Emmigration to USA

[days]

Hi, I currently work as a Production Engineer in UK, Apprentice trained, HNC qualified, I'm 40 years old with no ties. I have experience in various light assembly environments. Currently I am employed in the Electrical Industry, the company manufacture - Distribution Boards, Consumer Units, Lamp Holders, Sockets, Plate Switches etc. My job is to support product introduction by Product Costing, MOST Analysis, BOM and Route Creation, Sourcing and Implementing Capital Equipment, Methods, VE/VA. I would like to emigrate to USA to work. What would your advice be. No jokes please.

 

[TD2K]

There are limited options to immigrating to the US (BTDT). This is one site that has a lot of good basic information but a search on Google for immigrating to the US will get lots of hits

http://www.shusterman.com/

Essentially, you need to get a company to sponsor you for a work visa or marry a US citizen. Yes, if you are really good, you can apply for permanent residence for national interest but you'd better be really good. Also, if you have significant capital and are willing to invest it that will create US jobs, that can also be a way in.

It's not particularly easy. We just got our green cards and this application cycle took 2 1/2 years. All in all, because of several problems and changes in the requirements, we've been pursing this for close to 5 years.

Another site to check out is immigration specialists, I believe they also have a good general primer on the requirements.

 

[TrevorP]

From my experience, it isn't easy. I looked into it some time ago, and was told that I needed to possess a skill or skills that 'no-one' currently eligible and available to work in the US possessed. I would have been sponsored by a US based company, and would probably have fitted into this criteria, but they would have had to have posted the job US wide and received no suitable applicants.
Others might have more experience and be able to give other ideas, especially those who have already gone through the process.
However, unless you fall in love with a US citizen, the best way I can think of is to try to get yourself a job with a UK or European based company that already does a lot of work in the US, and where you will be required to travel to the US frequently. You will find out more about what working there is like, and hopefully you will impress a client sufficiently enough that they want to employ you directly. You never know, you may even meet the person of your dreams!
You might struggle with an HNC. I know people for whom this has been a virtual blocker, despite achieving all of the other criteria. You should probably look into getting a degree (e.g. via a part time course). Being a full member of the IEE will also help.

 

[RDK]

If the US is not an easy option, why not go through Canada?

As a commonwealth citizen, immigration to Canada should be easy. Once a Canadian you could then work in the USA under the terms of the North American Free trade Agreement (NFTA).

See the Canadian federal government web site

http://canadainternational.gc.ca/view-en.asp?Grp=00EB00F3&act=1&tbID=1

for immigration information and the main site

http://www.gov.gc.ca

for access to all Canadian government sites.

If interested post here and I’ll include some additional links (professional links and job opportunities etc.)



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[TD2K]

One thing on Rick's post, you would need to be in Canada long enough to get Canadian citzenship. The NAFTA rules for Canadians working in the US apply to Canadian citizens, landed immigrant status (or whatever they call it now) is NOT sufficient.

 

[TD2K]

On the subject of labour certification, nurses are one exemption. The US is chronically in short supply of nurses so the US government does not requirement companies to go through 'searching' for a qualified US nurse when starting the green card process.

Doesn't help us with engineering degrees I know but a large number of engineers seem to be married to nurses. My wife happens to be a nurse and that is how we got our green cards, she was the primary applicant and I was the dependent spouse (to use their terminology ;-)). Hey, if it works, I have no problem with it!!!!

 

[RDK]

My suggestion would take at least 5 years, that’s the time to become a naturalized Canadian citizen. The one positive thing about it is that you are almost guaranteed to be able to enter the US and work there in 5 years. I could see it taking that long to go through the green card process in the US if your area of engineering is well full of US citizens.

The other advantage is you would be close to the US for your job search and looking for a final place to settle.

I looked through the Immigration web site. As a skilled worker you would be rated on points in six categories. They include work experience, age , education and language ability in French and/or English. Only a few points are allocated for having a job offer in Canada. You also need sufficient funds to support yourself for 6 months (stated as less than $Cdn 10,000).

It looks like any engineer would have no problem qualifying, especially if you are a native English or French speaker.


TD2K

What is it about engineers and nurses? My wife is one as well.



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[TD2K]

I don't know Rick but my half brother is getting married this September and yup, she's a nurse!!!

 

[leanne]

The only nurses in my family are cousins & aunts. I have a degree in electrical engineering & my DH is in tool&die. I'm electrical, he's mechanical.

I'm not familiar HNC. I've worked with a number of Europeans who have emigrated & most of them had a job in the U with a company also having facilities in the USA. I've worked for several large multi-national companies & there is often opportunity to transfer into position outside the US as an temporary ex-pat or as a permanent transfer.

If you have QA/QC experience & can get ASQ certification(s) or have welding experience & can get AWS certification(s), US companies are often looking for folks with CWI, CQE, CQA, CWE,...

http://www.asq.org

- American Society for Quality

http://www.aws.org

- American Welding Society

Check

http://www.roadwhore.com

for international assignment openings.

 

[RDK]

I was browsing the US immigration web site and came across what might be a way into the US.

There is an “L” visa, which is for employees of multinational firms sent to the US in an executive, managerial or specialized knowledge role. The individual must be employed by the parent (or subsidiary or other related company) for a period of one year in the last three. There does not appear to be any time limits on this and the assignment can be to establish an operation in the US.

Why not establish a limited liability company in the UK, work for it for at least one year and then establish a subsidiary company in the US and move there to establish a new office? You could become the president of the subsidiary firm, which is a managerial role.

If you are planning on going out on your own as a consultant once in the US this might be a good way in. The only major restriction that I can see is that you would only be allowed to work for the subsidiary firm and would have to maintain the UK firm.



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com