Can i move to USA with my degree?
Replies
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What you should do is go to Mexico and then sneak in from the south. The government looks the other way on that. It's only legal immigration that they seem to have a problem with.0
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The US is in a recession and is borderline a Puritanical Theocracy (especially if a certain candidate should become President). We have no free health care. The middle class is getting poorer and the wealthiest are getting richer at their expense. Frankly, I think there may well be a revolution in the next few years if things don't change.
We lived in Germany for 1 1/2 years. We'd go back in a heartbeat. The US used to be the land of the free and the land of opportunity. It's not anymore. Politicians are gradually chipping away at the freedoms and opportunity only really exists if you are born with it or marry into it. It's a lot dirtier too. Germany was so clean we were absolutaly amazed. Then we toured through Europe and unless we were in old Eastern Block countries it was always cleaner than anywhere we'd ever been stateside (and that's most of the states) It's not just trash and litter it's air and water quality too.
On the plus side, gas is cheaper (although not by a whole lot anymore and we don't get free healthcare because of the cost) and you can get a lot more house for a lot less money, especially now that we've had the housing market collapse.
What exactly is it that you liked about the US so much? Where have you been?0 -
The US is in a recession and is borderline a Puritanical Theocracy (especially if a certain candidate should become President). We have no free health care. The middle class is getting poorer and the wealthiest are getting richer at their expense. Frankly, I think there may well be a revolution in the next few years if things don't change.
We lived in Germany for 1 1/2 years. We'd go back in a heartbeat. The US used to be the land of the free and the land of opportunity. It's not anymore. Politicians are gradually chipping away at the freedoms and opportunity only really exists if you are born with it or marry into it. It's a lot dirtier too. Germany was so clean we were absolutaly amazed. Then we toured through Europe and unless we were in old Eastern Block countries it was always cleaner than anywhere we'd ever been stateside (and that's most of the states) It's not just trash and litter it's air and water quality too.
On the plus side, gas is cheaper (although not by a whole lot anymore and we don't get free healthcare because of the cost) and you can get a lot more house for a lot less money, especially now that we've had the housing market collapse.
What exactly is it that you liked about the US so much? Where have you been?
Compared to Scotland I pretty much loved every single aspect of the US. You may think The US sis bad... Try coming to Scotland! You mentioned unemployment... we have under 6million people living here and around 500,000 of them are unemployed. This rose by 7,000 in the first 3 months of 2012.
Prices in the US are cheaper, the shops are better, far more jobs, more opportunities... And I just loved the country.0 -
You're crazy Sir. I'd move to Canada before I moved to the States. Though, this opinion is biased as I'm Canadian.0
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Only thing is, I don't know how long to wait before I apply for an internship. Not sure how much is needed of me before I go.
Call and ask the places that are hosting the internships.
FWIW, I agree with Bahet. I travel to Spain on a regular basis, and if we could afford to move there, we probably would. I'm in love with Madrid and the Atlantic coast of Spain.0 -
Start shopping around for employment based in the US, and work yourself into a unique and marketable skillset so you stand out from the crowd. Many American employers are hiring from overseas now for skilled positions that are hard to find in the US.
If that's not possible, then I would consider trying to go to graduate studies here so you can make some connections and weasel your way into a job.
^^^ This !
Graduates often obtain work at a US company (specially of they worked as Interns while finishing their schooling)
yea, exactly this.
you scout out and basically get a job before you come over here.. similar to how I would apply for a job in another state and move there if I get it... alot of email, phone, etc.. and maybe a meeting or two face to face first.. maybe not.0 -
There is a lot of demand for software developers in the USA. When you say your degree is "computer game development", are you saying that you write code to develop games? If so, your skill set is valuable and you could even move on to other types of software product development even if you don't end up developing games here. I know nothing about the visa process though, so can't help you there.0
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Firstly, I think you're a bit mad too. The US seems great when you're on holiday, but trust me, living there is a completely different game. No healthcare, and horrible working conditions - nowhere near as much holiday as UK, longer hours, easier to just sack employees) are the biggest two things. As for cost, it's cheap to a tourist who earns £'s converts them to $'s and makes holiday type purchases, but in reality actually living there is really not any cheaper, fuel seems cheaper, but you do lots of miles, health insurance (unless you have an awesome employer and even then you have copays and deductables) and things like property taxes are way higher than in the UK.
