Finding Work in the US as a Non-US Resident?

America-bound asks: "I'm a senior Java developer living in Europe with the wish to move to the US eventually and live with my significant other. Over here, I have a diverse set of experience working on in-house development and freelance/project work. I don't intend for this to look like a resume or request for work, so I won't go into specifics. Europe, or at least my country, has very healthy prospects for those working freelance, but I'm not sure how things are in the USA (California to be more specific). My timespan for achieving this is realistic; I'm looking at making the move within 2-3 years, giving me time to work on my skills, experience and do more networking, as well as get used to life in the USA. I would like to know if my plans for working freelance, or as my own company, are very realistic in the US. Perhaps there are other good alternatives that I haven't explored yet. Hence, I turn to Slashdot hoping for some clues by others who have either made the switch to living in the US or are working there successfully, as freelancers."

Comments

Do your immigration research first

[jo42]

You really need to do your immigration research first. Unless you find a sponsor as far as work visas go, and then go through an extensive process to get a green card, don't even bother trying...

i.e. Been there, done that, back in Canada.

International Consulting Firm

[HRbnjR]

If you could get hired on by an international consulting firm, and maybe do something for them in Europe first, then ask for an internal posting overseas, that would be easiest. They have the resources to move people around, deal with Visa's, etc.

Not so easy

[redelm]

You ask about work prospects. There's lots of work in the US, but there are significant hurdles you have to overcome: Legal immigration is not easy; and healthcare insurance is expensive for those who cannot get it through their employer.

Both of these problems are easiest solved by marrying your significant other. You can get a temporary green card, and if she has health insurance through her employer, it will likely be expandable to cover her spouse (you). These are significant marriage benefits, and one reason GLBT people are requesting legal recognition for their marriages.

Re:Not so easy

[jefu]

Marrying your significant other will not work overly well in the US if he/she is the same gender as you are.

Are you sure?-Taking back our image

[Anonymous Coward]

"We're rapidly sliding towards a totalitarian dictatorship in this country... are you sure you want to move here?"*

As opposed to say Britian?

*Pet peeve of mine. Most slashdotters have NEVER lived under a dictatorship, and just know what they've read, or watched on TV or movies. Just as the rest of the world's view of the US comes through entertainment channels. Likewise most slashdotters have never actually encountered "evil", and gratuitiously throw the word around with not a hint of it's true depth.

Be thankful that you never grew up having to know what a dictatorship, or evil is, and stop pretending you do.

As for the OP. You're going to have to spend quite a bit of time developing a clientel. Skills, and knowledge are just wedges to get you into the room. You might be able to leverage the client base you already have in europe.

Re:Europe more friendly to small business

[Banner]

I've been to Europe. They do not have a higher standard of living than the US. It's actually considerably lower. How did you come up with this?

If Europe was so much better, why isn't everyone going from the US to there? Instead the flow is reversed.

I did...

[DaedalusHKX]

And in all honesty, people underestimate how things happen. I grew up to my teens under a dictator.

What we had:
Better healthcare, better education, near ZERO unemployment, no sweatshops (our particular lord and master HATED dealing with the west because, as Hussein also put it "they lie so much, even they don't know where they stand" this being a VERY accurate assessment of the USA/Western business model, in AD&D terms, we'd call the west Lawful Evil (or soulless bureaucracy for pure material gain)... oh and we had VERY GOOD public transit... there was a bus to ANYWHERE in any town of significant size (pop. wise)... or trolley or metro or any combo of the 3. Cabs too. Most people were taxed at an even level, taxes were drawn out before pay, so what you were paid is what you got. Did I mention that people were allowed to grow their own food and did so admirably? I saw very FEW fat people until I came to the USA. Must be something in the food, air or water cuz I'm rather chubby now too :( (and this is AFTER losing over 30 lbs this past year)

What we did not have:
Freedom to freely gather for whatever cause we wished to support. Freedom of religion (churches were watched, people going in or out were harassed and deprived of social boons (grades lowered, etc)). Having a second job or business was considered a crime, as was the act of abortion without a permit (same with marriage and having kids). Kept overpopulation down quite well.

His major flaws were the stifling of ideas... if the man had been less brutal and less greedy, he'd still be in power, instead of leaving a double to die on TV so he could retire with the missus. Needless to say, I presume the same will happen to Saddam, and to George Bush / Cheney when they are overthrown (I'm still waiting for the idiot in chief to declare martial law, the day he does is the day I'm a Canuck :)

if you were on the wrong side of our master there, he'd never hear of you... the job was delegated to his version of the NSA (and after a thorough investigation, usually taking a few seconds with a silencer or knife, nobody would hear of you again)... we had a saying "the walls have eyes and ears, say nothing and live long"... the only place people could talk was in the country in homes their grandparents had built in the times of the king before the "modernization" of the big cities.

~Daedalus