Brit wanting to move Stateside

[pj2492]

Hi,

I'm Paul, I am 29 years old, married and have a 2yr old son. Apart from using a forum through the Open University this is my first posting.

My Wife and I have been talking for some time about immigrating and it has been a life long dream of mine to work and live in America. However, now that we have made the decision that this is what we want as a family and after a little more research the responses I have had from a couple of Immigration / Relocation companies hasnt been very positive.

I have also spoke to a previous employer in the UK who have offices in the US and although the Branch Manager was very keen to see me based on the credentials on my CV, after speaking with their HR department in the US I was then advised that in order to Interview me I would need to be in a position where I was eligable to work in the USA before being interviewed.

I am a business to business Sales Executive / Account Manager in the IT industry selling both hardware & software solutions with nine years experience. Although my education goes know further than secondary school, I have obtained a number of globally recognised IT Accreditations and just this year I have started an open university degree or at least working towards one on the basis that this would strengthen my application for a work permit / visa.

Please can anyone offer any advice on how best to approach my application and the sort of timescales I will be looking at?

Can anybody advise me whether it would be worth my while at this stage contacting prospective employers to see if they would sponsor me?

Would it increase my chances if I could work on a self employed basis for a US company selling their product / service?

I am so sorry for the long winded introduction and if I havent bored you off by now I would appreciate any advice as the Immigration / relocation companies dont seem to want to know if you dont have a masters equivalent degree.

Many thanks,


Paul

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by pj2492

I have also spoke to a previous employer in the UK who have offices in the US and although the Branch Manager was very keen to see me based on the credentials on my CV, after speaking with their HR department in the US I was then advised that in order to Interview me I would need to be in a position where I was eligable to work in the USA before being interviewed.

This is your best bet. However, the only qualification for a US HR department employee is that they were actually too stupid to do anything else. You need to find a way around the HR department. Research fully the L1 visa so you can sell both yourself and the method of getting you there to the person who actually does the hiring.

[pj2492]

Thanks for your prompt advice. I will look up the L1 visa and try and speak directly to the HR dept.

[twostep]

The question is not would they sponsor you but can they sponsor you. Do you see anything in your credentials that might entice a potential employer to prove a postion in sales cannot be filled by someone eligible to work in the US, jump through the hoops of visa sponsorship and hold a position for several months hoping the inevitable lottery will draw your lot? Be realistic. Did you notice that one of the larger banks closed their doors last night and let 7.500 go; mostly on the West Coast? You may be great at what you are doing but HR hit the nail on the head. They put the monkey on your back.

Fat - you are as charming as always.

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by pj2492

Thanks for your prompt advice. I will look up the L1 visa and try and speak directly to the HR dept.

My guess is that HR will blow you off. You need someone in the company to tell HR not to blow you off. Side step them if you can.

[pj2492]

How would you best approach it?

My ex-employer have offices all of the US so would you suggest contacting a branch office with the view of trying to get a manager to assist by speaking with HR?

Look forward to your comments

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by pj2492

How would you best approach it?

My ex-employer have offices all of the US so would you suggest contacting a branch office with the view of trying to get a manager to assist by speaking with HR?

Look forward to your comments

Yep. HR push the papers (slowly and incompetently) but they don't make hiring and firing decisions. You need a line to whoever makes the hiring decision. Maybe your ex-bosses in the UK have US contacts? Failing that, you'll have to research who makes the actual hiring decisions and approach directly. Try sweet talking whoever picks up the phone if you can't find out by any other means.

[pj2492]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try.

I'm not a pesimist, however after looking quickly at the L1 Visa criteria on the web I only have another 18 months to secure a job offer as I have to be employed by the sponsoring company for a minimum of twelve months within the last three years.

What are my options should the opporuntity to secure a visa by way of this method pass me by?

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by pj2492

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try.

I'm not a pesimist, however after looking quickly at the L1 Visa criteria on the web I only have another 18 months to secure a job offer as I have to be employed by the sponsoring company for a minimum of twelve months within the last three years.

What are my options should the opporuntity to secure a visa by way of this method pass me by?

You're going with your main opportunity now. Beyond that, the field is bleak. Don't take no for an answer. Be cheeky, be devious. You don't even work for them at the moment and you haven't got a visa. The worse that can happen is you don't work for them, you haven't got a visa, and your phone bill is a little higher.

[pj2492]

Just another thought. Would it not be possible to approach either my ex- employer or any other organisation in the industry in which I work and propose to work for them on self emplyed basis. As I would not be taking a position with the employer I would not be filling a position that could be filled by a US Citizen?