Also you imagine it to be a similar culture because of the language, but in reality it is not at all. Holidaying there and living there are definitely completely different experiences.
How do I know this, I'm a Brit, and I have done it.
My other thought is that in the games industry, the UK is actually a fairly big player, so moving may not necessarily be the best thing.
Ignoring the above, if you want to do it, you realistically have a few choices:
H1B - After you finish school find an employee who will sponsor you. The requirements for this are a 4 year degree or equivalent experience, so you meet the criteria, however getting an employee to sponsor is the hard bit. The best way to do this will be through networking, but basically think of it this way - Why would the employee hire you, when it will cost them somewhere between $10-$20k to sponsor the visa (for a H1B they have to pay, so you can't do this for them). If there people who can already do what you do who are in the US, you will need a niche. In the meantime, work on this niche.
L1 A\B - Get a job with a company that has a presence in the UK\US then after a year, you will be able to get an L1 A\B visa to transfer if you can get in a position where the company will do that.
F1 \ Student - After your degree, do postgrad studying in the US. This will give you a chance to network, but you will be very limited in what work you can do, and you have to show you have the funds for schooling up front. This will be very expensive (think tens of thousands of $'s ).
K1 - Marry a US girl. Only do this if you actually fall in love with the right person, don't commit immigration fraud.
Realistically, thats pretty much it, unless you have loads of money that you can afford to lose ($250k+) and would be willing to set up your own US business.
It's not a particularly easy country to get into, but if you work at it, you can get there. If you have any questions about any of this or whatever, feel free to ask and I will happily share my experiences.0 -
There aren't more jobs. Our unemployment rate is 8.3%. To give you an idea, if our population were 6 million that would mean that 498,000 would be unemployed. Mind you, that doesn't include people who have given up and retired or became at home parents. Nor does it include people who are under employed. I know engineers with master's degrees who are delivering pizza years after being laid off because there is no work for them in their field. My uncle has a master's degree. He worked as a high school counselor. He now works as a gate guard in his neighborhood.The US is in a recession and is borderline a Puritanical Theocracy (especially if a certain candidate should become President). We have no free health care. The middle class is getting poorer and the wealthiest are getting richer at their expense. Frankly, I think there may well be a revolution in the next few years if things don't change.
We lived in Germany for 1 1/2 years. We'd go back in a heartbeat. The US used to be the land of the free and the land of opportunity. It's not anymore. Politicians are gradually chipping away at the freedoms and opportunity only really exists if you are born with it or marry into it. It's a lot dirtier too. Germany was so clean we were absolutaly amazed. Then we toured through Europe and unless we were in old Eastern Block countries it was always cleaner than anywhere we'd ever been stateside (and that's most of the states) It's not just trash and litter it's air and water quality too.
On the plus side, gas is cheaper (although not by a whole lot anymore and we don't get free healthcare because of the cost) and you can get a lot more house for a lot less money, especially now that we've had the housing market collapse.
What exactly is it that you liked about the US so much? Where have you been?
Compared to Scotland I pretty much loved every single aspect of the US. You may think The US sis bad... Try coming to Scotland! You mentioned unemployment... we have under 6million people living here and around 500,000 of them are unemployed. This rose by 7,000 in the first 3 months of 2012.
Prices in the US are cheaper, the shops are better, far more jobs, more opportunities... And I just loved the country.
I don't know that prices (except gas and housing and utilities) are really any cheaper. I got some serious sticker shock when we moved back here from Germany. Apparently cows became an endangered species while we were gone because beef and dairy prices doubled or more.
I'm not saying the US is bad. I do like it here. I like that I can travel to different climates and still speak English, buy the same foods, and expect a lot of other similarities.0 -
There is a lot of demand for software developers in the USA. When you say your degree is "computer game development", are you saying that you write code to develop games? If so, your skill set is valuable and you could even move on to other types of software product development even if you don't end up developing games here. I know nothing about the visa process though, so can't help you there.
as a software developer, i can agree with this.
