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is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA
2

is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

(OP)
I am working in the USA for a number of years  and was wondering is it possible. Or have u got to have sponsorship or something from a company or relative  or inlaw ...?

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

"I am working in the USA for a number of years  and was wondering is it possible."

Clearly you have posted this in the right forum as the english makes no sense at all.


If you're asking if it's possible to work in the USA when you're already working there, then clearly you have answered your own question. If you're just asking generally if it's possible in the USA then without defining the subject then you can have a myriad of replies. Those in the USA might invoke the old 'american dream" and say everything is possible in the US. Others might say - is it possible in the USA? Sadly, yes. Others might also add that it's also possible anywhere in the world. In fact the possibilities are endless.

corus

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

I think you should cut this guy some slack corus - at least to begin with - since dhyperman does not explicitly state that he is HIMSELF an engineer from Europe, although one would hope that he is at least an engineer from somewhere.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

Check his threads.  He once wrote, "I am a design process engineer. i used to work for Tool and die company."

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

dhyperman,

Depends...

NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

There are government requirements for working legally in any type of job in the United States. See http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

For some engineering jobs, it is necessary to be licensed as a professional engineer. See: http://www.nspe.org.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

Since I was once an engineer from Europe who emigrated to the USA (almost 30 years ago), I suppose I should attempt to provide a sensible answer to this question, since I know a little about it. It might be of interest to others, even if not to dhyperman himself.

There are several ways to get an American Green Card. These are a few that I am aware of:

1. Come in as an illegal and wait for the next amnesty. This may not be a serious option for an engineering professional who wants to work for a respectable company.

2. Be the parent of, or marry, an American Citizen. That automatically puts you at the head of the queue.

3. Be very rich and offer to start a company in the US and bring in a bunch of money - I forget the exact amount - it has probably gone up. (I think Rupert Murdoch did this)

4. Be an oustanding individual (Albert Einstein did this - I think they referred to him at the time as a "savant and genius", who therefore deserved immediate special consideration). I think Winston Churchill also got honorary citizenship without even having to get a green card first - but I think there have only been six of these.

5. Go on a long waiting list and wait for maybe 15 - 20 years for your number to come up.

6. Come in as a person with "unique or unusual qualifications" - or something like that (I think that is "category 3" - or it used to be). For ordinary engineers, this one is probably the only practical option. In practice, it probably means getting a job offer from a US company, and they have to be prepared to wait for you to get all the paperwork sorted out, which can take a year or more. You can also bypass some of this by getting a temporary work visa, and then try and convert it to a permanent green card after you start the job, but doing this with for-knowledge that you are going to try and reside permanently in the US disqualifies you, so you would have to lie when answering that question when questioned about this on the application form. The company that you join has to advertise your job, and ensure that no other qualified US citizens are available to do it. You often come across these advertisements - they are very specifically worded so that hardly anyone could fit the requirements exactly other than the person they are hiring. I have even applied unknowingly for one or two myself in later years. I remember that the guy in personnel who had to go through all this stuff at the company I joined showed me a pile of forms and paperwork about three inches high, just for my application. He said he would never do it again if he could avoid it. Some companies are large enough to be able to pull strings with Senators if the person is important enough to them, and no doubt kick-backs and/or quid pro quos are often involved.

The first time I applied to the US embassy in Grosvenor Square in London, I received a rather disconcerting form letter, which I still possess. It was in the early 1970's, during the Vietnam era. It said that I could by all means attempt to emigrate to the USA, but that there was an extremely long waiting list, and that even if I was successful I would be eligible for the draft and would probably be sent to Vietnam. It said that I could of course refuse, but that if I did I would be deported and would never under any circumstances ever be allowed to enter the country again, even as a visitor. Times have changed somehat since then, haven't they? I expect that they are still sending out rather discouraging form letters, because they get so many applications. But in addition, many European governments are quite happy to see the route to the USA made as difficult as possible, since they do not want to lose qualified professionals.

That number 1 option is looking better and better, isn't it?

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

By the way, this question belongs on the "How to Improve Myself and Get Ahead in my Work" forum. Perhaps you should re-post it there.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

I am a Brit now working in the US as an Engineer/Designer.

Yes it is possible.

The Visa/Greencard issue is one factor.

Also security clearance comes into play for things like Aerospace/Defense jobs.  Not being a US citizen unless you are a leading world expert or something you probably won't be able to get any kind of clearance.

Finally assuming you have a degree it may or may not count over here depending on the situation.  Certainly in CA it doesn't count toward getting EIT or PE status as I understand it.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

Another way is to come in as an employee of a foreign corporation.  Get someone over there to send you over here to work in their office to work.

rmw

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

Well, it depends what you mean by "over here in their office". If you are working in this country (USA) and being paid by the USA branch of a European company, you will need a US social security number (you can't even get a bank account without one). And to get a social security number, you need at least a temporary work visa. It still basically amounts to the fact that in practice you probably need a US job of some kind before you can get a VISA - a temporary one is relatively easy once you have that. And although you can csrtainly get lucky, there is also the issue of "poaching" employees from one country to another within corporations, which is often frowned on by upper management, at least at the lower levels.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

No it is NOT possible for you to get a job here. Please stay where you are... wink

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

You can get a bank account without a social but it's a mystery as to what set of forms you have to fill in to get it.  The bank gave us several sets of forms for different immigration stati (plural of status?) but weren't allowed to tell us which one was most applicable!  I believe you do need a Tax identification number though, which for most people is their social.  My wife and I couldn't work it out so waited till I got my social, much easier.

As I recall you also don't need a work visa/permit to get a social.  However your social card will say something like not valid for work.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

OK - I stand corrected, although it looks as though I am correct for all practical purposes if you actually need a job. But if you don't need a job, I think the illegal immigration route has a lot going for it, at least with the current senate in place, or one like it bigsmile.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

EnglishMuffin,

From a practical point of view I think you probably are right, just adding a couple of things I learnt along the way....

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

The other question is, should you get a job in the USA?  When you take a job here, you are lowering the salary of US engineers. This country does not need any more immigrants. We need to preserve our wealth for our own children, not let in the world to live on our welfare dole or take our jobs. There doesn't exist in the USA a job posting that no US citizen can do or wants to do. If the salary goes up enough, eventually an HR guy will find a US citizen to fill the spot.
It is best for you to go home to you home country.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; send these, the homeless tempest-tossed, to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door." Was a noble sentiment. "B- off, you're not wanted" doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Interesting that autodave thinks a qualified engineer with some get-up-and-go is regarded as a net drain on the US economy!

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

It would be a good thing for the US economy (somebody who enters the country to do nothing would be a bad thing) but a bad thing for US engineers. Ideally one would want to be the one and only engineer in a country and be able to select the most rewarding work, so he is right from US engineer point of view, but not from general US interest point of view. Somebody who does work useful enough to get paid is a blessing for a country.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

I would not want to be the only engineer in a country - it would be in deep trouble and so would I. (The only engineer in a company ... maybe). At the rate that illegal immigrants are coming into this country (USA) - which is not likely to change much - I would think the only way to balance things out a bit would be to let in more legal and professionally qualified immigrants.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

I know the country would be in trouble, but you wouldn't. You would have a Paris Hilton kind of life and not get out of your bed for a project under a zillion dollars. smile
You are right about letting in qualified immigrants, I even think that those would help the US compete against low wages countries.

RE: is it possible as an engineer from europe to geta job in the USA

Legally!  That's the key word!!!

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