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Moving to America

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:34 pm
by alex.barylski
Something I've strongly considered for years now is possibly moving to America.

Now I've finally done some reading and it sounds as though it's going to be a lot harder than I thought. From what I understand an H1A and H1B work visa is about the only way I'll make it (I have no close family and no love interest).

H1A = Masters degree or higher
H1B = Masters degree equivelant experience or higher

I have no post secondary education but almost 10 years of professional development experience.

I was under the impression that I.T shortages in Canada/USA meant individuals with my background had an easy time moving here or there.

I'm tired of Canadian winters and lack of innovation - especially in my city - hence the drive to move - I'm thinking California would be awesome. :D

Does anyone know of any exceptions made for I.T employees? SImilar to say Canadian retiree's that move down or wealthly businessmen, etc?

I have gogled and read everything of relevance on the USCIS web site.

Any advice?

Cheers,
Alex

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:38 pm
by John Cartwright
Traitor :twisted:



Just joking.

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:01 pm
by josh
Fake a marriage, or try to get yourself extradited by committing a crime here, lol ... or steal someones identity from http://www.ellisisland.org/, theyre dead they wont care, lol

In all seriousness probably moving to within driving distance, and commuting for a few years would be necessary, once you had a source of income and pay taxes within the US it would probably be easier, but I have no idea

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:54 pm
by alex.barylski
Fake a marriage, or try to get yourself extradited by committing a crime here
Bahahah...that is one approach no one has suggested. :P

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:28 pm
by pickle
You already live in America. As do Mexicans, Guatemalans, and Argentinians. The Vikings didn't discover the U.S.A, they discovered America ;)

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:46 pm
by Eric!
How this often works is companies will bring in foreign workers under a work visa and sponsor you. So the trick is finding a job first and getting them to help you at least with the paperwork. However I don't know what the job market is like in IT right now, I suspect not a lot of people are hiring and there are probably a lot of domestic workers to choose from.

If you can find work in an international company where you live, like Microsoft, IBM, HP or Motorola, Intel, etc. and then transfer. Sometimes you have to forcefully transfer, by going around the local office and applying for US jobs directly, but it can be done.

I think getting a work visa usually requires a sponser. Check out this site that shows H1B sponsors and occupations, etc.
http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/

Re: Moving to America

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:47 pm
by alex.barylski
However I don't know what the job market is like in IT right now, I suspect not a lot of people are hiring and there are probably a lot of domestic workers to choose from.
Well I've been looking over the last month and the jobs are far more plenty South of the border than here in Canada. To make it more appealing, the benefits are usually better and the pay is frequently twice what I'd make here. Also I'm tired of the cold weather :P