Heres the hard truth.
If you have a useful skill.. you can get a good job.
The largest problem the US has, is a lot of people here have no skill. They cant build anything. They cant fix anything. They cant really DO anything.
Its been beat into their heads that they need some degree, so they get a degree, but they still dont have any marketable skill.
If you can write software well, I guarantee you can get a job. It may not be writing games, but you can get a good job here and then look for a better one.
Even during the worst part of this "recession", I still got at least 2 calls from headhunters a month with job offers, and often more then that.0 -
maybe we could just swap places. you're trying to get in, I would love to get out.0
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I'm an immigration advisor. A lot of the information that has been posted has flaws, though HelloDan's information is the closest to accurate (sorry, MFP friends). Coming as a university student is the best option (F-1), but you'll have to prove that you intend to return to your home country. After you complete your studies you'll be eligible for one year of work authorization in your field (called Optional Practical Training), and from there you can hope your employer would sponsor you for H-1B status (six years possible) and from there, permanent residency (also called a green card). It's very difficult to obtain a green card, though, because you must either be a professor at a university, one of the top scientists in your field, OR you must prove that no qualified Americans or permanent residents would accept that position that you occupy (super difficult in this economy). Then again, maybe you'll fall in love along the way... but do it honest. You won't be able to live with yourself if you don't.
Computer Science/Information Technology is a really hot field right now.0 -
Hi, I'm in the USA, originally from Manchester, England. I naturalized as a citizen a few years ago so I hold dual citizenship for the US and the UK - so do both of my kids. I married an American I met overseas (not england) and I've been here in the states for almost 8 years now, lived all over (military).
You will find it almost impossible to immigrate here. It will be lengthy and expensive because you have no ties here. If you have family here, you have a better shot but I filed the paperwork for green cards for my parents last year and no one has heard anything yet almost 8 months later and it cost almost $2000 for both applications which could still be rejected!
Your best bet is to come here as a student, get your masters here and see if you can get a company to sponsor you once you are here for a work visa. Work visas are hard to come by and getting harder as jobs become more scarce. If you want to message me, I will answer any questions you have. Basically, as soon as we can, we would like to move out of here and go to Europe which will be a lengthy awful process that we just did for me, for my husband to join us. But, it will be worth it to us to get out of the States and back to Europe, so while I agree this is a wonderful place to live, I don't want to stay here!0 -
*lol* I have to laugh at some of the comments... though I'm not sure how to go about becoming a US citizen (the title intrigued me)... I do know many people that have come here to obtain a degree and then be able to stay... they have come from all over the place... such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Venezuela... As far as "free health care".... yeah, it's not "free" in the sense that you can just walk in and out of a clinic and get what you need done done without paying out of pocket at the moment... but I'm sure if you are working with EA or Zynga or other big game companies, then you will have access to relatively affordable and decent insurance.... and to everyone touting "free" healthcare, there is no such thing as "free" anything... someone, somewhere is paying for it... in Europe's case it's through taxes, but it's not "free"... I'm pretty sure medicine is not manufactured for free nor do doctors, surgeons and nurses just volunteer their time for the fun of it... :-/ Oh and here, as long as you know the system it's doesn't have to be too bad for the majority of things...
As far as video game production is concerned... I think there are some universities that do offer that degree specifically (as opposed to computer science) or at least have courses so they can minor in that subject... I know a girl who graduated from MIT with that degree track. I would go ahead and apply for the internships/jobs... because, I'm not really sure there is that big of a supply of computer game designers... but I'm not sure...
In any regards, good luck and (hopefully) welcome to the United States.0 -
Tank you for the information so far. Samerah, i am not sure what exactly those qualifications are equivalent to over here in Scotland, but the only higher i can go (After doing my 4 year degree) Is to do a masters degree.
However, we have been told by the head of our course that only 2 people have ver completed the full 4 year degree, mostly because they get jobs in the UK or start their own company. I would love to start a business with my friend i met 2 years ago in college... But of course, that would not get me in to the US!
Love the Us!
