J-1 to E-3 or H-1

aron/gragnani said:

I am currently in Australia looking for a job in the United States and I am coming up pretty empty. There are programs I can be accepted into that will give me a J-1 Visa, which allows 12 months to travel and work. If I were to find a job while I was on the J-1 visa, is there anything stopping me from going to canada or mexico and applying for the longer 2 year work visas? Thanks

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Are you an Australian citizen?
Have you got a degree?

Fatbrit said:

Are you an Australian citizen?
Have you got a degree?

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By the end of October will have a degree in Occupational Therapy and yes.

aron/gragnani said:

By the end of October will have a degree in Occupational Therapy and yes.

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Take the J if it's going to be easier for you, get licensed in the US (it's a State rather than a Federal thing), search for a sponsor, then move on an E3. Aussies have it easy!

You can sometimes process an E3 in Canada. Worry about that when you get a little closer to finding a sponsor.

Fatbrit said:

Take the J if it's going to be easier for you, get licensed in the US (it's a State rather than a Federal thing), search for a sponsor, then move on an E3. Aussies have it easy!

You can sometimes process an E3 in Canada. Worry about that when you get a little closer to finding a sponsor.

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Is there any issues with current J-1 Sponsors with switching to a more permanent work visa? Can they do anything to keep from switching Visa Status? Whats the best way to deal with that?

aron/gragnani said:

Is there any issues with current J-1 Sponsors with switching to a more permanent work visa? Can they do anything to keep from switching Visa Status? Whats the best way to deal with that?

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There are no issues just legal requirements employer and employee have to fullfill. They as in USCIS can deny or approve an application based on information provided. There is no way to deal with that - either you and your employer fullfill the required critera and the application has been properly filed or not.

As your Australian degree cannot be transferred (rule of thumb - anything with human contact needs US certifications) - what will you bringing to the table for a US sponsor in October?

aron/gragnani said:

Is there any issues with current J-1 Sponsors with switching to a more permanent work visa? Can they do anything to keep from switching Visa Status? Whats the best way to deal with that?

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Sometimes J-s have 2-year home residency requirement when they finish, sometimes they don't. That could cause issues.

J visas are very individual -- they all have their own contracts attached to them saying what you can and cannot do.

as for certification, its already been taken care of. The thing I am worried about is that the company that is currently sponsoring the J-1 visa will be able to keep the visa switch from happening. I know that they don't require the 2 year return. I am going to look in the contract..if I can find it but does anyone know if they would legally be able to stop the switch. Thanks for responding so fast.

aron/gragnani said:

as for certification, its already been taken care of. The thing I am worried about is that the company that is currently sponsoring the J-1 visa will be able to keep the visa switch from happening. I know that they don't require the 2 year return. I am going to look in the contract..if I can find it but does anyone know if they would legally be able to stop the switch. Thanks for responding so fast.

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Keep looking for the contract or contact HR to get a copy.

I had one of those 12 month j1 visas and became a permanent resident via the green card lottery 3 months in. The sponsoring companies (Grow USA and ICEE) didn't care at all.