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Engineer's Guide to US Visas

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Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#151

Post by hpagey »

cbaleanu wrote: post #80
buro9 wrote: post #26

There are two things that give me serious pause about living and working in the USA, and that have made me not pursue or accept opportunities that I've been offered in Seattle and San Francisco. 1) Visas & immigration 2) Health

Should also add that if you are married, your wife / husband cannot work if you are on H1B. I found this deeply disturbing, as my wife is a skilled professional in another field and if I were to accept an H1B offer, she would had to become a house wife more or less.

A minor correction, if you are married, your spouse cannot work if they hold a H-4 visa. They are allowed to work if someone is willing to sponsor their H1B, L1. They are also allowed to work on F1-Visa, using OPT/CPT.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#152

Post by mahyarm »

thelonelygod wrote: post #125
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…

My parents moved my entire family here on a h1 when I was younger. We obtained our Green Cards about 5 years ago. I'm about to graduated college and go start working in NYC. My parents are currently starting the process to get citizenship and I'm choosing not to do it mainly because I'm not sure if I want to stay in the country for the rest of my life and didn't want to be stuck in the US tax abroad issue. You mentio…

People with green cards or citizenship are subject to the same unique worldwide citizenship-based taxation scheme that the US has. You will have to revoke your green card anyway to escape it so I would just get the citizenship since you can renounce it later with a somewhat more involved process. You can be subject to an exit tax if your 'rich enough' when you revoke your green card or citizenship. Something like $150k annual income for 5+ years or $2+ million in assets. Research it yourself, etc.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#153

Post by Dobbs »

jbarham wrote: post #38

I'm Canadian and worked for over four years a software engineer in SoCal on work visas (TN then H1B). My wife, an Aussie and high school teacher with several years of teaching experience in top international schools in Asia, couldn't legally work in the US. So she volunteered teaching ESL at a local adult school. Ironically many of her students were Hispanics who had originally entered the US illegally. Doubly ironic…

As an Australian she should have been eligible for an E-3 visa. Basically we gave Australia easy visas in exchange for a trade agreement.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#154

Post by songgao »

coin wrote: post #114

"Getting a bank account is fairly straightforward, and most don't require a SSN." I don't know about this. It's pretty much impossible to open a bank account without a SSN or TIN.

I got my bank account before getting my SSN. They ask for passport and maybe some other documents (e.g. I-20 for F-1 Visas) but certainly getting a bank account without SSN is possible.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#155

Post by NVI »

L-1B (Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge)

"Specialized knowledge means either special knowledge possessed by an individual of the petitioning organization’s product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests and its application in international markets, or an advanced level of knowledge or expertise in the organization’s processes and procedures (See 8 CFR 214.2(l)(1)(ii)(D))."

http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers...

The definition of "Specialized knowledge" is very broad. Can somebody share their experience of getting L-1B visa?

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#156

Post by jacalata »

Dobbs wrote: post #153
jbarham wrote: post #38

I'm Canadian and worked for over four years a software engineer in SoCal on work visas (TN then H1B). My wife, an Aussie and high school teacher with several years of teaching experience in top international schools in Asia, couldn't legally work in the US. So she volunteered teaching ESL at a local adult school. Ironically many of her students were Hispanics who had originally entered the US illegally. Doubly ironic…

As an Australian she should have been eligible for an E-3 visa. Basically we gave Australia easy visas in exchange for a trade agreement.

Not sure if she'd get that as a teacher? Its the same work requirements as a H1b, just for Australians.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#157

Post by bduerst »

jbarham wrote: post #38

I'm Canadian and worked for over four years a software engineer in SoCal on work visas (TN then H1B). My wife, an Aussie and high school teacher with several years of teaching experience in top international schools in Asia, couldn't legally work in the US. So she volunteered teaching ESL at a local adult school. Ironically many of her students were Hispanics who had originally entered the US illegally. Doubly ironic…

Mind if I ask how you were getting paid a below market salary?

Part of the H1B approval process is that you get paid more than the average salary for the same job in your area. If your salary is below the regional average for your job, then immigration doesn't approve the visa.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#158

Post by tricolon »

milemi wrote: post #119
artmageddon wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok - how difficult was it to get on the Optional Practical Training? She'll be interning at a major company in the valley this summer(assuming the export control process doesn't pose an issue), and will most likely be doing so next summer as well. Basically, finding work shouldn't be an issue for her after graduation.

It was a long time ago, but I remember it being totally routine, no queues and no uncertainty. She should go to her school's immigration office, I'm sure they'll be able to walk her through the application and explain any other options while they're at it.

One of my summer internships was delayed for two months because USCIS thought my photo was overexposed (it wasn't)... so I definitely wouldn't say "no uncertainty" but all the paperwork was possible to complete without representation.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#159

Post by ryanweal »

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 think the Google location is Windsor, but I know they have an office in Montréal and probably Toronto as well.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#160

Post by wil421 »

thisone wrote: post #90
robk wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

4 months in advance you are seeing the wrong GP! I could easily switch to a new GP if I tried to make an appointment and they were booked that far in advance.

Can you choose you GP in the UK or are they assigned?

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