H1B success stories

crapmanjoe

Hey

Just wondering can anybody some H1b visa success stories (preferably not where they did a j1 or something similar there - a clean sponsorship story)

I'm in the US on a L1a visa but want to leave the company I'm with. I've done plenty of interviews and got in most cases to the job offer element but so far has fallen apart due to the visa confusion. Honestly not sure how the timing works or the process in general and just looking for some positive stories / tips about the process

InTheTrees

Sorry for your issues. I can imagine the whole immigration paperwork thing can be off putting for employers.
Have you tried agencies that deal with whatever you do?

crapmanjoe

InTheTrees wrote: »

Sorry for your issues. I can imagine the whole immigration paperwork thing can be off putting for employers.
Have you tried agencies that deal with whatever you do?

Yeah generally going through agencies and I explain my immigration status up front but there still seems to be total confusion when it comes to applying for / changing visas

Surely somebody here can shed some light from personal experiences

lil_lisa

Well, I was on several J1s all with one company, but that company didn't want to sponsor me, so my H1B was with a brand new company. I just applied and applied. Received several job offers only to be turned down after understanding what was involved in the H1B process and was sent back to square one.

I spent over 1 year looking for a job to sponsor me. And I learned a lot in that 1 year about job applications. Hiring parties are looking for those who jump out of the crowd, experience wise and also personality wise. I took up some interesting hobbies and volunteer work (great on resumes!). They were all ice breakers and once I got my interview, made the whole experience that little bit easier.

The format of your resume is very important too, and a cover letter. AND, if you do have an interview, be sure to thank them within 24 hours via email or letter.

Also, be creative. If you are trying to get a job for a design company, place a personal design on the application. If you are trying to get a job for an engineering/web/software company, send something fun you've created before.

The job I received my H1B from refused my application a year before. My application looked very different then, it clearly made a huge impact!

Good luck!

mandrake04

I am currently working for a large multinational medical Diagnostic company in Australia, I have been in contact with my US counterpart who I met in Japan last year and he has mentioned that a couple of positions that I would be interested in.

The company would be looking at sponsoring me on what I believe is a H-1B visa which I think I can bring my wife on, we are looking at living on the west coast as we are used to living in warmer weather and hope to maybe get a shot at bagging something in Hawaii as its one of our favourite holiday spots.

I have been through the Australian migration process which was a breeze and hold Irish/British/Australian passports, I was just wondering

1) How easy is this process?

2) How long does it take?

Even though we are only looking to go for a few years to try it out ... just wondering for the shear hell of it

3) How easy is getting Permanent residency in the USA?

4) How easy is it to get a USA passport for my collection?


Also what would be considered a decent wage over there? compared to roughly $130K AUD? or a job that pays about €60K in Ireland.

silja

1. Fairly easy if you have no red flags (prior overstays, criminal convictions etc). Your employer's lawyer will do the bulk of the work anyways.

2. H1B you usually apply in April, start work in October.

3. After a few years, your employer can sponsor you for a greencard. If they do not, it is very difficult to get one )it;s not just "after 5 years you send off some paperwork and become a citizen", like in Ireland).

4. If you get a greencard, you wait 5 years as a US permanent resident, then you can naturalise. That bit is easy.

Never been to Hawaii- I am told it is beautiful, but I do know it is a very expensive place to live. 60'000 Euro / $80'000 may not get you far there or ina place like NY, whereas you could live very comfortably on that where we live, in Arkansas.

mandrake04

Yeah thanks for that, process actually sounds very similar to the Australian migration which can be difficult if you can't tick enough boxes but once you have an employer backing you and you do your times it's straight forward.

My wife has been wanting to live in the US for while just for a bit of craic, so this offer has intrested us we have been there many times on holiday. Hawaii is a great spot, also have friends in the Navy based there.

Also I hear that you only get something like 10 days annual leave over there? What's the story with that?

silja

Vacation depends on your state and your company. A lot of people do not get any annual leave the first year, one week the second, two weeks the third and it stays there. Unlike in Ireland, annual leave is something you can negotiate at the offer stage of the job interview process, especially if you are in a very specialised field or upper management.

lonestargirl

Bear in mind that your wife will get a H2 visa which allows her to live in the US but not to work.