41–50 of 64 posts
Sorry to be negative, but it will be almost impossible for you to get a job here this way, unless you are from a country that has a flexible work visa arrangement (Canada, Australia, etc). In fact, you could get banned from entering the country for 10+ years if you lie as to your intent for entering the US and you get found out. And if you tell them your intent is to find a job, you will also be denied. It's a no-win…
Startups and self employment are truly a great way to open doors and attract others. I recommend everyone start one at least on the side. Traveling is good for networking. Think of it that way!
Sorry to be negative, but it will be almost impossible for you to get a job here this way, unless you are from a country that has a flexible work visa arrangement (Canada, Australia, etc). In fact, you could get banned from entering the country for 10+ years if you lie as to your intent for entering the US and you get found out. And if you tell them your intent is to find a job, you will also be denied. It's a no-win…
OP should apply for the DV lottery. It's a long shot but it could happen.
Perhaps if you look a little harder, you can find a solution in Columbia?
I'd like to point out that moving to San Francisco is not a solution. You state: "I'm a big dreamer. And I'm willing to leave it all to achieve my dreams."
There's a huge difference between chasing a dream, and running a business. San Francisco is a very expensive place to live. A salary that's the envy of most of the United States won't even cover basic expenses in San Francisco. It's simply too expensive to subsidize people chasing dreams; and believe me, there are a lot of people in and around San Francisco chasing their dreams.
So, IMO, learn the difference between chasing a dream and running a tech business. Solve your problems at home before you move; or if you do move, find a place that's cheap enough to let you learn how to run a business.
There are a lot of good reasons to move to San Francisco. Wait until the city offers you a tangible reason to move there; because the best place to be a dreamer is to live at home.
Sorry to be negative, but it will be almost impossible for you to get a job here this way, unless you are from a country that has a flexible work visa arrangement (Canada, Australia, etc). In fact, you could get banned from entering the country for 10+ years if you lie as to your intent for entering the US and you get found out. And if you tell them your intent is to find a job, you will also be denied. It's a no-win…
As an American, if we continue to turn down would-be immigrants like this, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
A little word of caution. You haven't mentioned your visa situation, but given that you said you can stay for 6 months I'm going to assume you are on a B2 visa. When you arrive in the US, be ready to explain why you are NOT planning on moving here or finding a job. You aren't coming to SF to look for work, you're coming as a TOURIST and are going to see some sights, and then head home. Also, the longer you say you ar…
Sorry, but this is terrible advice. You should not be counseling someone to lie when they enter into the US. You literally could get them banned from entering the US for many years, or even permanently, if their lie is caught by the agents. And these agents are trained to catch liars, so if the OP uses your advice and gets caught up in his lies, he could be turned away without any hesitation.
A little word of caution. You haven't mentioned your visa situation, but given that you said you can stay for 6 months I'm going to assume you are on a B2 visa. When you arrive in the US, be ready to explain why you are NOT planning on moving here or finding a job. You aren't coming to SF to look for work, you're coming as a TOURIST and are going to see some sights, and then head home. Also, the longer you say you ar…
Sorry, but this is terrible advice. You should not be counseling someone to lie when they enter into the US. You literally could get them banned from entering the US for many years, or even permanently, if their lie is caught by the agents. And these agents are trained to catch liars, so if the OP uses your advice and gets caught up in his lies, he could be turned away without any hesitation.
This is fairly well known in startup circles, in fact YC themselves have an internal guide for how to speak to US immigration. The important thing is to know the terms of your visa, and not say anything which could jeopardize that.
I also don't think OP's case is completely hopeless. There are plenty of companies which will sponsor you on a J1 visa, which will usually buy you enough time to apply for an H1B or O1. If he wants to come visit SF and meet/network with people here, then he definitely should do so.