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Engineer's Guide to US Visas

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Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#81

Post by mdda »

I'm surprised no-one mentioned the E-2 (Treaty Investor) visa. It allows someone from a Treaty country (which includes a lot of developed countries) to start a business in the USA. It's not an intent visa, though (more on that later).

I'm from the UK, and did the E-2 application myself (having found that it took as much time to explain to a lawyer as to write the application). My initial investment was $100k (enough to start a software business, provably). I have been renewing that visa since 1999, while living in NYC.

Now, however (partly to do with having a 3-year-old), I've moved with my family to Singapore. Visa process took 3 days, and is valid for 12months (and a 12month extension will be very doable, apparently).

One aspect of the Green Card process (which is, I believe, somewhat achievable even starting on a E-2, is that you get caught in the US tax regime semi-permanently. Which is taxation on world-wide income. That would make moving to another country relatively painful (and that's partly why there are so few Americans in Singapore : there's no tax advantage to them).

Happy to answer any questions.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#82

Post by huntsman »

jval wrote: post #2

Cool guide, but I think the E-3's dual intent rules are a bit weird: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memorand... "An application for initial admission, change of status or extension of stay in E-3 classification, however, may not be denied solely on the basis of an approved request for permanent labor certification or a filed or approved immigrant visa preference petition." It's not explicitly dua…

Yes, applying for permanent residence with an E-3 visa is possible and not prohibited by dual intent. I successfully did this and there were no problems.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#83

Post by robk »

joncrocks wrote: post #60
wil421 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2. Health Dont believe the hype if you work for a company that is going to sponsor your visa, chances are they will provide health insurance. I pay $25 a month for myself and $175 if I had a family of 4. My girlfriend uses Obama Care and pays $21 for basic insurance. Unless you are self employed then chances are you wont be paying much and now with the new health plans even these plans are affordable.

Even with healthcare coverage however, it's just a lot more complicated. I'm from the UK, and if something is wrong, your biggest challenge is making appointments with the right people. Some of my colleagues from the UK who have had to go and see someone in the US report that it's a minefield of: a) Checking which doctors take your kind of coverage b) Co-pays c) Ensuring you know what you are/aren't covered for d) Ra…

But in the UK, oh the queues to get in to see you GP... And postcode lottery if particular drugs you need are approved or not.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#84

Post by gclaramunt »

drpgq wrote: post #36

"When the H-1B cap is reached, large companies like Google often look to L-1s instead, moving new employees to their Canadian offices for a year to make them eligible." Huh. I knew Microsoft did this in Vancouver but hadn't heard about Google also using it although it makes sense. As a Canadian I'm not sure if the country really benefits from it, although I guess it boosts the Canadian offices.

I can imagine social security and taxes collected can benefit

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#85

Post by tmich »

This thread seems like an excellent opportunity to ask for some advice.

I'm a British software engineer based in London, while my girlfriend of 3 and a half years is an American working for a publishing company in NYC. We've been trying to work out whether we think the relationship will work out in the long term, but the only time we've ever been in the same city for more than 3 weeks was the 6 month stint we were at university together. She's very reluctant to move to London - apparently publishing jobs are hard to come by, and she's loathe to leave the current one. As a result, I've been tasked with finding a way that I can spend some time in New York. It wouldn't have to be long - 6 months would be plenty - but I would have to be able to earn money since she currently doesn't really make enough to support herself, let alone me.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could go about doing this?

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#86

Post by DrJokepu »

raverbashing wrote: post #79
untog wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, why bother? Better pay and opportunities, it's as simple as that. Having lived in the UK and Canada, I can say that the tech (and particularly startup) industry in the US is simply much bigger and more advanced than other places I've been.

Yes I suppose one can make 100k in the valley. And pay how much again for rent? The pay and the opportunities are better, but they may not be significantly better to justify it. In the valley it looks like everything will get an angel round if it stands still long enough or go to enough CV meetings but it is not all there is to life or a career.

Rent is a day-to-day concern that does not matter in long term. Opportunities give you access to experience, connections and reputation that will stay will stack up and stay with you throughout your entire career.

To put it other way: resources sunk into cost of living add up linearly over time, the benefits of (exploited) opportunities get amplified and yield exponential results over the years. You want to go for the exponential curve.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#87

Post by cookrn »

ashray wrote: post #52
nodemaker wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar story here. Indian citizen with a US masters degree. Left after working in the US for a year, travelled around SE Asia ,and then moved to Amsterdam! Can choose to work four days a week, have side projects and take 26 days of vacation a year. H1B is totally a sucker's game.

How did you move to Amsterdam ? Is it like fulltime work or did you sponsor yourself with an EU Blue Card ? I'm always interested in learning about the various possibilities engineers have around the world! :)

An interesting option for Americans looking to move to the Netherlands (or their territories) is the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DAFT_(treaty)

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#88

Post by cookrn »

mdda wrote: post #81

I'm surprised no-one mentioned the E-2 (Treaty Investor) visa. It allows someone from a Treaty country (which includes a lot of developed countries) to start a business in the USA. It's not an intent visa, though (more on that later). I'm from the UK, and did the E-2 application myself (having found that it took as much time to explain to a lawyer as to write the application). My initial investment was $100k (enough…

I mentioned this treaty in another comment, but are the advantages of the E-2 similar in nature for non-Americans to the those afforded to Americans by the DAFT[1]? Is the E-2 only applicable for citizens of countries that have a specific treaty in place?

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DAFT_(treaty)

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#89

Post by speeq »

anextio wrote: post #74
speeq wrote: post #65

"L-1 visa for inter-company transfers If you've worked for the company in a foreign subsidiary for at least one year in the preceding three years, you may be eligible for a L-1 visa. When the H-1B cap is reached, large companies like Google often look to L-1s instead, moving new employees to their Canadian offices for a year to make them eligible. The foreign subsidiary must be related to its US counterpart in one of…

USCIS is generally very wary about L-1 abuse. The US company would need a full staff and board of directors. i.e. Both sides of the equation have to be real companies doing real things who have a legitimate need to occasionally bring employees across. Neither of the companies can exist solely to funnel workers into the US.

Well, let's say I own a successful business in the UK, want to expand to the US and expect significant growth within the first year - does a L-1 visa allow me to open a new office in the US, if I hire someone competent to take over UK operations?

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#90

Post by thisone »

robk wrote: post #83
joncrocks wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even with healthcare coverage however, it's just a lot more complicated. I'm from the UK, and if something is wrong, your biggest challenge is making appointments with the right people. Some of my colleagues from the UK who have had to go and see someone in the US report that it's a minefield of: a) Checking which doctors take your kind of coverage b) Co-pays c) Ensuring you know what you are/aren't covered for d) Ra…

But in the UK, oh the queues to get in to see you GP... And postcode lottery if particular drugs you need are approved or not.

totally, I call my GP for a non-emergency and I may have to wait until the next day to get seen.

Nothing like the states, where, in a similar part of the country (city/rural wise) I needed to make non-emergency appointments 4 months in advance.

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