanks very much for your reply.
I'm from China originally. I've been working in the UK for 9 years now and have a British passport. Yes, I can imagine it must be very difficult to get a work visa in the US. Congratulations to your very cool title! :-)
I'm not really looking to immigrate to any country, just want to have a few years experience in a different country. Canada is probably too cold for me! Actually, I probably should have a look of opportunities in HK.
Many thanks
Christina
On 29 August 2011 03:05, herbert68 <herbert@reiningers.com> wrote:
Great to hear from you! Please let me know if I can help with anything.
All the best, Herbert
Hi Christina,
I did exactly what you are hoping to do - however, I got an internal transfer via my company from the UK to the USA on an H1B visa. You will not be able to come here on a visitor visa and find a job (not legally anyway) as all employees are now checked for residency as part of the e-Verify program... if you don't hold a green card/citizenship/correct visa you will not get a job.
If you can do it the same way as me, via inter-company transfer, once you have been resident for 3 years you can start the application for a green card - unfortunately not before.
I believe you CAN try to do it on your own, but I *think* it's done on a lottery system as there's only a certain number of visas available annually... take a look at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for some more information
Hope this helped a bit at least
Debbie
Thank you Debbie. That's very useful information. Unfortunately my company doesn't have a design/usability team in the US so internal transfer won't be possible for me.
It looks more difficult than I thought - didn't expect things would be very difficult if I'm only looking for working experience not a green card.
Thanks for sharing. I'll check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website
Christina
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In theory, if you have a unique skillset that would qualify you for employer sponsorship, you may be able to find a job in the US applying from abroad. The trouble is there are limited visas available each year and the employer must first make an effort to fill each job with a US citizen. It's doable, just may take a lot of work. Research employers who hire foreign candidates (mostly large organizations and multi-national companies) and inquire with each human resources group whether sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
I have more than 10 years UX experience in China and the UK and 2 years service design experience, - not sure if that's unique! :-)
It looks very difficult anyway. I'll have to be patient!
Thanks
Christina
Hello Christina,
I might be able to help you. Please send me your contact info at gailapetz@yahoo.com
Regards,
GAP
-----Original Message----- From: ixdaor@host.ixda.org [mailto:ixdaor@host.ixda.org] On Behalf Of Christina Li Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 6:50 PM To: jay@bscience.com Subject: Re: [IxDA] Working in the US
I have more than 10 years UX experience in China and the UK and 2 years service design experience, - not sure if that's unique! :-)
It looks very difficult anyway. I'll have to be patient!
Thanks Christina
On 30 August 2011 19:05, Samantha LeVan wrote:
>In theory, if you have a unique skillset that would qualify you for >employer sponsorship, you may be able to find a job in the US applying from abroad. >The trouble is there are limited visas available each year and the >employer must first make an effort to fill each job with a US citizen. >It's doable, just may take a lot of work. Research employers who hire >foreign candidates (mostly large organizations and multi-national >companies) and inquire with each human resources group whether >sponsorship is available for the right candidate. >
Hi GAP/Jay
Sounds great, thanks! You can reply to my this email. My tel is +44 7854 362135
Do you want my CV?
Thanks
Christina
On 31 August 2011 15:21, Jay Messina <jay@bscience.com> wrote:
Hi there,
I have 15+ yrs of experience with usability, IA and user research as interaction designer in Brazil (working to big international and national companies), with that I participated of some hiring process and always ran up against in "I don't have the work visa H1". But to get to enter on the visa in Brazil I need a letter from the contractor in the U.S.. On the other hand, the contractor always remove me from the process by not having a work visa. I have only a visa B-1 (business), that I can enter in US, but I cannot work more than some days, if I am correct.
It's an infinite loop!
Cheers!
Érico Fernandes Fileno, M.Sc.
Interaction Designer
http://www.ericofileno.com.br
@efileno
With sponsorship there are two factors that come into play. 1) the rules governing sponsorship, and 2) the need.
These days the UK is just as difficult to enter as the US under sponsorship (Thanks David Cameron!) and because there is a wealth of UX talent now in both the US and the EU, there is simply no need for a company to hire from outside those regions and expose themselves to the risks that are associated with that.
It's a shame as the UX world would be a more more interesting place if international moves were a little easier.
Good luck Christina.