How Do European Techies Go America?

CousinBob asks: "I'm about to finish my European MSc degree and want to work abroad (US or Canada) for a while. Some of my friends in the same position would like to move together to the same location/company just to give social life a boost. I was invited to a company once (they payed for everyting), but turned their offer down as they wanted to put me in Dilbertland. So just how do skilled and creative people find jobs across the pond? I'm just not ready to fill in my CV on a company's web page and hope they'r not locking me up in a cubicle. "

Comments

Dilbertland for H1's

[Artie FM]

A lot of people get into America on H1 visa status. There are three reasons this doesn't work for most people:
1) There is a limited number of H1's available. This year they ran out of them in spring.
2) often pay rates offered for H1's are lower
3) it seems much tougher to switch jobs.

As a result many of the people I know who work over here have something shady going on. You know Mexican's are not the only ones who want to work in the US but can't.

One friend of mine came over on a 6 month tourist visa and interviewed for several months... He found an american to marry so he is still here. During the 6 months he looked he was not able to get an H1. Another friend of mine leads a start-up here in Mountain View.. He travels back to the UK every couple months so that he can say he isn't living here.

I think if you have a company which will sponser you and pay to move you across the lake you should think twice about it. As soon as you get over here start looking for something better. Although it is tougher to switch as an H1 it may be easier than anything else. Note, pay attention to what city they will put you in. If they are the only company in town it will be difficult to interview at other places.

Also pay attention to how much you will have to pay them back. One more thing... American programmers can get paid many times what you would make in Europe... but the higher cost of living here makes up for it, so be carefull about that too.