Out of curiosity, why do you love the US so much? I was fortunate enough to be born here but many people not from here hate our guts! What is it about this country you love so much?0 -
Definitely US not Canada? I know a few games developers in Canada with connections with the UK.0
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I'm an immigration advisor. A lot of the information that has been posted has flaws, though HelloDan's information is the closest to accurate (sorry, MFP friends).
Not meaning to be rude or confrontational, I am genuinely curious, both for my sake and for the fact I'd rather not give any wrong information here.
You say my post is the closest to accurate, suggesting there are a few bits that are wrong. Can you point out the particular bits which spring to mind, so we can clear it up?0 -
usa? Ph! :explode: canada is the best place to live, we have everything as Americans have + FREE medicare :drinker:0
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I am currently in my first year of a 4 year Computer Game Development degree (Studied 2 years at college beforehand).
I would love to move to the USA but i understand it is very difficult.. Even more so for us folk from the UK. However, i do understand having a specific degree (Or specializing in a certain subject) can help obtain a Green Card/Visa.
I hear a lot of Computer Science degree's are useful for moving to the USA, how about the Computer Games Development degree?
YES you can do it..I did with my degree, but admittedly I did another degree and post grad study after. there are a lot of criteria you need to satisfy. perhaps your employer can post you there for a long term contract? I got my US nationality not long after my degree, Notre Dame alumni are powerful people.
You could also marry a US national, or if your field of expertise is specific enough, you could apply for a job that another american citizen can't do.
There's also the green card lottery.
good luck!0 -
usa? Ph! :explode: canada is the best place to live, we have everything as Americans have + FREE medicare :drinker:
less guns and crime, too!0 -
Hah, I did the exact opposite - moved from USA to UK. I'm never going back!0
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Haha! I realise marriage is an option but I am only a young 19 and not really looking for that quite yet! I have travelled to the US a lot and love it there compared to Scotland.
You know that's funny...because I would love to be there. :laugh: I know nothing about it, but best of luck my dear!0 -
What you should do is go to Mexico and then sneak in from the south. The government looks the other way on that. It's only legal immigration that they seem to have a problem with.
LOL true dat0 -
Hah, I did the exact opposite - moved from USA to UK. I'm never going back!
Good for you! That's where I want to be. 0 -
usa? Ph! :explode: canada is the best place to live, we have everything as Americans have + FREE medicare :drinker:
less guns and crime, too!
but I like guns.... and what fun is life without a little crime?0 -
There's also the green card lottery.
Assuming he is originally from Scotland, than thats not possible. The only part of the UK that has this option is Northern Ireland.0 -
There is a lot of demand for software developers in the USA. When you say your degree is "computer game development", are you saying that you write code to develop games? If so, your skill set is valuable and you could even move on to other types of software product development even if you don't end up developing games here. I know nothing about the visa process though, so can't help you there.
as a software developer, i can agree with this.
Heres the hard truth.
If you have a useful skill.. you can get a good job.
The largest problem the US has, is a lot of people here have no skill. They cant build anything. They cant fix anything. They cant really DO anything.
Its been beat into their heads that they need some degree, so they get a degree, but they still dont have any marketable skill.
If you can write software well, I guarantee you can get a job. It may not be writing games, but you can get a good job here and then look for a better one.
Even during the worst part of this "recession", I still got at least 2 calls from headhunters a month with job offers, and often more then that.
This is the truth (as a fellow software developer)0 -
First off...Good for you, you can do it!
& Canada isn't real...0 -
If you are serious about moving, hire an immigration lawyer. I doubt anyone here or on Yahoo Answers is qualified enough to give you a complete and factual rundown of the requirements and what you need to do. Trust me, it's the best way to go and worth the money. I am engage to someone from the UK and we have a daughter together and I still can't get into the UK. He tried to come visit us and the US wouldn't let him in the country. The laws are so much more strict now and you don't want to risk screwing it up.0
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There is a lot of demand for software developers in the USA. When you say your degree is "computer game development", are you saying that you write code to develop games? If so, your skill set is valuable and you could even move on to other types of software product development even if you don't end up developing games here. I know nothing about the visa process though, so can't help you there.
Yes 0
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