Author Topic: Graduating soon, thinking about emigrating :D (Read 593 times)

StSanta · « **on:** October 30, 2002, 02:19:02 PM »

The 8th next month we turn in the final project. The 20th is the date for the final exam, and the 27th I graduate.

Been looking at the job market in Denmark. I probably could get a job due to good grades and the fact that I've specialized in something not so popular (C++ and pervasive computing). All the other idiots are out there making dynamic web pages and other design toejame where there's 1000 people for each job).

At any rate, salary is MUCH higher in the US for a junior programmer. Taxes are MUCH lower. Sure, there are other things I have to pay for (health insurance etc) but the bottom line is I'd get about 40-50% more disposable income even after this - here, working hard is punished by excessive tax pressure.

Of course, I've also been thinking about working here for two to three years, building experience and waiting for the economy to turn. This is (probably) what I'll do, but I want to know what other possibilities are out there.

So I'm thinking about seeking a job in the US. Aye, the job market is bleak there too, but it's not like I'm afraid to take chances. I'm just not sure how to go about the whole process. Some companies sponsor Hi tech Visas, others do not. And what if I get an interview? Go all the way over to the US, have the interview, travel back, and not hear from them again? Repeat three times and there goes all the money I can save up for a year

.

If anyone has done it before or hve ideas about how I should go about it, I'd really appreciate advice.

Oh, and if this happen, is there any way to relocate all Americans to, say, Greenland? I'd need to learn about American culture and I'm pretty sure it'd be easier if there weren't any Americans around

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:35:11 PM »

We'll be sure to send a collection of your more colorful posts to the INS.

MUAHAHAHAHA!

AKDejaVu <- can't help with programming jobs... get an engineering degree

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:38:27 PM »

Sorry santa we only import programmers from India....

batdog · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:39:16 PM »

The companies often send out "recruiters". Also if they decide to interview you they will pay your route to and from the interview.

I have no idea HOW to seak these jobs from Denmark beyond looking at the internet.

xBAT

Charon · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:44:20 PM »

Don't know about the rest (emigration issues and job market), but it might set your mind at ease a bit to know that your employer usually pays for most of the health insurance, unless they are total rat bastards.

Quote

(C++ and pervasive computing)

By this do you mean developing process control/monitoring applications to Web accessible platfroms like wireless PDAs and cellphones? I know that in the industry I cover (petroleum retailing) this is being explored. Systems I've seen that use this technology allow a fuel manager to keep track of storage tank activity while out on the road (or golf course), with automated or manual functions for ordering fuel drops or monitoring leak detection activities, etc. Several companies doing this are Veeder-Root and Intelligent Controls (INCON). I imagine it is a trend in other industires as well with similar dynamics.

Charon

Nash · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:46:12 PM »

Generally it works like this. You have to be in a skill category that places you into a bracket whereby you are not taking a job away from an American. Unless you want to go to the US and take up a career as a coffee shop waiter, it's not that hard to demonstrate.

Then ya gotta get all your transcripts sent to this US agency (I forget the name but could look it up for you when I get home). They look em over and decide if your education constitutes an american bachelor's degree (at least).

Passing that, you need a note from your prospective employer saying "we are such and such a company, and we want to hire so and so". They need to be pretty detailed because the INS folks look into it.

and damn... there's something else but I forget. Money of course. but one other step.

Then ya either get a 6 month, year-long or two-year visa. Before your visa expires you need to fly back to your country of origin, wait a couple hours to catch the return flight back to the US, and they stamp alla those same papers for you just before you board.

If your serious I'll dig up all those papers and see what I might be missing.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:49:11 PM »

Boeing is actually OFFLOADING all their programming, IS, to India. You're just a tad too late for the Computer programming careers here in the US, Santa...you might try India!

funkedup · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:49:36 PM »

I looked into immigration for some squaddies, and it's kind of a pain in the ass, even if you have somebody who wants to hire you. If you want to do it, get paperwork in ASAP because there is some waiting.

StSanta · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:51:23 PM »

Ah crap. Looks like I'm moving to India.

