Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#21

Post by nandemo » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 4:26 PM UTC

vladd wrote: post #14

nandemo wrote: post #2

I don't know from experience, but since I've considered doing the same I'll write down what I know. Assuming you aren't a Canadian citizen, the usual way is to apply for several companies who are willing to sponsor a H-1B visa and get an offer from one of them. Until a few years ago the number of applicants used to be way over the H-1B visa cap, so you had to go thru a lottery even if your application was OK. This wa…

>> you have to get another job within 30 days. I don't think you get any days at all, you have to get the visa approved for transfer BEFORE you quit your existing job otherwise you're out of status. I strongly recommend anybody planning to do this to check with a lawyer. According to what I found on the net (I am not a lawyer): Under current law, H1B visa has no stipulated grace period in the event the employer-emplo…

Thanks for the correction.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#22

Post by null_ptr » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 9:28 PM UTC

jamesteow wrote: post #13

jesusjones wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canadians and Mexicans can apply for a NAFTA Work Visa (TN) that is simpler to get. You can apply for 1 to 3 years and you only need a letter from the employer validating that you have been accepted to work in a US company.

You also need to have some documents proving that you are qualified for the role. This includes diplomas, license, university transcripts, and a resume with relevant work experience.

Are specific parts of the transcript such as GPA or individual course grades of any importance, or is the completion of a degree + relevant courses in your specific field enough?

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#23

Post by sprovoost » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 9:57 PM UTC

nandemo wrote: post #2

I don't know from experience, but since I've considered doing the same I'll write down what I know. Assuming you aren't a Canadian citizen, the usual way is to apply for several companies who are willing to sponsor a H-1B visa and get an offer from one of them. Until a few years ago the number of applicants used to be way over the H-1B visa cap, so you had to go thru a lottery even if your application was OK. This wa…

From what I've been able to gather:

* there is no lottery. If you apply after the cap has been reached you're out of luck (not sure about edge cases).

* if you were to apply right now, you would be able to start working no earlier than October 1st. After that you could start within a few weeks of application if your employer pays for expedited service. But you don't want to apply much later than autumn either; last year the cap was reached in January: http://1.usa.gov/H1Bcap11 The current batch is at 1/3rd: http://1.usa.gov/H1Bcap

* I've heard people say the market is more "hot", because of the potential bubble, which may mean they run out faster this year. On the other hand I've stats that say total investment is the same as last year, it's just more concentrated.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#24

Post by sprovoost » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 10:00 PM UTC

hippich wrote: post #18

To get first H-1b you need established company (once you are here you can change employers much easier). Most startups will not qualify due: a) revenue - they have to have positive cash flow showing constant income allowing them to pay for your work (you have to be full time employed for H-1b visa). This can be proved by contracts and tax returns. b) number of citizens/perm residents employees. I heard this and I bet…

@c I believe the expedited service only takes two to three weeks, but I don't know how much other paperwork is involved that might add up to 6 months.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#25

Post by mallipeddi » Tue, Jul 26, 2011, 4:10 AM UTC

hippich wrote: post #18

To get first H-1b you need established company (once you are here you can change employers much easier). Most startups will not qualify due: a) revenue - they have to have positive cash flow showing constant income allowing them to pay for your work (you have to be full time employed for H-1b visa). This can be proved by contracts and tax returns. b) number of citizens/perm residents employees. I heard this and I bet…

Btw it's illegal to make an employee pay the USCIS H-1B visa fees (USCIS website clearly mentions that the visa fees strictly has to be borne by the employer). I'm surprised that small company made you pay the visa fees. Now if they made you pay only the legal fees for the immigration attorney, that might still be legal.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#26

Post by mallipeddi » Tue, Jul 26, 2011, 4:14 AM UTC

null_ptr wrote: post #22

jamesteow wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You also need to have some documents proving that you are qualified for the role. This includes diplomas, license, university transcripts, and a resume with relevant work experience.

Are specific parts of the transcript such as GPA or individual course grades of any importance, or is the completion of a degree + relevant courses in your specific field enough?

They generally ask for the full academic transcript (which has grades in it). Btw do not be worried if you don't have stellar grades/GPA - USCIS doesn't care about that. Your immigration lawyers just need to make a case that your education plus work exp (if any) is relevant to the job the company is hiring for.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#27

Post by mallipeddi » Tue, Jul 26, 2011, 4:24 AM UTC

I just went through the H-1B process and moved to USA in the beginning of this year. I'm not an American citizen obviously and I also studied in a university outside America.

My answers to your questions:

1. Where to start?

All major tech companies at this point would be willing to sponsor H-1Bs for promising candidates. Very early-stage startups will be hesitant to sponsor them (it's expensive both in terms of money and time). So try interviewing with companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Microsoft, LinkedIn.

2. Am I being realistic?

Well I can't speak to your CS skills but considering that you claim to have an advanced degree from a top school in USA, I don't see why you would have problems interviewing and getting a job.

3. Other advice

For the past couple of years (since the financial crisis), the no. of H-1B applicants have reduced drastically and hence there are fewer applicants than the per-year H-1B cap. This is great news - all you've to do is meet the visa requirements, get a job offer from a good company, and let the company sponsor your visa, and you're done. This wasn't the situation a few years back when there used to be a flood of applications within hours after the application process was opened (usually on Apr 1 of every year).

But you still have a small issue - applications open in April and the earliest you can travel to USA is in Oct of that year. So you've to think about the timing issues and see if your employer is willing to wait for you for that long. Generally this is not a problem with big companies since they're always hiring and they can always fit you in. It all depends on how good a candidate you are and how desperate the company is for you really.

Re: Ask HN: How should I apply for U.S. jobs as a non-resident?

#28

Post by hippich » Fri, Jul 29, 2011, 1:52 AM UTC

sprovoost wrote: post #24

hippich wrote: post #18

To get first H-1b you need established company (once you are here you can change employers much easier). Most startups will not qualify due: a) revenue - they have to have positive cash flow showing constant income allowing them to pay for your work (you have to be full time employed for H-1b visa). This can be proved by contracts and tax returns. b) number of citizens/perm residents employees. I heard this and I bet…

@c I believe the expedited service only takes two to three weeks, but I don't know how much other paperwork is involved that might add up to 6 months.

You are correct. But You can't start work before October 1st. Since application are being accepted from April 1st (and you'd better apply in first day) - there is 6 month gap.