IT work in the USA
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone's contracted/been a permie IT bod in the states?
It's something I've always wanted to do but assumed securing a H1B would be very hard unless I have niche skills (I'm a software dev working in BI and analytics).
From what I gather, contracting is pretty much a no-no since a company needs to sponsor a visa. However I have heard something from a guy at work about umbrellas sponsoring H1B's, can this be done?
What are your experiences?
It's something I've always wanted to do but assumed securing a H1B would be very hard unless I have niche skills (I'm a software dev working in BI and analytics).
From what I gather, contracting is pretty much a no-no since a company needs to sponsor a visa. However I have heard something from a guy at work about umbrellas sponsoring H1B's, can this be done?
What are your experiences?
Not worked in software/ IT but did work in the USA for a very long time.
Getting a work visa ( H1B) is going to be very hard.
You will need to be sponsored by an organization.
TBH, IT skills are not hard to find in the US unless you have a very very specialized skill, such as in defence work, robotics etc etc.. Don't mean to rain on your parade, but I knew lots of expats who had come to the USA to work and were left very disappointed. American companies are loathe to hire non citizens unless they have no option, or unless they come very cheap.
Getting a work visa ( H1B) is going to be very hard.
You will need to be sponsored by an organization.
TBH, IT skills are not hard to find in the US unless you have a very very specialized skill, such as in defence work, robotics etc etc.. Don't mean to rain on your parade, but I knew lots of expats who had come to the USA to work and were left very disappointed. American companies are loathe to hire non citizens unless they have no option, or unless they come very cheap.
There are more employment visa options than H1-B, which is a predominantly capped (at 65,000 per annum), subsequently heavily over-subscribed and somewhat restrictive option.
As stated already, the employer sponsors and applies for the visa, not the employee (as is the case with all employment based visas) and the real challenge is to find an employer who is willing to jump through those hoops on your behalf.
IT is not a profession that is lacking in expertise and talent in this country - though there are some niche areas, where highly specialized skills are still out-sourced from overseas, occasionally.
One of my neighbors is a right old boffin who works at Lockheed Martin and was quite instrumental in development of 'Longbow' for Boeing Apache. He has at least 3 European H1-B beneficiaries on his team, but they are not renewing their visas or applying for permanent status for them, because the project is pretty much done with.
That is reflective of another issue with employment based visas, because they are in the main, temporary - not permanent.
Just a final note on the subject, one advantage of H1-B is that the employer cannot low-ball the beneficiary on salary - because the position MUST pay the prevailing rate for the position. This condition was put in place to prevent situations where an H1-B employee was a cheaper option than a local hire (as was the case a few years ago, which lead to a flood of cheap IT bods mainly from India who were imported on a contract basis by large Indian conglomerates). That loophole is now firmly closed and contractor status is not achievable using any employment based visa nowadays.
As stated already, the employer sponsors and applies for the visa, not the employee (as is the case with all employment based visas) and the real challenge is to find an employer who is willing to jump through those hoops on your behalf.
IT is not a profession that is lacking in expertise and talent in this country - though there are some niche areas, where highly specialized skills are still out-sourced from overseas, occasionally.
One of my neighbors is a right old boffin who works at Lockheed Martin and was quite instrumental in development of 'Longbow' for Boeing Apache. He has at least 3 European H1-B beneficiaries on his team, but they are not renewing their visas or applying for permanent status for them, because the project is pretty much done with.
That is reflective of another issue with employment based visas, because they are in the main, temporary - not permanent.
Just a final note on the subject, one advantage of H1-B is that the employer cannot low-ball the beneficiary on salary - because the position MUST pay the prevailing rate for the position. This condition was put in place to prevent situations where an H1-B employee was a cheaper option than a local hire (as was the case a few years ago, which lead to a flood of cheap IT bods mainly from India who were imported on a contract basis by large Indian conglomerates). That loophole is now firmly closed and contractor status is not achievable using any employment based visa nowadays.
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