I'll LEARN to like their musical action films.

udet · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:52:14 PM »

come to the US for Grad school, they will pay your tuition and a stipend if you get an assistanship, and maybe later you can find a job here.

john9001 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2002, 02:56:37 PM »

just tell them your a saudi and you need a student visa,you wont even have to fill out the papers correctly, no problems mon

Curval · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2002, 03:48:21 PM »

Go to Canada...they will take just about anyone. They even let me reside there for like 11 years.

Just something to think about....if you go to the US and become an American you will be subject to US taxes for the rest of your life, and after you die the US government will take half of your estate in estate taxes....and they want it in cash, within 90 days of death. (Remember the big auction of Kennedy memorabilia a few years ago, after Jackie died? Know why the Kennedy estate sold all that stuff? Because they didn't have the cash to pay the estate taxes....THE KENNEDY ESTATE! They had lots of investments, but they were not liquid.) So...the first thing your family may have to do upon your death is to take out a loan to cover this cost...nice huh?

The US is one of only a handful of countries that tax you based on citizenship...not on residency. This means that even if you later decide to move to another juristiction you will still be required to submit tax returns and remit the cash to the IRS.

To be honest...it would be the worst possible tax planning possible for you to take up citizenship in the US.

You are far better off in Canada man.

Maverick · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2002, 04:02:11 PM »

Santa,

Sorry but the US is at full capacity now. No further immigration is going to be allowed. I hear that Bosnia has some openings now. In the near future Iraq might also be admitting new folks.

Pei · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2002, 04:02:17 PM »

StSanta,
I was in a similar situation nearly 4 years ago. I'd just finished a Masters in computing and was working as a software engineer back home (in the UK) when my company gave me the opportunity to work in the US (for a few months originally). Now it's time for me to go back (actually my current visa lasts until may next year and my company have offered to sponsor another after that but I want to be back before xmas).

The visa you're probably looking for is an H1B1 (Skilled, Non-immigrant, resident worker). An H1B1 applies for a specific company for 3 years - if you want to stay permanently and be free to work for whoever you like you'll have to try for a green card which is more difficult, expensive and takes longer. In order to bring you in on a visa the company has to prove 2 things: firstly that they have advertised the position to US citizens and have not found anyone suitable to fill it and secondly that you are a qualified individual for the job (i.e. they'll want you education and employment history). The compnay also has to provide extensive documentation on the company itself. It usually takes a specialized lawyer to get all this done correctly and costs several thousand dollars all told.

Generally the process involves you coming out on the visa waiver scheme (where you are allowed into the country for 3 months on business - you'll need to check if Denamrk is part of the scheme - not all countries are). My first visa took 6 months so I went out and back on a waiver twice. Once the State department approves the visa you have to go back to your country of origin and hand in the documents to the US embassy who then put in the visa (which can take from 2 days to 3 weeks in London). Other campnaies might do this differently now, especially since immigration law has been tightened: the compnay should tell you what you need to do.

In 1999 many companies were prepared to sponsor these, nowadays most jobs you see advertized over here specifically state that they won't sponsor visas. I think it will be especially hard for if you have no actual employment experience. Your best chance might be to follow my route and get a job at a company that has a US office, or even better is headquartered in the US and then try for an inter-office transfer. Also the allocation of H1B visas has been reduced by the State department.

Most companies here will provide a health insurance scheme (though you'll probably have to contribute some money - I pay about $25 a month for mine). Tax is lower (especially compared with continental europe) though you'll also find it's much more complex and takes a lot more effort on your part (becuase I tend to work in a number of states in a year and I still have assets back in the UK my tax is very complex so I pay a proffessional to do it for me each year). Salaries are much higher as well but remember that you'll be expected to work a minimum of 40 hours a week and most companies don't pay overtime to salaried workers (there exceptions to this of course: I work for a consultancy firm where we get payed for every hour that we bill the client which is handy because I usually work over 50 hours a week).

All in all it has been a great experience for me and I highly recommend it, generally the people are nice and I've made a lot of friends, the work is good as long as you are prepared to work hard and it's very large, diverse and interesting company. The money of course is good and I've got a lot of good things to put on my CV (or resume as they say over here). They even have some half-decent beer these days

Thrawn · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2002, 04:33:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Boeing is actually OFFLOADING all their programming, IS, to India. You're just a tad too late for the Computer programming careers here in the US, Santa...you might try India!

You're not alone. A whole hell of alot of tech support jobs are moving out to India.