Canadian wants to be in the US

[confused_canuck]

Hi Suzy,

thanks for your response. I have loads of questions and just as much desperation!

I'm trying to find work in California doing anything related to information design. the problem is finding jobs in this economy - no surprise there - and that every job ad gets hundreds of responses. also I'm kind of stuck in my situation:

a) not enough education to qualify for anything but entry or junior level (I have a B.A. and some certificates but not the formal training)
b) not enough work experience in my field (only a year's worth of professional consulting experience).

I can try targetting the bigger companies if they're more sympathetic to hiring Canadians. Was your experience with a recruiter any good? can they help find the companies willing to hire Canucks? Even on the job sites I'm seeing that some of the bigger companies are now stating in the job ads "will not sponsor H-1Bs". I probably have to start networking, but dread that step. I may have to go back to school, but can't AFFORD that step!

anyway, thanks for the posting. here's hoping something turns up (or that I make something turn up).

[SuzyQPA2]

The job market just isn't what it was in 1997-2000 I don't care what Bush tries to feed the masses.

My experience with recruiters isn't good here in a big city (I'm in Phila), they have jobs to fill and commissions to collect and the easiest point from A-B is how they do that. They also don't know / want to know about the whole sponsorship H1-B / TN issue so don't go there unless they talk about it. Try to get in front of the employer, get their interest and then talk turkey (so to speak).

If you are in Information Design do i take that to mean Program & Application Development? (a lot of which is being outsourced to third world countries)? Good luck, there are jobs that will remain here but you just have to find the company or (create your own!). I forsee that not really working out great unless the company is huge but we'll see.

Actually the fact that you have limited experience will work in your favour with a bigger company here. They want grads so to speak or people starting on the bottom rung, they are busy laying off the senior and mid level people. Apply at some big companies....I recently filled out an ING application and they actually specifically asked about my status which is unusual. Try some small non-profits as well, they may be willing to go through the hoops because nobody wants the job.

You also will find that certain organizations like Hospitals, Universities are accustomed to and not against going through this process for employees since they do it for other difficult to fill positions like Doctors/Nurses/Profs/grad students etc.

I assume you know about posting your resume on Monster.com Hotjobs etc., try to find also a job board specific to your field, that is where you might get some better contacts.

[SuzyQPA2]

When i said i don't see that working out up there in my second paragraph unless the company is huge, I"m talking about all this outsourcing of programming and developer jobs/work.

A friend of mine recently lost his position in IT and was extremely negative about finding a new one. He complained about it all being outsourced which just isn't accurate.

He's actually since gotten lots of interviews, more than me, and i believe cause i know him, that he's probably blown them asking for too much money.

[nina1977]

I'm in New brunswick and I want to move to Boston...well I'm in the process.

Im curious how hard will it be for me to find a job? How much time does it take to find a job?
Are employers open to hire me even do it means that they have to help me get a working visa( im not to sure how it works to get one)?

I have been applying online and I think alot of employers are reluctant to give me a shot since I have my Nb contacts on my job resume.I have spoken to alot of temp agencies/job hunter agencies. From what they tell me, it would be more easier for me if I was in Boston to find a job than for me to find one from NB.

The other problem is if I don't have a job and not knowing what type of salary I can get Bi-weekly. How do I know what level of rent should I aim for when looking for appartments?

Any tips?

[Reba]

thing is, I believe that work visas are quota'd visas, and they have already used up the quotas for this year. You may have quite a long wait if that's the route you'll be taking.

It may be easier if you can find an employer willing to go the distance and trouble of sponsoring you to get you the visa you'll need. Doing it independently without an employer lined up is timely and costly.

However, employers are bound by US law to search everywhere within the US for qualified employees, before they can petition to sponsor a foreign worker. So quite alot of employers are not willing to go to the trouble.

Best of luck to you!

[mindstalker47]

Glad i found this forum. I live in Canada, my b/f lives in the US. I want to move there, but not sure how to go about it. I've been trying to find an employer to sponsor and haven't had any luck. My boyfriend is hesitant about getting married just to get me over there, incase i still can't find a job. Any advice?

[chrryblssm]

im a canadian and have been in the untied states now for about 15 months. i have tried to find out how to stay here with out marrying anyone. i just want to be able to work and pay my own expenses. i have been fortunate so far as to have people put me up and pay for my stay here so far but i want to pay my own way.i want to get a drivers liscence and social security card but every time i try a different route it just seems to be endless any help out there please

[EugeneTr]

Hey,
I have question regearding those 6 months that I'm, as a Canadian, allowed to live in the States. I've been in US for 5 months now and going to leave back to Canada, however my situation (yes, it's a girfriend) forces me to go back here in a few months again, as a visitor. Will I have problems at the border when the see how long I've lived here or the time does not matter. In other words, can I live in USA for 180 days then leave to Canada for a day (or a month) and come back for another 180 days?
I have to wait untill she gets her american citizenship in march-april 2005 so we can marry,and it is a torture to live apart as we lived for past 4 years.