From Germany to MA - Anybody familiar with H1-B? (Boston: lawyers, find a job)

[ZipZap]

Hi All,

I am currently thinking about the possibility of entering a new chapter in my career by working abroad (I was working in different countries within the EU, so the US would definitely be the next step for me). This is clearly not being worked out in detail yet.

I do like New England, MA in specific (however I would consider other states too, if necessary)... so my idea would be to find a job first and then relocate with the family.

What I've been reading so far is, that I either have to be selected through the DV-program (chances slim), or an employer files H1-B visa for me. Is anybody familiar with this process? Does anybody know H1 Base, a company that supports by searching for a H1-B sponsor employer? Is that scam, or somehow useful?

Some key facts: I would apparently qualify for H1-B, 12 yrs management experience, currently six figure income (in $), German national, 34years old, married with one kid.

All ideas/ suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance...

[pjscdn]

I can only answer your question through my own personal experience. Whether you qualify for H1-B depends on what your skills and talents are, and whether an employer wants to sponsor you to work in the US. It is supposed to fill the gap in certain labor pools caused a shortage of skilled US workers. In reality, the program is used mostly to enable employers to cut costs by recruiting non-permanent foreign workers to work here at a lower pay scale than comparable US workers. You'll notice most H1-B visas are targeted for engineering and technology workers , mostly from countries like India.

[capecodcathy]

And they have become increasingly difficult to obtain. Cape Cod relies very heavily on foreign workers in the summer and there was a significant shortage of service workers even though the jobs were there. It may be different at the professional level.

[UrbanQuest]

A vast majority of H1B visas are obtained by Indian offshoring firms to bring in cheaper more exploitable labor from India. This of course is not fair considering there are a large number of professionals from countries like Germany who would also wish to come here, but perhaps aren't as agreeable as Indian professionals. Look into it and try your best, alot of companies out there are looking for European professionals like yourself.

[ZipZap]

Thanks for the replies so far...

When you say difficult to obtain you mean there is a maximum amount of H1B visas being issued? That would definitely not make it easier for me...

By looking through the job boards I found lots of interesting offers that do match my profession, however I don't know of course how many US citizens already apply for these positions.

Anybody ever heard a story about a firm like H1 Base? They say that just 1% of US companies are willing to file an H1B visa... well, I didn't found any statistics about that, but it would mean that chances are slim if I just apply on jobs that I find on the usual job boards.

However they guarantee to find a sponsor employer, even if I turn down offers because I don't accept the offered income or place (without saying how long it will take though). Somehow this does not sound right... what is your opinion.

[haberstroh]

Yes there is a cap on how many H1B visas and (some category) green cards are issued every year. INS changes that number yearly. I have never heard of H1 Base but they might exist. Are they legitimate? Who knows...there are a lot of "black sheep" out there trying to take (financial) advantage of immigrants. There are of course plenty honest immigration lawyers and agencies....but they also require a stiff fee. Ask for referrals. I have several friends that were sponsored by companies and were able to get visas (mainly in the Detroit region working for the car makers) and even Green Cards. Another friend of mine applied through the Green Card lottery and won hers that way. And some do what I did and married an American (out of love of course :-) ! ).
Boston has a lot of schools and universities so a lot international students with good qualifications can apply directly from here, they have an advantage though. But try it anyway....I am sure you can find an employer willing to sponsor you. Go for the big ones, they usually have their own personnel department specializing in visas. And offer your help with the application i.e. translations, filling out and mailing paperwork to save costs. Viel Glueck!

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by haberstroh

And some do what I did and married an American (out of love of course :-) ! ).

Well, as I am happily married it comes down to the DV-program and H1B then... ;-)

I'll give it a try anyway.

[pjscdn]

I do wish you all the luck in the world. I am not familiair with the DV program, but the H1-B system is getting a very bad rap. Here's an article that will provide some insight.

With The H-1B Visa Cap Filled In Record Time, Reform Is In The Air -- H-1B -- InformationWeek

If you dig deeper, you'll discover some of the biggest abusers of the program are outsourcers based in India. Talk about cheap - think of it as outsourcing-outsourcing.
I got out of engineering years ago when part of my job involved writing job descriptions structured such that they could only be filled by low-cost foreign talent. The handwriting was on the wall.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by pjscdn

I do wish you all the luck in the world. I am not familiair with the DV program, but the H1-B system is getting a very bad rap. Here's an article that will provide some insight.

With The H-1B Visa Cap Filled In Record Time, Reform Is In The Air -- H-1B -- InformationWeek

If you dig deeper, you'll discover some of the biggest abusers of the program are outsourcers based in India. Talk about cheap - think of it as outsourcing-outsourcing.
I got out of engineering years ago when part of my job involved writing job descriptions structured such that they could only be filled by low-cost foreign talent. The handwriting was on the wall.

Thanks for the interesting link, pjscdn... The article does confirm above postings though. Lets see how the reform will ease the situation then.

I am a very positive person, and I will take the chances that I get. Last year 1k out of the 55k greencards went to Germany. If that is the best chance I get, I will go down that route.


Thanks for wishing me luck!

[Iserelle]

Hello ZipZap,

H1-Base is simply a web database containing a list of companies which at some point in the past have sponsored somebody - that and a college grad guidelines to covering letters , resumes and interview questions. So once you subscribe, you are supposed to write your resume and drop it at the email boxes of the companies included (about 80 for one job type), and this is where their vocation finishes: there is absolutely nobody there who follows-up on your applications, speaks to you or to the companies, helps you with the documents or does anything at all regarding your application process, and the very last thing they provide is a guarantee that you are going to get sponsored.
I have subscribed and it took me a week to get through to them, a dead socket for all the emails sent, and once I finally managed to speak to a consultant, he was impressive at evading to tell you they do not provide any service except for just that one list of the companies, while their 'quarantee' of the visa sponsorship means that if you do not hear from any company then after 21 days you are allowed to repeat your posting and do so again for un unlimited period of time, and they only charge you once!
After the first posting, I got a reply from one very smart chap from Zurich saying: 'Please go directly to our website and do apply for the postings included there'. And this is how it works, applying directly with the companies.

Have a great marriage!